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Lion Links: 1/30/23

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. Orlando City continues its preseason, and the Orlando Pride begin their preseason today. The MLS and NWSL seasons are another day closer and it won’t be long until we’re all back in Exploria Stadium. It’s an exciting time to be an Orlando soccer fan. Now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Sign Carly Nelson

After the departure of Erin McLeod, the Orlando Pride signed former Kansas City goalkeeper Carly Nelson to a two-year contract. Nelson joins Anna Moorhouse and Kaylie Collins as Orlando’s goalkeepers, and they will compete for the starting position this season. Nelson comes to the Pride following a stint with FC Nordsjælland in Denmark’s top division. The Pride’s preseason camp starts today and Nelson greeted her new team.

Hello Orlando! When I tell you it is an honor to be here, I mean it. 💜 https://t.co/B1XM3ONkvo

— Carly Nelson (@thereal_icarly) January 29, 2023

Weston McKennie Set to Join Leeds

The American invasion of Leeds United may continue as USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie is reportedly the latest to head to the West Yorkshire club.

Weston McKennie to Leeds, here we go! Understand Leeds will pay €1.2m loan fee — deal will include buy option clause for €33m plus add ons 🚨⚪️🇺🇸 #LUFC

Leeds president Radrizzani unlocked the deal with Juventus in the night.

McKennie has agreed personal terms with Leeds. pic.twitter.com/mY1g6Fuql0

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2023

According to Fabrizio Romano, the loan carries a $1.4 million fee and Leeds has the option to buy McKennie for just under $36 million. McKennie would join fellow Americans Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson under Head Coach Jesse Marsch. This could be a good move for the American midfielder given he hasn’t made much of an impact with Juventus this season.

Wrexham Draws, Liverpool Loses in FA Cup Action

Ryan Reynolds was on hand at Racecourse Ground as Wrexham AFC hosted EFL Championship club Sheffield United FC in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. The Red Dragons took the lead twice in the 3-3 draw after Sheffield scored the first goal in the second minute. Unfortunately for the Wrexham faithful, Sheffield’s John Egan scored the equalizer in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. The two clubs will replay the match at Sheffield’s Bramall Lane.

Liverpool’s troubles continued as the club was knocked out of the FA Cup in a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion less than a year after winning the competition. Kaoru Mitoma’s goal in stoppage time was the difference for Brighton to advance to the fifth round.

EFL Championship side Stoke City defeated League Two side Stevenage 3-1 in its fourth match-up. The Potters got an early goal in the third minute, but Stevenage equalized in the 70th minute. Stoke City took the lead again three minutes later and put the match away on an 80th-minute penalty kick.

Cyle Larin Scores Winner in La Liga Debut

Former Orlando City forward Cyle Larin made his La Liga debut for Real Valladolid CF, coming off the bench in the 76th minute. In the 90th minute, Larin scored his first goal for his new club, giving Valladolid a 1-0 win at home over Valencia CF. I imagine such goals are the reason Valladolid brought Larin to town last week. The victory moved Valladolid out of the relegation zone and it will face Real Sociedad on Sunday.

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  • Icelandic midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsson is in the City Beautiful according to his Instagram. The 22-year-old was linked with a move to Orlando City last week.
  • In an interview with CNN regarding Wrexham, Rob McElhenney commented on how America does not have a tournament like the FA Cup. Of course, there is already a U.S. tournament that pits lower-division clubs against bigger clubs, as evidenced by Orlando beating USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup final.

To whom it may concern,

We do have a tournament like this

We’ve had it for 109 years

It’s called the @opencup

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) January 28, 2023

  • The USMNT drew Colombia 0-0 Saturday night in a friendly. It wasn’t what the result many wanted, but Paxten Aaronson and John Tolkin both made their USMNT debuts. January camps are never the best with several top players still in Europe, so keep that in mind.
  • American defender Kevin Paredes scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

19-year-old Wolfsburg and USMNT defender Kevin Paredes scores his first Bundesliga goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/RwdxjMWgdJ

— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) January 28, 2023

  • Forward Dante Vanzeir from Belgian club Union SG is reportedly headed to the New York Red Bulls this season. The Red Bulls transferred Patryk Klimala to Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva, opening up a Designated Player spot.

The New York Red Bulls are signing Belgian forward Dante Vanzeir from Union SG for $5.3m + add-ons, their third key addition at center forward this winter after Elias Manoel and Cory Burke.

Klimala exit was long assumed. Took a while, but almost there as he heads to Israel. https://t.co/53kb1y8cj0

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 29, 2023

  • Arsenal is reportedly trying to bring in midfielder Moises Caicedo once again.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal submitted new bid for Moises Caicedo. Understand it’s worth £70m packag add-ons included. ⚪️🔴🇪🇨 #AFC

Brighton don’t want to sell the player, stance very clear after £60m opening bid rejected — but Arsenal try again as Caicedo wants the move. pic.twitter.com/lmpo3Rs6Bw

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2023


That will do it for today’s links. Have a great Monday and rest of your week!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/19/24

New kits for U.S. Soccer, Nottingham Forest hit with points deduction, Seattle Reign sale announced, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. It might not have been the weekend Orlando City fans were hoping for, but Orlando City B and the Orlando Pride both gave fans plenty to cheer about. As usual, we have a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s jump into today’s links.

U.S. Soccer Releases New Kits

U.S. Soccer has unveiled the two new kits that its national teams will wear during 2024. The leaks that were making the rounds several weeks ago were accurate, with the home jersey being a white number with stripes on the sleeves and collar, and the away jersey evoking memories of the 2014 bomb pop kit. The kits go on sale this Thursday, just in time for the United States Men’s National Team’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal clash against Jamaica.

Nottingham Forest Deducted Points

Nottingham Forest has been deducted four points as punishment for violating the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. That deduction takes Forest from 25 points down to 21, and drops them into the relegation zone in 18th place, one point shy of newcomers Luton Town. The deduction is the second this season, following Everton being docked 10 points (reduced to six after an appeal), and the Toffees might still be in line for another deduction. The independent commission charged with looking into Forest’s breach had determined that the violation was originally worth a six-point deduction, but it was reduced to four due to cooperation with the investigation.

Seattle Reign Sale Announced

OL Groupe has announced the sale of the Seattle Reign to a group that includes the Seattle Sounders and the investment firm Carlyle. OL Groupe will sell the entirety of its 97% stake in the team, with the price of the deal coming to $58 million. The sale is subject to approval by the Board of Governors for both Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, but there are not expected to be any issues. OL Groupe got a good return on its investment, as it bought the team in 2019 for an estimated $3.5 million.

International Absences Galore

A number of high profile players will not be joining up with their countries during the international break due to injury. Antoine Griezmann’s record of playing in 84 straight games for his country will come to an end, as the forward has suffered an ankle injury and will be replaced by Matteo Guendouzi. Darwin Nunez has withdrawn from the Uruguayan squad after picking up a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester United. Lionel Messi will also be missing for Argentina due to a hamstring injury.

Lion Links

  • Hats off to the City Beautiful for winning some recognition.

Fiorentina General Manager Joe Barone is on life support after suffering cardiac arrest.


That’s all I have for you this morning, vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/18/24

Orlando City falls to Atlanta United, the Pride get a late result at Louisville, OCB wins tops Atlanta United 2, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope you all had an excellent St. Patrick’s Day weekend. It was a mixed one for our teams, as OCB won, the Pride fought back for a draw, and the Lions suffered another loss. This weekend, I was busy at work between Under Armour and covering high school lacrosse. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links, but first, join us in wishing a happy 32nd birthday to Orlando Pride fullback Kylie Strom.

Orlando City Falls to Rival Atlanta United

Orlando City lost 2-0 to Atlanta United on the road on Sunday and will have to wait for Saturday against Austin FC to get another chance at its first win of the MLS season. Saba Lobjanidze and Georgios Giakoumakis scored for the Five Stripes. Orlando City is now winless in five consecutive matches across all competitions. The Lions have also given up 10 goals in four league matches and are in the 14th place in the Eastern Conference with one point. Michael Citro has your match recap.

Orlando Pride Battle Back for 2-2 Draw at Racing Louisville

The Orlando Pride overcame a two-goal deficit to escape Lynn Family Stadium with a 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville in their season opener Saturday. The Pride also went down to 10 players when Strom was sent off in the second half after receiving a second yellow card. The Pride were down 2-1 late when Summer Yates scored her first career goal from a set piece to even the match. The Pride are winless in season openers, but earned their third opening day draw in NWSL play. Orlando also secured its first ever point in four road matches in Kentucky. The Pride return to action Friday in their home opener against Angel City FC.

OCB Opens Season with 3-2 Road Win Over Atlanta United 2

Orlando City B won its MLS NEXT Pro season opener on the road, beating Atlanta United 2. The Young Lions trailed 1-0 early in the first half but kicked on from there and won 3-2. Jhon Solis equalized with a penalty kick goal and Orlando City 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick Yutaro Tsukada scored on a great free kick to give the Young Lions a 2-1 advantage going into halftime. OCB struck quickly in the second half thruogh Colin Guske. Atlanta United 2 made things interesting with a late goal, but OCB held on. This is the third consecutive year the Young Lions have started a season with a win. OCB’s next match will again be on the road, as the Young Lions face Huntsville City FC on Friday.

Manchester United and Chelsea Win, Advance to FA Cup Semifinals

It was a seven-goal thriller at Old Trafford as Manchester United edged out Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The Red Devils were down 2-1 late in the second half before Antony scored the equalizer to tie the match 2-2. Liverpool took the lead in extra time, but Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo scored to put this match away for United. In another thrilling match at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea and Leicester City were tied 2-2. Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored for the Blues deep in stoppage time and secured a 4-2 victory. Manchester City will take on Chelsea, while Manchester United will face Coventry City in the FA Cup semifinals.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/15/24

Leagues Cup schedule revealed, San Diego Wave reportedly set for sale, Europa League action, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Friday! The time change last weekend has made this week really feel like a slog, but I’m finally starting to get a better handle on the fugue state each morning. Plenty of sleep and soccer this weekend should also help, as well as being able to enjoy the extra sunlight in the evenings. I don’t have many plans beyond working, but it should still be a nice next few days. Let’s dive into today’s links!

2024 Leagues Cup Schedule Announced

The schedule for this year’s Leagues Cup was unveiled, along with the bracket and the “hubs” where select Liga MX teams will play all of their group games. Orlando City will host its pair of group games, taking on CF Montreal on July 26 before playing Atletico San Luis on Aug. 4. If Orlando advances to the knockout stage, it will face a team from the group that includes the Philadelphia Union, Cruz Azul and Charlotte FC. Orlando’s half of the bracket includes every Eastern Conference team other than the Chicago Fire, and also features Tigres, Pachuca, and Santos Laguna.

NWSL Kicks Off After Eventful Off-Season

The National Women’s Soccer League returns this weekend and plenty has changed since last year. There are two expansion teams in the Utah Royals and Bay FC, familiar faces in new places due to a busy free agency, and new players fresh on the scene in the form of the draft and record-breaking transfers. The doubling of the salary cap for 2024 has helped teams get a bit more competitive, and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed that the international roster spots for each team will increase from five to eight. It’s also an evolving landscape, as questions have also been raised regarding the lack of agency players can have when being drafted or traded. It’s an exciting time to be a women’s soccer fan and this season should be another competitive one featuring some of the world’s best players.

San Diego Wave Reportedly Being Sold

The San Diego Wave are reportedly going to be sold in a two-part $113 million deal that will have the Levine Leichtman family pay for 35% of the team now and the rest after the 2024 season. The Wave joined the league in 2022, with Ron Burkle paying the $2 million expansion fee. Burkle will remain in control of it until the second part of the deal triggers at the end of the season. This deal eclipses the $63 million paid for the Portland Thorns earlier this year and showcases the growth the league has undergone in recent years.

Europa League Round of 16 Comes to a Close

Although no games went into extra time, there was plenty of exciting drama in the second legs of the Europa League’s round of 16 . The most thrilling match of the day took place in Germany, as Bayer Leverkusen ended Azerbaijani club Qarabag’s Cinderella run. A red card reduced Qarabag to 10 men in the 63rd minute, but the underdogs maintained their lead heading into stoppage time. Patrik Schick flipped the script, scoring twice in stoppage time to book Leverkusen’s spot in the quarterfinals and extend the club’s unbeaten run to 37 games.

AC Milan took full advantage of an early red card to Slavia Prague, with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao scoring and assisting on each other’s goals in a 3-1 win on the road. It was a good day for Serie A teams overall, as AS Roma advanced past Brighton despite a 1-0 loss and Atalanta won a tight 2-1 match against Sporting to move on. English clubs Liverpool and West Ham had big wins at home to reach the quarterfinals, and Villarreal and Benfica round out the quarterfinalists.

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That’s all I have for you this fine Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and enjoy all of the soccer this weekend. Beware the ides of March!

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