Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/24/23
Good day, Mane Landers! Itโs time for things to ramp up with not only Orlando City playing this weekend, but both the Orlando Pride and OCB starting their seasons as well. Itโs a great time of the year, and I love the opportunity that is still ahead of every club at this point of the season. Letโs get to the links!
Lions at Union Storylines
Orlando City travels to the City of Brotherly Love tomorrow to take on the Philadelphia Union. Both clubs will be without several players including starting keepers Andre Blake and Pedro Gallese. Fortunately, the Lions still have Martin Ojeda and the surprisingly effective rookie Duncan McGuire. If those two are able to find the offense and if backup keeper Mason Stajduhar can maintain a clean sheet, then the Lions have a chance.
The Promise of the Pride
The fact that the Orlando Pride face an uphill challenge with a new coach, new players, and not much success in their history is not news. The fact that the club is undefeated in the preseason and getting some notice prior to the season is. Messiah Bright โ a recent guest on The Mane Land PawedCast โ is a dark horse candidate for Rookie of the Year. Of course, Bright is not the only dark horse candidate. Seb Hines is in the running for Coach of the Year, assuming he can get the Pride to play above their expectations. Bright also made another list of newcomer players to keep an eye on.
OCBโs Season Approaches
You may not follow Orlando City B, but you should, given that the future of the main squad may lie in the roster of OCB. The Young Lions kick off their season against Philadelphia Union II this Sunday. There are familiar faces like Javier Otero, and new faces like midfielder Juninho. We can also expect some senior team players to get some minutes with OCB. The young Lions will play on Sunday following the senior teamโs match on Saturday.
Krieger Calls it a Day
Former Orlando Pride and USWNT defender Ali Krieger has announced her retirement from professional soccer. The retirement will be effective at the end of Gotham FCโs NWSL season. Krieger has had a long and distinguished career, spending four years with the Washington Spirit, five years with the Pride, and the last two with Gotham. She has 108 caps with the USWNT with one goal and nine assists. She was also a part of the 2011, 2015, and 2019 World Cup-winning squads. We at The Mane Land thank her for all she has done for the Pride, the USWNT, and womenโs soccer.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Cityโs U-15s and U-17s earned a clean sheet sweep of their Nashville FC counterparts. Well done, lads.
- What to watch for in the USMNTโs match against Grenada tonight in the Concacaf Nations League group stage. Grenada needs the win to keep their Gold Cup hopes alive, but the Yanks will look to knock them out of contention in this match.
- Harry Kane has broken Wayne Rooneyโs scoring record for England in a 2-1 win over Italy in the EURO 2024 competition. It was also Englandโs first win in Italy since 1961.
- PSV may be interested in USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi who is currently on loan with FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie. It might have something to do with former USMNT sporting director Earnie Stewart joining PSVโs front office. Regardless, Pepi has earned the look.
- Former Pride player, Sydney Leroux, has a problem โ and probably rightly so โ regarding the rendering of womenโs players in FIFA 2023. To be fair, some of them donโt have hair.
- USMNT goalkeeper, Zack Steffen has declared he does not want to return to Manchester City. He is currently on loan with Middlesbrough and has no plans to be a backup with City again. Good for him.
- Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is now the new manager at FC Bayern.
๐จ Exclusive news confirmed: Thomas Tuchel becomes new FC Bayern head coach, full agreement in place. He has already accepted the job. #FCBayern
Contract agreed, documents are being prepared tonight. pic.twitter.com/HFnOSwoU1m
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 23, 2023
- Wrexham faces a challenge with keeper Rob Lainton ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury. In his stead, former England and previous AFC Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster has returned on a free transfer to help the club try to get out of the National League.
- Bojan Krkic has called it a day on his career. The former Barcelona prodigy has been without a club since January and decided he is done.
That is all I have for you today. Check back for our coverage of Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and OCB this weekend.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/27/24
Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches
Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.
Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up
The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.
USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup
United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.
MLS Referees Agree to New CBA
After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.
Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024
Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- The latest MLS power rankings have been released. The Lions moved up six spots to 21st after finally getting their first regular-season win this past weekend against Austin FC.
- In the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings, Orlando City B dropped two spots to seventh after securing two points on the road against Huntsville City FC.
- FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal is out for the rest of the season. He’ll undergo season-ending surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.
- Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen will be sidelined for three weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee after sustaining a meniscus injury two weeks ago in Atlanta’s match against Orlando City.
- The Ecuadorian FA condemned the behavior of several of its players, including 16-year-old Kendry Paez, for attending a strip club during the international break, but issued no punishment.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and Iโll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/26/24
Jack Lynn named to MLS Team of the Matchday bench, Nico Lodeiro and Marta up for weekly awards, USMNT stock watch, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was an enjoyable weekend for fans of Orlando soccer as the Lions got in the win column, the Pride stayed unbeaten, and Orlando City B picked up two points by way of a shootout win. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s dive in.
Jack Lynn Makes Team of the Matchday Bench
Jack Lynn’s efforts in Orlando City’s 2-0 win over Austin FC have earned him a spot on the bench in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Lynn opened the scoring with a well-finished header in the first half, a tally which was also his very first for the senior side. Aside from his goal, he took another shot that was off target, completed 77% of his passes, and recorded 21 touches. The performance earned him a 6 out of 10 grade from Sean Rollins in his player grades from the match. Lynn’s inclusion in the TotM is well deserved, and hopefully it’s the first of many!
Orlando Players Up for Weekly Honors
Nico Lodeiro’s free kick during Orlando City’s win has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. In the 64th minute, with the Lions holding a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Lynn’s goal, the good guys were awarded a free kick due to a handball on the edge of the box. Lodeiro proceeded to deliver the goods, scoring his first league goal for OCSC with a powerful, bending effort that Brad Stuver was unable to keep out of the top corner. Make sure you go and vote for Nico to win this week’s award!
He wasn’t the only Orlando player who had an impressive goal either, as the Orlando Pride’s Marta has been nominated for the National Women’s Soccer League Goal of the Week. It was a well-deserved nomination too, as she leveled the score and rescued a point for the Pride in spectacular fashion. With time ticking down in the 88th minute, she expertly volleyed in a corner kick at home. Go and vote for her to win the honor!
Post-Nations League Stock Watch
Several United States Men’s National Team players either boosted or hurt their stock over the course of last week’s Concacaf Nations League matches. Guys like Giovanni Reyna and Tyler Adams turned in impactful and timely performances. Reyna was named the best player of the tournament at a time when minutes at the club level are tough to come by, while Adams looked great as he continues to work his way back from a long injury layoff. Joe Scally and Folarin Balogun struggled though, with Scally being hooked at halftime against Jamaica and Balogun having a relatively quiet two games while fellow striker Haji Wright was the hero against Jamaica. Nobody’s stock dropped more than Mexico’s though, which has now gone seven games without beating the U.S., and hasn’t scored in almost 500 minutes. *Insert eagle screech here*
Big Names Missing for Euro 2024
The club season won’t be over for a couple more months, but there are a number of big stars who we either already know won’t be appearing at this summer’s Euro 2024, or who have a race against the clock in order to feature. The Real Madrid duo of David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois will both miss the tournament through injury, although Courtois’ rocky relationship with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco means he may not have been called up anyway. Sven Botman will be unavailable for the Netherlands due to an ACL tear. Ivan Perisic suffered the same fate, sidelining him for Croatia. Then there are the cases of Sandro Tonali and Paul Pogba, who are unavailable for Italy and France, respectively, due to suspensions for off-field issues.
Free Kicks
- Happy National Athletic Training Month from one AT (me) to another!
- The young Yanks engineered a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw with France, with Cade Cowell scoring the equalizer.
- A vote has reportedly taken place on a new tentative agreeement between PRO and the PSRA.
- LAFC has reportedly sent a formal contract offer for Olivier Giroud to join the Western Conference side once the Serie A season concludes.
- Emil Forsberg’s wife has accused him of abandoning and neglecting his family during his move to the New York Red Bulls.
- Vinicius Junior was in tears during a press conference on Monday, as he opened up about the struggles he has faced as a result of the racist abuse he has suffered while playing in La Liga.
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/25/24
Orlando City gets first win, Pride and OCB earn draws, USMNT wins Nations League, and more.
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. What a weekend it was for the teams in purple, with results all around. I’ll take more weekends like that, please. Even my Tallahassee Soccer Club pulled out a win in a friendly on Saturday night. Here’s hoping this week is just as good. Let’s get to the links, but first, let’s give a shout out to Dave Shine, our most recent Buy Me a Coffee subscriber. If you’re not familiar with that, it’s a way for us to give you more content/value (or you can simply make a one-time donation if you don’t wish to subscribe). There are thre levels at which you can get involved. Check them out here.
Orlando City Victorious
It took a lot longer than any of us liked, but Orlando City posted its first victory of the 2024 regular season in a 2-0 win over Austin FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night. Jack Lynn scored a goal in his first start with the senior team and Nico Lodeiro opened his account with Orlando City. It was a much better performance from the Lions despite not having several normal starters due to international call-ups. Orlando City’s next match is at home against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Pride Come Back for Late Draw
The Orlando Pride came from behind for a second match in a row, earning a 1-1 draw against Angel City FC Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride left it about as late as possible, with Marta scoring the equalizer in the 88th minute of the match. Seb Hines was forced to employ a makeshift back line with Kylie Strom serving a red card suspension and Emily Sams out sick. The Pride are back in action this Friday at home against the Chicago Red Stars.
OCB Win Shootout Following Draw at Huntsville
Orlando City B earned two points in a penalty shootout win over Huntsville City FC at Joe W. Davis Stadium on Friday night in Alabama. The Young Lions earned one point for the 1-1 draw and another for the shootout win. It’s an MLS Next Pro rule. The Young Lions are a point behind first place in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference standings. OCB has a bit of a rest until the club hosts Inter Miami II on April 2. If you aren’t watching OCB, you really should. The matches are always exciting.
USMNT Wins Concacaf Nations League
The USMNT defeated Mexico 2-0 on Sunday to win the Concacaf Nations League. Tyler Adams sent in an absolute banger to give the U.S. the lead just before halftime.
In the second half, Gio Reyna scored the second goal on a one-time volley to make it dos a cero.
Once again, the Mexico fans used homophobic slurs in a banned chant, meaning that the match was stopped and the players brought to the center circle. That this keeps happening is utterly abhorrent and, in my opinion, more serious repercussions need to happen for it to stop. Regardless, the U.S. won the competition on the pitch.
Free Kicks
- Florian Wirtz scored the fasted goal ever for Germany. It only took Wirtz seven seconds to give Germany the lead over France. The Germans ultimately won 2-0.
- Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner accepted the “how fast can you score” challenge thrown down by Wirtz and beat him by one second. Baumgartner scored after only six seconds in the 2-0 friendly win over Slovakia. It was a national team record for Austria.
- Julian Hall made an appearance for the New York Red Bulls at the tender age of 15 years old โ one day before his 16th birthday. He was able to do so because the match was at 2 p.m., meaning he wouldn’t break any New Jersey labor laws.
- Brazil’s Endrick became the youngest male scorer at Wembley Stadium, breaking a 40-year-old record formerly held by Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside.
- Spain defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in a Women’s Nations League semifinal to earn a berth in the Paris Olympics.
- The Houston Dynamo broke the hearts of Colorado Rapids fans with this last-minute winner.
- Here is everything you need to know about this year’s Copa America. The USMNT is in Group C with Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia.
- In case you missed it, Kyle Smith made his 150th appearance for Orlando City against Austin FC. A big thank you to the Accountant.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the upcoming matches. Vamos Orlando.
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