Lion Links: 6/11/15

Happy Thursday, Lions Nation! I hope you’ve been having a good week. If not, just know it’s almost the weekend and you’re just a couple days away from chugging down a cold beer with 30,000 of your closest friends on Sunday when Orlando City hosts D.C. United.

Anyway, let's jump into today's top stories.

Gold Cup Call-Ups Beginning to Funnel In

Rosters for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup were announced on Wednesday, and as expected several Orlando City players will don their nation’s colors next month when the top teams in North America meet for this big tournament. Brek Shea was one of 32-players called in on the provisional roster by manager Jurgen Klinsmann for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Darwin Ceren will captain El Salvador, Cyle Larin, Canada’s next big thing, will suit up for our friends up north, and Bryan Rochez will go to camp with Honduras after being with the Honduran U-20s at the U-20 World Cup this month.

While this is not great news for Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath, who could be without three of his key starters for a few weeks this summer, it's still international exposure for the club, and a great opportunity for the players to make a mark with their national teams.

The United States is the Best in the World!

Five days after beating the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the USMNT went to Germany and took down the defending World Cup champions 2-1, thanks to a great, awesome, totally world-class strike from the before-infamous but now-loved Bobby Wood.

Mario Goetze put the top-ranked Germans up 1-0 just 12 minutes into the match thanks to some terribly poor defending by the U.S., but the Americans were able to level minutes before the half when Mix Diskerud karate-chopped the ball into the goal off of a brilliant service into the box from Michael Bradley. Wood's goal in the 87th minute put the U.S. back up, and they held on for the win.

The United States is undefeated since taking down FIFA, you know. Just saying.

Louisville City Picks Up Its First Win On the Road

11 days since their last match, our USL affiliate in Louisville went North of the Border on Wednesday night to take on FC Montreal. Goals from defender Tarek Morad and forward Matt Fondy helped lead Louisville City to a 2-0 win over the Montreal Impact’s reserve squad for its first win away from Slugger Field this season.

Orlando City’s Sidney Rivera played 13 minutes off the bench for head coach James O’Connor.

Louisville City will stay on the road for a match at the Rochester Rhinos this Saturday.

Orlando City U-23s Lose at Home

Orlando City's U-23 squad hosted the IMG PDL team at Seminole Soccer Complex on Wednesday. After a second-minute goal from Elhadj Barry, the young Lions conceded two straight to fall, 2-1.

The U-23s' next match will take place this Saturday on the road against SW FL Adrenaline at Palmetto Ridge High School at 6:30 p.m.

What's the Opposite of a Gold Rush?

According to a report by SB Nation's Columbus Crew blog, Massive Report, the Columbus Crew are planning to ditch their iconic gold jerseys for the 2016 season and make black their primary color next year.

Massive Report has learned that the Black & Gold will go forward in name only, as the current secondary kit – the black jersey that made its return this year – will officially become the primary, and the second jersey will be white featuring "funky colors."

The source with knowledge of the new jersey alluded to the catalog as reference for the "funky colors," meaning the jersey will likely feature the different shades of blue, yellow, red, and white that adorn the seal of Columbus.

This might just be the worst kit decision by the Crew since their bumblebee jerseys back in 1996.

USMNT Player Going to Mexico

Some surprising transfer news came out on Wednesday night when it was revealed that Minnesota United FC and USMNT midfielder Miguel Ibarra was sold to Léon in Mexico’s Liga MX. Minnesota is expected to join MLS in 2018, possibly sooner, and Ibarra had a chance to make his MLS debut with the club that made him what he is, since failing to sign with the Portland Timbers after the 2012 Supplemental Draft.

* * *

That's it for today's Lions Links. One day 'til Friday, three days 'til game day!