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Lion Links: 8/25/16

Published

8 years ago

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You know what rules?

O’Doyle rules

The day after an Orlando City victory also rules. But unfortunately, that didn’t happen Wednesday night. So today does not rule.

With not much to celebrate, let’s get right to the links.

Jozy is a Jerk

OK, maybe that’s harsh, but USMNT striker Jozy Altidore ruins everything. Last night he ruined a game that saw Orlando City hold a red-hot Toronto FC side to a late 1-1 score line. The Lions were just moments away from a crucial point in the Eastern Conference playoff race and then Jozy the ruiner went and ruined it. Here is all the coverage you need from last night’s match:

Be sure to stop by later this morning for Austin David’s five takeaways from the game and a photo gallery by Carlos Romero.

Hope Solo suspended by U.S. Soccer

The biggest news in the soccer world broke Wednesday evening when it was announced that USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo is suspended from USWNT for the next six months for her comments after the Americans were knocked out of the Olympics by Sweden.

Later, U.S. Soccer announced it has terminated its contract with Solo.

If you missed it, Solo called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” after the U.S. lost in penalty kicks. (To be fair, Sweden did choose to remain neutral during WWII, but I don’t think that’s what she meant.)

Evidently, Solo’s past conduct was a factor in the decision from U.S. Soccer.

From U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati:

“Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. National Team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.”

It seems that U.S. Soccer really wants to wash its hands of Solo. It should be noted Solo is the most outspoken player in the battle for fair pay. Solo has the right to appeal and probably will.

In the meantime, maybe Solo should look into joining WWE, where calling someone a coward makes for some of the best television in a decade.

Ashlyn Harris talks Pride playoff hopes

In what has felt like an underwhelming season given all of the preseason hype, the Orlando Pride are hanging on by a thread. But that hasn’t deterred goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris from thinking the club can make it to the postseason.

Harris told OrlandoCitySC.com that she and the rest of the club think they can make a late-season push for the playoffs.

“If anyone can do it, I know I can rise to the challenge and come up big for this team,” she said.

It’s good to see one of the top players on the team hasn’t given up, but it’s a tall task ahead of the Pride. The Pride are seven points out of the playoffs with five games left. Given that Harris hasn’t seen any action in almost a month, she’ll have to get in form quite quickly if she wants to help lead the Pride to the playoffs in the club’s inaugural season.

NWSL Targeting California for Expansion

Sticking with the NWSL, there’s still a chance we see the league grow in 2017. Commissioner Jeff Plush said the league is hoping to expand for a third time in its four years, hoping to add to its 10-team league.

Apparently, California is a top target. If Plush wants to add two teams to maintain an even number in the league, cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco would and should be prime candidates.

This would obviously be great for the league and the fans. The fact that there isn’t a team in California already is a bit confusing. But if the timing works out, which Plush notes will be difficult to make happen, it seems like California should be a no-brainer.

USL Player Suspended for Gay Slur Against Robbie Rogers

On Sunday afternoon, the LA Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers wrote this Facebook post, alleging that a USL player called him a gay slur throughout their match Saturday night.

Turns out that player is 31-year-old Richard Chaplow, and he will be out for the next two games because of his offensive language and verbal abuse. He was also fined an undisclosed amount.

Chaplow signed with the Orange County Blues on July 29, after spending his entire career overseas, where he either never played against a gay person, or he was allowed to be a prick. Either way, only a terrible person would use that kind of hateful language.

Props to the USL for making a statement to not stand for it. There are plenty of professional leagues that likely would have opted against any form of discipline if this happened.

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On Tuesday, a rumor made the rounds that the USMNT’s DeAndre Yedlin may be making a move to Newcastle from Tottenham. That move was finalized and announced Wednesday with the right back signing a five-year deal amid a reported $6.6 million transfer fee. Yedlin, 23, never made much of an impact with Tottenham and spent most of his two seasons on loan. FoxSports.com’s  Ryan Rosenblatt looked at whether this change would be good for the youngster.

Another USMNT player could also be on the move. Christian Pulisic may be on his way to Stoke City after the English club offered $23 million to pry him from Borussia Dortmund.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Enjoy your Thursday as we get set for New York City FC this weekend and the return of the Pride Friday night at Camping World Stadium.

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Lion Links: 11/21/24

Marta’s chance to shine in NWSL Championship, NWSL and MLS award winners announced, 2025 SheBelieves Cup details, and more.

Published

21 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been spending most of this week plotting out some holiday shopping to make things a little less stressful for myself over the next few weeks. A big weekend filled with Orlando soccer awaits us, so make sure to get any errands or obligations out of the way sooner rather than later. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Spotlight Falls On Marta in NWSL Championship

There are plenty of storylines heading into Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit, including Marta’s opportunity to put an exclamation point on what has been an excellent season for the Pride. Orlando has been enjoying the fruits of its labor this season after a rebuild over the past few years that’s included plenty of change in the City Beautiful. Marta has been a constant, however, enduring some difficult seasons since joining the Pride and adapting her game She’s scored in both of the Pride’s playoff games so far and has a chance to author a storybook ending on Saturday.

Ann-Katrin Berger Named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

NJ/NY Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was named 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, beating out the Pride’s Anna Moorhouse and Utah Royals FC’s Mandy Haught for the honor. It was Berger’s first year in the NWSL and she’s the first European player to win the award. She only conceded 16 goals across her 22 matches for Gotham this season and was a key reason behind her team’s success. I’m not too surprised that Moorhouse did not win, considering how solid the Pride’s defense was as a whole, but this won’t take anything away from a record-breaking season for her.

Wilfried Nancy Named MLS Coach of the Year

Columbus Crew Head Coach Wilfried Nancy was voted 2024 MLS Coach of the Year after a historic season in which the Crew set club records in both points and goals. The Crew also won the Leagues Cup this summer and their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign included advancing past Tigres and Monterrey en route to the final. This is Nancy’s first time being named Coach of the Year and he has been a finalist for the award every year since 2021. The Frenchman received 40.02% of the vote, winning the award over Inter Miami’s Gerardo Martino and Colorado Rapids Head Coach Chris Armas.

2025 SheBelieves Cup Details Unveiled

The 10th annual SheBelieves Cup will take place next year and the tournament will return to its usual format where each of the four teams plays each other once. The United States Women’s National Team will host Japan, Colombia, and Australia in February in what should be an exciting tournament. The U.S. will take on Colombia on Feb. 20 in Houston before facing Australia in Arizona on Feb. 23 and finishing the tournament on Feb. 26 against Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. These games will also be the first domestic games of 2025 for the USWNT as it prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Eric Quill Named FC Dallas Head Coach

FC Dallas announced that Eric Quill will become the team’s next head coach. Quill joins Dallas after a great year with New Mexico United that included trips to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals and USL Championship Western Conference semifinals. It’s also a reunion of sorts for Quill, as he previously coached North Texas SC and was named USL League One Coach of the Year with the club in 2019. Dallas missed out on the playoffs this season, with Peter Luccin coaching the team on an interim basis after the firing of Nico Estevez in June.

Free Kicks

  • District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser challenged Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to a bet involving this weekend’s NWSL Championship, with embarrassing lightshows on the line.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 11/20/24

Martin Ojeda could be a key factor against Atlanta, Seb Hines wins Coach of the Year, Lions abroad, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 20, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good Wednesday morning, Mane Landers. For long time readers, you might remember me as a staple in your Lion Links but having stepped away on sabbatical. Today, I’m honored to be called off the bench and fill in for Dave. My life has been filled with being a first-time father along with taking over as commissioner of a soccer league and my normal day job. Through all of it, I have stayed true to catching as many Orlando City matches as I can or at least the highlights. TML is my go-to source for all things purple, so I’m glad to pitch in and talk about what is happening around the City Beautiful and soccer once again. So, let’s get into the links!

Lions’ Not-So Secret Weapons

Orlando City is ready to take on Atlanta United on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. According to Andrew Wiebe of MLSsoccer.com, midfielder Martín Ojeda and the home field advantage of Inter&Co Stadium will be the key to victory for Oscar Pareja to finally lift the cup with Orlando. On the other side of the ball, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan is in impeccable form and will give the Five Stripes an opportunity to advance again despite being the underdogs.

Seb Hines Wins Major Award

The National Women’s Soccer League announced Pride Head Coach Seb Hines has been named the 2024 NWSL Coach of the Year. Following his stint as a player for Orlando City and coaching at the youth level, Hines became the Pride’s interim head coach in June 2022 before getting the gig full time. This season was his best yet with Orlando, finding 18 wins and leading a team that scored a club-record 46 goals along the way. He learned about his award from his players:

Internationals Take The Pitch

Tuesday gave some Lions the chance to represent their home nations. Orlando City right back Dagur Dan Thorhallsson entered the UEFA Nations League match between Wales and Iceland in the 75th-minute, but Iceland fell 4-1 after scoring first. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese gained another start for Peru in its CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Argentina but couldn’t earn a shutout in a 1-0 loss.

Record MLS Signing Reported

FC Cincinnati has splashed the cash and has reportedly completed the signing of 23-year-old Cercle Brugge forward Kévin Denkey. The transfer fee of $16.2 million is an MLS record, passing the previous $16 million that Atlanta United spent to acquired Thiago Almada in 2022. The signing of Denkey to a four-year contract fills a gap at forward for Cincinnati. The length of the deal appears to make him the centerpiece of the team as only one player on the roster has guaranteed contract years beyond 2026, and only striker Kevin Kelsy has option years into 2028 and 2029, but he is currently on loan.

Inter&Co Stadium Will Host Orlando Cup

Coming in January 2025, the Orlando Cup Pro Series will bring clubs Santos FC, Atlético Nacional, and Fortaleza to our home stadium. These will be preseason matches for the participating teams to help them tune up and grow their brands in the United States.

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That’s a wrap on links for the day. I wish you all the best with the rest of you week. Who else is excited for a big Orlando soccer weekend? Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 11/19/24

Orlando Pride players honored, USMNT beats Jamaica, USWNT roster announced, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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November 19, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! We’ve had a busy few days with the Orlando Pride advancing to the NWSL Championship in style, and games continuing to come thick and fast during the international break. Things aren’t slowing down around here though, as the Pride will play for a trophy on Saturday, and Orlando City faces Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday. Today also marks 11 years since Orlando City was announced as the 21st MLS club. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Pride Players Named to NWSL Best XI

On top of advancing to the NWSL Championship, a number of Orlando Pride players have been honored with places in the league’s Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team. Emily Sams, Marta, and Barbra Banda made the cut for the First Team, while Anna Moorhouse and Kerry Abello were chosen for the Second Team.

Sams started in all 13 of the Pride’s shutouts, while Marta had 10 goal contributions on the year and Banda bagged 13 goals and six assists in her first year in the league. A big congratulations to all five players!

USMNT Routs Jamaica

The United States Men’s National Team ran riot over Jamaica in the second leg of its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series, winning by a score of 4-2 in St. Louis. The Yanks used a dominant first half to put the game away early, with two Christian Pulisic goals and Ricardo Pepi’s second goal in as many games giving the Americans a 3-0 lead at halftime. In the first 45 minutes, the USMNT enjoyed 70% possession and took six shots to the visitors’ two, with the majority of the action being played in Jamaica’s half. The game opened up more in the second half with Demari Gray grabbing a brace, but the Yanks were never truly threatened and advanced to the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.

USWNT Roster Announced

The United States Women’s National Team has announced its roster for upcoming friendlies against England and the Netherlands. Emma Hayes has named a 24-player roster for the two games, both of which will take place overseas. The roster features a familiar face, as the Orlando Pride’s Sams was named to the squad as a center back. The team also features Lily Yohannes, who recently announced her decision to play for the USWNT, and she will face the other team she was eligible to declare for in the Netherlands. To date, Sams has made two appearances for the USWNT and could be in line to double that number. The Yanks will face England at Wembley on Nov. 30, and then take on the Dutch on Dec. 3 at ADO Den Haag Stadium.

UEFA Nations League Roundup

The international break continued yesterday and there are a number of results to catch up on. In Europe, Croatia and Portugal both advanced to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw, and Scotland used a late goal by Andy Robertson to beat Poland 2-1, with the result sending the Scots to a playoff that will determine if they’ll be relegated from League A, while Poland dropped into League B. San Marino won just its second game in 20 years by beating Liechtenstein 3-1 to move up into League C. Finally, Denmark advanced to the quarterfinals courtesy of a scoreless draw with Serbia.

Free Kicks

  • Come meet Duncan McGuire tomorrow and enjoy some chicken to boot.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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