Lion Links: 5/8/17

Welcome to Lion Links on this Monday! Let’s start the business week off right with soccer news from around MLS and the rest of the world. This weekend’s game was a forgettable one for us Lions fans but luckily we have the future to look forward to and thankfully a home game on the horizon. As the Lions prepare for the game ahead, let’s get you prepared on all things soccer. Enjoy.

Orlando City Stadium Should Boost U.S. Men’s National Team

If Columbus is seen as one of the best places for the USMNT to play on home turf, then Orlando’s new stadium should insert itself into that conversation soon. The stadium has been built as the perfect venue for Orlando’s soccer teams to thrive in, especially as Orlando City SC has gone undefeated at its home venue thus far. The next team to dominate in Orlando could very well be the USMNT and that would be quite fantastic.

“It’s good to know that U.S. Soccer understands and believes that our stadium can help the team,” Leitão said. “They understand that a building like that can help the national team get their results.

“One of the things we always said from the beginning was that we were going to build a stadium that would make a lot of difference for Orlando City, which it’s doing, and will bring some great sports events and big soccer events — and this is the first one.”

Orlando City Stadium will host its first USMNT World Cup qualifier in October.

Marta Scores, Orlando Pride Draw in Kansas City

The Orlando Pride went on the road and earned a 1-1 tie against FC Kansas City. The result brings the Pride to 0-2-2 on the season and still in search of their first win. The good news of the evening was that the newly acquired Marta has opened up her account for the Pride by scoring a goal in the 74th minute.

A smart touch from Marta in the 74th minute appeared to provide a much-needed three points for Orlando Pride. But an equalizer 10 minutes later from a set piece drew FC Kansas City even after Erika Tymrak found the back of the net following two saves from Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. That late goal erased two of those three points as the teams drew 1-1 Sunday at Swope Park in Kansas City.

The Long Leash Given to MLS Coaches

In a very interesting read, changes are going to be the wave of the future in handling MLS coaches that continue to be unimpressive. Teams across MLS seem to give opportunities to coaches that have yet to earn those opportunities and the result is not always good. The patience of front office executives and owners may finally be wearing thin in an ever-changing and growing league.

Coaches considered to have MLS experience have generally been given long leashes on these shores. About one fourth of the league’s current head coaches are ex-players in their first stint as the top dog of a technical staff – think of D.C. United’s Ben Olsen, Heaps and Robinson (above) – and can generally be considered to have trained on the job. All were blessed with patient superiors during sustained downturns.

“The median tenure of a foreign manager is 40 games, while it is 68 games for domestic managers,” wrote Burdine. “That tells me that patience is much lower for foreigners.”

U.S. U-17s Fall to Mexico in Penalty Shootout

After playing to a 1-1 draw against Mexico the U.S. U-17 team lost the spot kick exhibition we call a shootout, 5-4, in the CONCACAF Championship final on Sunday.

The U.S. broke through just after the hour mark when Tim Weah won a poor clearance at the back, leading to Andrew Carleton’s blistering effort in the 62nd minute. The U.S. had chances to increase the lead, as Josh Sargent’s opportunistic run led to a point-blank save from Mexico goal keeper Cesar Lopez in the 82nd minute before Chris Goslin hit the woodwork in the 90th.

Mexico finally broke through in second-half stoppage time as Robles headed home a cross from Daniel Lopez, sending the final to penalty kicks.

Mexico saved themselves on a last-second goal in stoppage time, just two minutes before the final whistle, and then went on to win the close shootout.

USMNT Players Hope to Break into England’s Top Flight

USMNT player Tim Ream has earned a promotion playoff spot with his club, Fulham. He will now join USMNT player Danny Williams (Reading), as he also fights for his club to be promoted to the Premier League. If either one make it they will surely see fellow USMNT player DeAndre Yedlin, who has already been promoted to England’s top league with Newcastle United.

That is all from me today, folks. I leave you with the Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense lifting its first title since the devastating air crash this past November. Enjoy the rest of your Monday and if you want more from me on soccer stuff feel free to follow me: @awesomeniemeier.