Lion Links: 5/15/17

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! It’s good to be back on my regular day, and the Lions remain undefeated at home with a draw against Sporting Kansas City. PRO certainly PRO’d during the game, but it is what it is. That said, it was a busy weekend, and we start the week out with a non-loss, so we’ve got that going for us.

Pride Pull the Upset

The Pride picked the perfect time to end their 12-game winless streak. Playing in the Purple Palace, they took on the best team in the NWSL and dominated in a 3-1 win. The goals came from Chioma Ubogagu, Camila Martins Pereira, and Jasmyne Spencer. Despite no goal from Marta, she did slot the ball perfectly for the Spencer goal. This was exactly the game that Pride fans have been wanting, and it came against the exact opponent you’d want, as the North Carolina Courage were at the top of the NWSL table.

The Captain is Back Big Time

The last time I did Links, there was one to an article where the author posited that Kaká was holding the team back. That he was too old and on the decline. If you saw the goal he scored in the game against Sporting KC, and frankly how he moved the ball around most of the game, well you might be inclined to disagree with the above sentiment. I know I am. Three goals since his return, including his one on Saturday, show exactly how valuable the captain is to the team.

Bruce Arena is a Fan of the Stadium

The USMNT coach was on hand for the match on Saturday, and he was asked what he thought about the new stadium and the city as a venue for the last game of the Hex. Needless to say, Bruce agreed with all of us (and pretty much everyone else) that it’s a fantastic stadium and will be a fortress for the USMNT, as well as Orlando City.

U-12 Team Wins Palm Coast Classic

The winning didn’t stop with the Pride, as the U-12 Purple boys took the Palm Coast Classic. Well done, lads!

Husidic Speaks Up

Baggio Husidic was forced to flee Bosnia when he was seven years old. He knows what it’s like to be a refugee, and he wants Syrian refugees to have the same opportunities that he had when he came to America. His parents were college-educated accountants in their homeland, and had to work menial, low-paying jobs to get by when they arrived in Chicago. Husidic’s story is an example of what can happen when the American Dream is available to more than just those born here.

That’s going to do it for today’s links, ladies and gentlemen. We appreciate you stopping by, and stay tuned to The Mane Land for more Orlando City news.