Lion Links: 6/8/17

Hello Mane Landers. With the team on a much deserved break it is time to get into the spirit of international soccer and of course get excited about the Red, White & Blue tonight in World Cup qualifying. With a few different stories coming from around the soccer world, lets dive right into our Links for the day.

Orlando City Defender Rafael Ramos’ Red Card Decision Reversed

On Wednesday afternoon an independent panel overturned Rafael Ramos’ red card that he was shown in the 26th minute of the game against the Chicago Fire. The red card was given by referee Ted Unkel, which quickly engaged a lot of social media chatter about the play and if it was truly a red card or not.

Under MLS rules, each club is entitled to two unsuccessful appeals per season, including playoffs. Because the Lions were successful in their appeal, the team maintains two unsuccessful challenges for any future dismissals for the remainder of the 2017 season. The club did not challenge Nocerino’s 66th-minute red card, which would have been much more difficult to overturn because the decision must be unanimous to overturn a red card.

OCB Earns Draw with Rhinos

The young Lions were back in action last night at Orlando City Stadium, hosting the Rochester Rhinos. OCB scored first on a Hadji Barry goal, but a mistake by goalkeeper Josh Saunders — seeing his first game action of the season — allowed the visitors to equalize en route to a 1-1 draw. Saunders dropped a cross that was easily poked in by Antonio Correia just moments after Barry opened the scoring. But Saunders redeemed himself in the game’s late stages with multiple huge 1-v-1 saves to preserve a point for the Lions.

Orlando City B has Become Home for Cameroon Natives

Albert Dikwa and Youmeni Jules have found a home in Orlando. After landing in Florida, Jules and Dikwa both had to adapt to a more physical style of soccer along with learning the English language. They have both had their struggles on the journey but as rookies, the pair are finding a home away from home and making Orlando City B a tougher team to beat.

Ashlyn Harris opens up about the NWSL and its need to grow

With a shared goal to make the National Women's Soccer League a more desirable league for talent and viewers, Ashlyn Harris is at the forefront of a league looking to grow and get better.

“All of [the progress made before the season began] just shows the stability of the game now,” Harris, who is currently rehabbing a quadricep injury she suffered in May, told Excelle Sports. “I think [in the league’s early years] we were fighting constantly to keep it alive. Now we are thinking ahead. We are thinking about things like, ‘How we can increase wages and improve the working environment? How can we make it better across the board?’”

Harris wants to push the envelope as much as possible to push this league forward.

A Beckham MLS team in Miami Takes a Step Forward

With a 9-4 vote, David Beckham has sealed the land he needs in order to build a stadium in Miami. It is a journey that has been four plus years in the making and this final piece is huge for Beckham and his dreams of soccer in Miami.

''Miami is ready,'' said Tim Leiweke, one of the partners in Beckham's group. ''We are committed. And the city and the county have now taken the necessary steps for us to control our own destiny for a privately financed, world-class soccer stadium for Major League Soccer.''

Free Kicks

• Christian Pulisic is becoming the blueprint of American soccer stardom. Does he have what it takes to be a great international star, the first of his kind for the U.S.?
• The U.S. Soccer development academy playoffs draw is in and the OCSC U-17/18 team will be in Group G.
• Check out the Canada National Team roster, which Cyle Larin and Will Johnson are a part of. This is Canada’s 40-man preliminary roster for the Gold Cup, which will later be pared down to 23.
• Clint Dempsey is on the cusp of greatness as he looks to pass Landon Donovan as the all-time leading goal scorer in U.S. Soccer history, check out his story from Grant Wahl here.

That is all from me today. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday and if you want more from my brilliant mind, follow me on twitter: @awesomeniemeier.