Lion Links: 7/14/17

Good morning, Mane Landers! There are no matches today, but that doesn’t spoil the fact that’s its finally Friday. We’d like to wish Orlando City B captain and player-coach Lewis Neal a happy 36th birthday today, and with that we’ll dive right into the links.

OCB Takes a Page from Senior Squad in 1-1 Draw

Danny Deakin scored his first professional goal deep in stoppage time to lift Orlando City B to a 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first I-4 Derby played in Orlando City Stadium. Deakin buried a penalty earned by Richie Laryea to steal a point for the Lions. Former Orlando City striker Martin Paterson put the visitors up against the run of play in the first half and the Rowdies pretty much parked the bus from there. OCB tried and tried to find a way in but it wasn’t until Deakin’s through ball put Laryea into the box in injury time that OCB created some real danger.

Kaká Looks Forward to Clash With Real Madrid

Kaká seems very excited to represent Orlando City at this year’s MLS All-Star Game. It will be an especially exhilarating game for the Brazilian as he will face his former team, Real Madrid. Despite Madrid’s recent conquest of Europe, Kaká believes that the MLS All-Stars should be able to hold their own against the champions of Europe and Spain.

"We do not know how the game will go," Kaká said. "But we have the players to take on Real Madrid as equals. We have a great team. The truth is it will be a very good and attractive game as our team have great players. Although we do not play together [with clubs], I don't believe it will be difficult to understand each other."

Tommy Redding Gets PRP Treatment

Tommy Redding is back, healthy, and good to play after receiving PRP treatment, which involved drawing his blood and then re-injecting it. Before the treatment, he was feeling severe plantar fasciitis pain in training, but is now good to go and will be eligible for Orlando City’s upcoming two-game series with Atlanta United.

Sutter Exceeds Expectations

Scott Sutter has come eighth on a list of the top 10 revelations of the MLS season so far. Before this season, Sutter was pretty much unknown to MLS and international fans, but this season he has proven his worth, showing he can be a great two-way player. In other words, he has shown his quality both attacking and defending.

Jasmyne Spencer Participates in a Beach Cleanup

It’s often that players embarrass their team publicly — *cough* Cyle Larin *cough* — so it’s refreshing to see an Orlando player lending a hand for a genuinely good cause to the public. For anyone in the Central Florida area, you are invited by Orlando Pride forward Jasmyne Spencer to help clean up Cocoa Beach and save the ocean.

Orlando City Has the Eighth Toughest Schedule Left

Orlando City has done really well to stay in the playoff hunt all year. It seems that the road from here on out only gets tougher as the Lions apparently face the eighth-toughest schedule left of all MLS teams.

Charlotte MLS Meeting Cancelled

MLS expansion is a topic which has split Orlando City fans a bit as some want a Florida rivalry with a Miami team while others think a team in South Beach might steal a bit of Orlando’s spotlight. Whichever way you lean, a Charlotte team joining MLS seems less likely now, as they can’t even meet with MLS, because they seemingly can’t agree on whether it should be a public or private meeting. The meeting will probably be rescheduled, but the two parties’ relationship has definitely gotten off on the wrong foot.

Ajax Midfielder Abdelhak Nouri Suffers Brain Damage

The young Ajax midfielder Abdelhal Nouri has unfortunately suffered permanent brain damage after an incident in a game. In Ajax’s friendly against Werder Bremen, Nouri went down after suffering cardiac arrhythmia, problems with the rhythm of his heart. His heart is now okay, but his brain has gone through irreversible damage. Our prayers go out to the Nouri family.

That’s all there is for today’s links. Have a wonderful Friday and enjoy our own Austin David interviewing the Orlando City Foundation’s Kay Rawlins on his radio show yesterday: