Lion Links: 12/4/17

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! Well, here we are on the first Monday of December. We’re one month closer to the start of the 2018 season and seeing what our new squad might look like.

Gulati Finally Giving Up?

It seems that U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Galati might not run for re-election, despite his previous insistence that he would not be stepping down.

Hearing from several sources tonight that US Soccer president Sunil Gulati is strongly considering not running for re-election and may support Soccer United Marketing president Kathy Carter for the position instead.

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) December 3, 2017

Gulati has been one of the objects of U.S. Soccer supporters’ ire following the USMNT’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago. Kathy Carter is considering a run for the potentially open position, and would be the first woman in the current field of seven. It is rumored that Gulati would endorse Carter.

The Cardinal Take Down the Bruins

The 2017 NCAA Women’s College Cup final finished yesterday in Orlando with Stanford defeating UCLA, 3-2. Stanford finished the season 24-1-0, including a 22-win run to end the season. It was a back-and-forth match, with a stunner of a goal by Jaye Boissiere to win in the 67th minute for Stanford.

U.S. U-17 Draw Brazil in Nike Invitational Finale

The Baby Nats finished the 2017 Men’s Nike Invitational Friendlies with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, who won the tournament after the result. It was a decent end to a pretty rough tournament for the U.S. U-17 team, which lost both of its other games against the Netherlands and England without scoring a goal in either match.

A Tale of Two Cities

There’s been a lot said about the potential move of the Columbus Crew to Austin, TX. There’s also the chance that Cincinnati might get an MLS expansion team if USL side FC Cincinnati were to be given the chance. If the Crew were to stay in Columbus and FC Cincinnati were to join MLS, there could be a new rivalry. Of course, it’s just as likely that Columbus could leave and FC Cincinnati isn’t chosen, leaving the state with neither.

The MLS Cup

I’m not talking about the upcoming match between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC, I’m talking about the actual Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. It has been awarded to the MLS champion every year since 2008, when it replaced the Alan I. Rothenberg Cup. Funny thing about the trophy, there’s only one, and the winner only gets to keep it for a short time, before receiving a replica they get to keep and show off. The real one goes back to MLS headquarters.

Free Kicks

• 18-year-old American Jonathan Amon, got a start with Norsdjaelland’s away match at FC Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga.

Charleston SC native Jonathan Amon, 18, gets the start at LW for Norsdjaelland away at FC Copenhagen. Big test for the American teen who has very impressive in recent weeks – and eligible for the 2019 U-20 team https://t.co/REnq2MvFY1

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 3, 2017

• They don’t build them like they used to. Detroit’s Silverdome was scheduled for demolition. However, things didn’t go quite as planned, and the stadium didn’t collapse. Yet. Evidently, gravity will have to do the rest.
• Famous birthdays for today include: Jay Z (47), Tyra Banks (43), Marissa Tomei (52), Jeff Bridges (67), Skip Bayless (65), and Fred Armisen (50).

That’s going to do it for today. Keep checking back with The Mane Land for all the soccer news you can handle.