Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/7/17
Happy Thursday, readers. I realize it’s been 76 years, but please take a moment to remember those U.S. servicemen who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor on this date in 1941.
That’s a somber thought to start the day. Sorry about that.
Let’s get to feeling better with a plate full of piping hot Lion Links.
Lions Linked with Panamanian Midfielder
The rumor du jour has Orlando City linked with Panamanian international midfielder Manuel Vargas. He’s been plying his trade with Chorillo in the Panamanian domestic league, where his team won the apertura in 2017. I’ll admit I know little about this player, other than what’s available online. He’s a 26-year-old defensive midfielder, has been capped eight times for Panama (per Soccerway), and arrived at Chorillo via free transfer from Tauro on July 1. He’s played in the CONCACAF Champions League and could see time with Panama at the World Cup in 2018. Vargas has played in 110 games (82 starts) in the Panamanian league since 2010, logging 7,143 minutes and scoring one goal, with 32 yellow cards and one straight red. Could he be the new base of Jason Kreis’ diamond?
Winter is Coming…Back?
Don’t toy with our emotions, Scott Sutter. The Orlando City right back is enjoying his off-season after playing back-to-back seasons in Switzerland and the U.S. and he found an old friend during his travels — one that he says he’s trying to sweet talk back to the City Beautiful.
I’m not sure which would both surprise and delight me more — Winter’s return to Orlando City or Sutter joining the cast of Peaky Blinders.
This is How “Rumors” Get Started
I enjoy soccer rumors of all sorts, from the ridiculous (Zlatan to Orlando! James Rodriguez to Orlando! Everyone to Orlando!) to the plausible. I especially like the rumors that are obvious. To wit:
Source: Pierre Da Silva from Orlando City is training with Benfica.
— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) December 7, 2017
Note — “sources” may include:
✈️🇵🇹⚽️
— Pierre Da Silva (@PierreDasilva11) December 2, 2017
Not too much of a stretch to figure this one out, given Orlando City’s affiliation with Benfica and the fact that club technical staff were just over there.
Monica Finds the Net for Atleti
Orlando Pride defender Monica scored her first goal for Atletico Madrid, netting the game-winner in the 78th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Espanyol (linked story in Spanish but right click in Chrome and select ‘translate to English’). The Atletico women have won 11 times and drawn once in 12 matches, and are top of the table in Spain. Monica, like the Pride’s bunch who are killing it in Australia, is helping her winter team have success. She seems pretty pumped up about it, too.
👊🏼🗣 ¡Su primer gol con la rojiblanca vale TRES PUNTAZOS! 🔝👏🏼
🇧🇷🇧🇷 @MonicaHickmannA 🇧🇷🇧🇷#AúpaAtleti #EspanyolAtleti pic.twitter.com/v4U813hIqh— At. Madrid Femenino (@AtletiFemenino) December 6, 2017
OCB Gone Until 2019?
The USL has a volatile landscape right now. I didn’t think too much of Orlando City B cutting most of the team because the young Lions did the same thing a year ago. Ant Pulis shuffling off to St. Louis is completely understandable — he’s a young coach looking to climb the ladder and was saddled with a developmental squad that affected his win/loss total and restricted his ability to team build, after all. But with all that’s been happening this off-season, it’s hard to ignore stuff like this:
Some @USL news from a highly placed source: Orlando City B is to go on hiatus in 2018 and come back in @USL_D3 in 2019.
The Rochester Rhinos have option to go to USL D3 in 2019 too.
— Bob Williams (@WilliamsBob75) December 7, 2017
Orlando City told the Orlando Sentinel the club was committed to OCB in 2018, but things can change because life comes at you fast. Look, I can’t really say what’s going on, and mostly because my sources generally shrug their shoulders when I ask what’s up with OCB. It’s the darnedest thing because I’ve never had so many people tell me they honestly have no idea what’s going to happen. I guess we’ll keep chasing the story and we’ll all find out soon enough.
No Lions Taken in SB Nation Mock Expansion Draft
The SB Nation Mock Expansion Draft for LAFC took place this week and nobody from Orlando City was taken. Our friends at Angels On Parade, SBN’s LAFC site, selected five players for their team from the unprotected lists of the other MLS blogs. Personally, I doubt more than one or two of their picks will actually be unprotected and/or left alone due to a back-door deal. I handed in our list and I let them choose from players like Tony Rocha, PC, Rafael Ramos, Carlos Rivas, and Will Johnson.
Free Kicks
- In my haste to tell you about Alex Morgan being named a finalist for U.S. Female Player of the Year yesterday, I forgot to give you the finalists on the men’s side (spoiler: Christian Pulisic will win).
- This is a good read from FourFourTwo on how Laura Harvey went from the Seattle Reign to a supposed job with the U.S. Soccer Federation, to Utah Royals FC.
- Former Columbus Crew and USMNT striker Brian McBride said Crew ownership has been handling the potential relocation to Austin “incredibly wrong” in an interview with Herc Gomez. Meanwhile, a stadium site in Austin has been identified. #SaveTheCrew
- The EPL set a record by getting five teams into the UEFA Champions League round of 16. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic hit a Champions League milestone.
Christian Pulisic starts for Dortmund vs Real Madrid today.
He’ll play his 15th UEFA Champions League game, passing Sacha Kljestan for 3rd-most by a U.S. international (Jones, Beasley). 🇺🇸
— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) December 6, 2017
- Speaking of Pulisic, fellow countryman Giovanni Reyna — 15-year-old son of Claudio — may be getting a Portuguese passport thanks to his mother’s nationality and heading to Europe as a teenager like Christian did. Since Reyna is in NYCFC’s academy, I’m for it.
- Among those born on this date are Mary Tyler Moore Show and Caddyshack actor Ted Knight (1923), Harry Chapin (1942), baseball’s Johnny Bench (1947), Tom Waits (1949), legendary Celtics star Larry Bird (1956), wrestling’s Rick Rude (1958), C. Thomas Howell (1966), football’s Terrell Owens (1973), and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig (1990).
That’s all my time this morning. Enjoy your Thursday. We’re now just two days from finding out who gets to take home MLS Cup.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/2/24
Orlando City’s playoff run ends, Barbra Banda nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player, USWNT draws against England, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving weekend spent with your family and loved ones. Under Armour kept me busy all weekend, along with working at Wrigley Field for the Northwestern and Illinois college football game. Let’s all wish Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar a happy birthday! It was frustrating to see Orlando City’s season end over the weekend, but let’s get to the links to catch up on all of the action.
Lions Fall to the New York Red Bulls in MLS Playoffs
Orlando City’s 2024 MLS playoff run ended on Saturday after a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference final. Andres Reyes scored the lone goal to seal the win for the Red Bulls to advance to the MLS Cup final for the second time in club history. It’s the second time this postseason that the Lions have been shut out. Orlando didn’t beat the Red Bulls at all this year, drawing 1-1 at home and falling 1-0 on the road during the regular season prior to this playoff match. Orlando’s 2024 season ends just one round before reaching what would have been its first MLS Cup final appearance. Considering how Orlando’s season started, turning things around to finish as one of the final four teams in the playoffs gives the Lions something to build on next year.
Barbra Banda Nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player Award
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2024 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. Banda is coming off a stellar season in her first year with the Pride, leading the club with 17 goals and scoring the winning goal against the Washington Spirit to seal Orlando’s first NWSL Championship title. She scored a hat trick for Zambia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris against Australia as well. USWNT players Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman are also in contention for the award. Other notable players nominated are last year’s winner, Aitana Bonmati, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, and Jamaican forward Khadija Shaw.
LA Galaxy Beat Seattle Sounders to Reach MLS Cup Final
In the Western Conference final, the LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Dejan Joveljic scored a late goal in the second half to seal the win for the Galaxy and clinch a spot in the MLS Cup final. Joveljic has scored five goals in the postseason and the Galaxy return to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2014. Riqui Puig added the assist on Joveljic’s goal and has three assists and four goals this postseason. Unfortunately, Puig suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the match and will miss the final when the Galaxy host the Red Bulls on Saturday.
USWNT and England Play to Scoreless Draw in Friendly
On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team fought to a scoreless draw against England in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium. The USWNT thought it had scored a goal in the second half courtesy of Lindsey Horan, but the goal was waived off due to offside. The USWNT was also given a penalty kick after it appeared defender Alex Greenwood handled the ball, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. The USWNT will travel to The Hague to take on the Netherlands tomorrow at ADO Den Haag Stadium at 2:45 p.m. for its final match to close out the year.
Scouting Report on the Netherlands
Stars and Stripes FC unveiled its scouting report on the Netherlands. The USWNT will face the Netherlands for the 11th time, winning eight of the past matches. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage. Some notable names on the Dutch roster include forward Chasity Grant, goalkeeper Lize Kop, and defender Dominique Janssen. Kop is known for her quickness to get to the ground and possesses the physical strength to absorb contact from her opponents when going after aerial balls. Veteran defender Danielle van de Donk is another player to keep an eye out for, as she can still provide a spark and identify gaps in the opposition’s defense. Even though this is a friendly, this match will provide another test for Head Coach Emma Hayes to give opportunities to the younger players while building chemistry for the squad.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were both in action for Brazil in a friendly on Sunday. Brazil won 2-1 over Australia.
- Christian Pulisic added an assist over the weekend to help AC Milan defeat Empoli 3-0 and extend its unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions.
- The match between Fiorentina and Inter Milan was suspended in the first half after midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed during the match and was rushed to the hospital. The match was abandoned shortly afterward.
- Bayern Munich defender and Canadian national team captain Alphonso Davies has been banned from driving in Germany for one month after being found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane strained his hamstring during Saturday’s match against Borussia Dortmund and had to be subbed off in the first half. The club has stated he will be out for the time being, and didn’t indicate when he could return.
- Despite being down to 10-men early in the first half, Botafogo defeated Atletico Mineiro 3-1 to win its first Copa Libertadores title.
- Manchester City was defeated by Liverpool 2-0 on Sunday, extending its winless streak to seven matches across all competitions.
- Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman resigned over the weekend, leaving the club after just 15 months.
- Saudi Arabia is reportedly set to host the 2034 World Cup, which would be played in the winter months. FIFA is expected to announce the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups on Dec. 11.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/29/24
Orlando City’s deepest playoff run so far, USWNT prepares for England, Europa League roundup, and more.
Welcome to Friday, Mane Landers. Hopefully your Thanksgiving was a joyous one filled with great food and greater company. If not, at least you can revel in the fact that the weekend is right around the corner (many of you may already be in yours because of the holiday) and is packed with plenty of soccer to enjoy. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.
Orlando City Enters the Unknown
Despite a slow start to the season, Orlando City finds itself further in the playoffs than ever before and will host the New York Red Bulls Saturday night in the Eastern Conference final. The Lions may be in uncharted territory, but they have plenty of experience in knockout tournaments to draw upon. Taylor Twellman broke down how the Lions reached this point and became one of the top teams in the league. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese helped solidify Orlando’s defense, and attackers Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique, and Martin Ojeda all found their groove at the right time.
Along with recognizing the many weapons in Orlando’s dynamic offense, Bradley Wright-Phillips gave deserved praise to midfield duo Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena, who have made life difficult for opponents. As for the key Red Bulls players to watch for tomorrow, Emil Forsberg has the team firing on all cylinders and Lewis Morgan may be due for a big game. He has a history of success against Orlando.
USWNT Prepares for Friendly Against England
The United States Women’s National Team will take on England at Wembley Stadium Saturday in the first of two friendlies to close out the year. It will be the 20th match between the two nations, with England winning the most recent meeting on Oct. 7, 2022. England boasts plenty of talent all over its roster, including forward Beth Mead and defender Lucy Bronze. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is a part of England’s roster. It should be a great match between the two highest ranked teams in the world and also an interesting chess match between coaches Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman.
USMNT Moves Up in FIFA Rankings
The latest men’s FIFA rankings were unveiled and the U.S. jumped up two spots to 16th following its pair of wins over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The Yanks are the highest-ranked Concacaf team, with Mexico falling three spots to 19th and Canada climbing four spots to 31st. There was also some movement in the top 10 of the rankings, with Germany moving up to 10th while Colombia fell to 12th. Argentina remains at the top of the rankings despite a loss to Paraguay and a narrow win over Peru.
Keeping Up With the Europa League
The UEFA Europa League rolled on and Manchester United came up with a crucial win in manager Ruben Amorim’s first home game at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho scored early and Rasmus Højlund had a brace to help the team rally and beat Bodø/Glimt 3-2. Elsewhere in England, Mats Hummels scored an equalizer in stoppage time for AS Roma to draw 2-2 against Tottenham. Lazio’s perfect run in the tournament came to an end after a scoreless draw against Ludogorets. Rangers, Fenerbahce, and Eintracht Frankfurt came up with solid wins in this latest round of matches as well.
Free Kicks
- You’ll need to get past The Athletic‘s paywall for the full details, but American forward Ricardo Pepi spoke on how his late winner in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-2 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League was one of the most important goals of his career.
- Coventry City, which is 17th in England’s second division, hired Frank Lampard as its next head coach to right the ship.
- Here’s a nice collection of the latest reports surrounding players like Viktor Gyokeres, Miguel Almiron, and Tomas Araujo.
- Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has been doing well with Fiorentina to help the club unexpectedly contend for the Serie A title this year.
- Real Madrid’s bus was involved in a minor collision after its loss to Liverpool earlier this week. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt and the players were reportedly not on the bus at the time of the incident.
That’s all I have for you all this time around. If you plan on going out and shopping today, I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be staying in and knocking out some gift buying online. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/28/24
Orlando City prepares for Eastern Conference final, details revealed on Osceola Heritage Park changes, MLS roster changes, and more.
Happy Thanksgiving, Mane Landers! I don’t have too much preparation today beyond putting together some cranberry and brie bites for my family. The baking trials over the past week were more…trialing than expected, but I think I’ve figured out how to make them without giving myself too much stress today. My muffin tin was also a bit bigger than is probably optimal, so they come out more like muffins than anything. Before we dive into today’s links, here’s a picture of an imperfect batch before I realized they need a drizzle that I’ll make today.
Orlando City Prepares for the New York Red Bulls
For the first time in club history, Orlando City will take part in an Eastern Conference final when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. It will be the third game between the two teams this year, and the Lions did not win either of the previous two meetings. The past hardly matters now though, as both teams are now just a game away from playing in the MLS Cup final. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on the importance of Saturday’s game and how the Lions are preparing for their last home game of 2024.
Changes Planned For Osceola Heritage Park
Public documents revealed some of the major changes planned for Osceola Heritage Park following the Wilf family’s submitted proposal for parts of the land. The project is estimated to cost close to $1.3 billion and would include expansions for the team’s headquarters, academy, and 18 training fields. There are also plans for apartments, hotels, and restaurants and construction could begin next year. Orlando’s letter of interest in the land was the only one submitted and Osceola County Manager Don Fisher will reportedly recommend that county commissioners proceed with negotiations with the Wilf family.
Eliminated MLS Clubs Make Roster Moves
With only four contenders left in the MLS playoffs, the eliminated teams have turned their attention to getting their rosters ready for 2025. LAFC exercised the options on the contracts for goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and David Ochoa. It declined the option on MLS veteran Kei Kamara’s contract and is in discussions with forward Carlos Vela and defender Aaron Long as well. Former Lion Benji Michel’s contract option with Real Salt Lake was one of many declined by the club. Rubio Rubin, Maikel Chang, and Marcelo Silva won’t be in Salt Lake City next year either. Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Dayne St. Clair predictably had their contract options exercised by Minnesota United, while former Lion Derek Dodson had his declined.
The Columbus Crew will roll into 2025 without Yaw Yeboah or Alexandru Matan, but is keeping a decent amount of players around like Christian Ramirez, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and Patrick Schulte. Luis Suarez and Inter Miami have also agreed to a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2025.
UEFA Champions League Roundup
The most exciting match from the latest round of Champions League matches was in the Netherlands, with PSV Eindhoven coming back to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. The Americans shined, as Malik Tillman scored twice to tie things up, and then Ricardo Pepi provided the winner in stoppage time as a substitute. Benfica also had a thrilling 3-2 win thanks to a pair of late assists from Angel Di Maria to beat Monaco.
Real Madrid’s rough tournament continued with a 2-0 loss to Liverpool that included Kylian Mbappe having a penalty kick saved and an injury to Eduardo Camavinga. Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa and Juventus battled to a scoreless draw in England, and Ngal’ayel Mukau had a brace in Lille’s 2-1 victory against Bologna. Cameron Carter-Vickers had a rough day after an own goal in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Club Brugge.
Free Kicks
- Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner may have revealed that not every MLS team will take part in Leagues Cup next year, which would be a change from its past iterations.
- Ruud van Nistelrooy will reportedly become Leicester City’s next manager. This news comes after his solid and brief stint as Manchester United’s interim head coach.
- It may be Thanksgiving, but there’s still some soccer to check out today in the Europa League. The 18-match slate is highlighted by Tottenham’s clash with Roma and Manchester United’s home game with Bodø/Glimt.
- FIFA announced a $50 million legacy fund in collaboration with 2022 World Cup host Qatar and various groups like the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and UN Refugee Agency. Amnesty, a human rights group, noted how this legacy fund does not provide aid for the families of the migrant workers affected by the construction for the 2022 World Cup.
- Referee David Coote is under investigation for allegations that he exchanged messages with a fan about giving a yellow card to Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and enjoy plenty of great food and time with friends and family.
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