Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/2/18
Happy New Year, everybody! Now while a new year might mean some things change, one thing that remains the same is me being here every Tuesday to give you your daily dose of soccer-related news. With that in mind, let’s get into today’s Links.
“Small City” Status May Help Hosting Chances
While the 2026 World Cup has yet to be officially awarded, there’s already speculation about which cities would host matches if the tournament was (partially) held on U.S. soil. Compared to major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York, Orlando falls on the small side. That may end up playing into the city’s favor, though, at least if a quote from Sunil Gulati last month is to be believed.
Is it natural to think that places like Los Angeles and New York have an edge? The answer is, of course…but after two or three or four of those big cities, then it’s wide open.
While there are 60 cities in competition for only 25 hosting spots, Orlando might have a better chance at landing a hosting gig than one might think. Orlando City joining MLS has certainly raised the city’s soccer profile, not to mention Orlando City Stadium hosting a USMNT World Cup qualifier this past fall. Only time will tell whether or not that will be enough, though, and the U.S. doesn’t even have the bid locked up yet, as Morocco is also competing for the right to host the 2026 tournament.
Jersey Reveals Galore
A new year brings new jerseys for the teams of MLS, and there have already been plenty of jersey reveals.
Here’s one from the New York Red Bulls:
You Asked. We Answered.
The Red Kit is Here. #RBNY pic.twitter.com/9i1jl8KItr
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) January 1, 2018
And another from the New England Revolution:
Out with the old, in with the new … #NERevs jersey!
🎉#happynewyear🎉 pic.twitter.com/Tjl8bxNvOH
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) January 1, 2018
And while this isn’t a full reveal, the Portland Timbers have given fans a little tease of what’s to come:
New year, new look. 😏
More to come later this month. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/MqYY3OcqfH
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 1, 2018
A…Different Kind of Jersey Reveal
Last Saturday, Nike ran an ad on its official online store encouraging shoppers to buy a Barcelona jersey with Philipe Coutinho’s name on the back of it. The only problem? Coutinho hasn’t been signed by Barcelona, meaning that Nike wrongly announced a transfer that hasn’t happened. And it could end up costing the sportswear company big, with reports that Liverpool will sue Nike, which is the Catalan club’s kit supplier and also sponsors Coutinho himself. The club is said to be furious over the sportswear supplier’s “carelessness” and intends to make the company pay for it. The ad itself can be seen below:
The 2018 Soccer Calendar
2018 is another soccer-packed year, and MLSsoccer.com is here to make sure that you have the full rundown of all the important North American soccer dates you could ever ask for. A quick look at the first half of the list includes the MLS schedule dropping in early January, the NWSL and MLS drafts on Jan. 18 and 19, respectively, the USSF general meeting on Feb. 8, MLS opening day on March 3, CONCACAF Champions League final from April 18-25, and of course the 2018 FIFA World Cup beginning on June 14. Obviously there’s plenty more going on than the things touched on above, with the second half of the year not even included, so feel free to check out the list yourself and perhaps bookmark it for easy access. We wouldn’t want you to miss anything.
Free Kicks
Two former NWSL players are on their way to France.
🔴🔵OFFICIAL : Amandine Henry (until June 2021) and Morgan Brian (until June 2020) are both joining OL.
Welcome @moeebrian and welcome back @amandinehenry6 😀 pic.twitter.com/m3Av3BPwcm— OL Féminin (@olfeminines) January 1, 2018
This compilation of Phil Jones is not relevant in any way whatsoever. But it sure is horrifying.
— Goal (@goal) January 1, 2018
- Today’s birthdays include Cuba Gooding Jr., Dax Shepard, Taye Diggs, and Kate Bosworth.
That’s all I’ve got for today. Y’all come back now ya hear?
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/15/24
MLS Decision Day scenarios, Orlando Pride announce playoff campaign, USMNT plays Mexico tonight, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? Things aren’t exactly back to normal for me here in Tampa after the hurricane, but they’re getting there. On this day in 2017, Kaká played his final official game for Orlando City. Plenty has changed since then and I’m glad he’s been able to see the Lions transform into a true contender in recent years. Let’s get to the links!
Getting Ready for MLS Decision Day
MLS Decision Day is Saturday and Orlando City’s home game against Atlanta United is a crucial part of the Eastern Conference drama. A win by the Lions would guarantee them fourth in the standings and crucial home-field advantage in the first round. A loss or draw would open the door for New York City FC to possibly leapfrog Orlando if the Pigeons beat a CF Montreal team desperate to hold onto the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta needs a win to qualify for the playoffs and the same goes for the Philadelphia Union, which faces FC Cincinnati. Orlando clinching home-field advantage and denying Atlanta a spot in the postseason in the process would be a nice way to close out the regular season.
Orlando Pride Launch Playoff Campaign
With the 2024 NWSL playoffs only a few weeks away, the Orlando Pride have announced their campaign to get the community ready for the postseason and celebrate a historic season. The motto “Do You See Us Now?” highlights how the Pride have been impossible to ignore this year by winning the NWSL Shield for the first time and setting records left and right. There will be plenty of local events leading up to the playoffs, including player appearances, watch parties, and ways to get merch to represent the Pride in November. There’s also a promotion in which you would get a ticket to the semifinal if you buy a quarterfinal ticket and the Pride advance.
USMNT Takes On Mexico Tonight
After a 2-0 win over Panama in Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching debut, the United States Men’s National Team is on the road tonight for a friendly against Mexico in Guadalajara. It will be Pochettino’s first taste of the rivalry and a fairly tough test for him, as the U.S. has only beaten Mexico once in Mexico. However, the Yanks also haven’t lost in their past four trips to Mexico to face El Tri. The U.S. will be without five players who returned to their clubs after the win over Panama, including Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi.
Angel City FC Releases Statement on Sanctions
In response to the sanctions imposed by the NWSL that included a three-point deduction and a $200,000 fine after an investigation into a salary cap rule violation, Angel City FC has released a statement.
The club stated that it did not exceed the salary cap, noting that it was the club’s understanding that child care did not count against the salary cap. Angel City was found in violation of going over the salary cap by $50,000 for four weeks this season. That three-point deduction has Angel City in 11th and five points out of a playoff spot with just two games to go.
Free Kicks
- The Pride remained at the top of ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, while the Portland Thorns jumped up five spots to sixth for handing them their first loss of the season.
- Orlando City B’s Wilfredo Rivera had quite the birthday, drawing the penalty kick that resulted in the winning goal in Puerto Rico’s 2-1 win over Sint Maarten in the Concacaf Nations League.
- Boston’s NWSL team set to join the league in 2026 will reportedly be named BOS Nation FC, which is almost impressively bad. We’ll see if the reports are true when the name and logo are officially revealed today.
- Nigeria boycotted its Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya after being stranded at an airport 130 miles from the team’s intended destination. Libyan authorities deny it was sabotage, but the CAF will investigate what happened.
- Australia’s match against Japan highlights an intriguing slate of matches in AFC World Cup qualifying that also includes South Korea facing off against Iraq.
- Amandine Henry, who captained France at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, has announced she is retiring from international soccer. The 35-year-old midfielder won seven Women’s Champions League titles while with Lyon and currently plays for Toluca in Mexico.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Tuesday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/14/24
Getting to know Martin Ojeda, Orlando Pride unbeaten run ends, USMNT beats Panama, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you over the holiday weekend. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour and finishing up stream monitoring for an NISA Playoff semifinal match in California. Let’s also wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B forward Wilfredo Rivera. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Getting to Know Martin Ojeda
Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda was featured as part of the club’s video series to learn more about the players. In the video, Ojeda gave insight into his beginnings playing soccer when he was three years old and playing for his neighborhood club in South America. He also discussed his style of play, focusing on the attack, creating opportunities, and stating that there is always room to improve. You can check out the rest of the video below.
Pride Unbeaten Run Ends in Loss to Thorns
The Orlando Pride suffered their first loss of the NWSL season on Friday, falling 2-0 to the Portland Thorns. Morgan Weaver and Christine Sinclair scored for the Thorns to seal the win and end Orlando’s 24-match unbeaten streak dating back to Oct. 6 of last season. Despite the loss, the Pride remain in first place in the NWSL table with 57 points after winning the NWSL Shield a week ago. The next match for the Pride will be on Sunday on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Keys to Success in Orlando Pride Turnaround
The Athletic ($) took a deep dive into the process that led to the Orlando Pride turnaround this season. The article begins with the Pride joining the NWSL in 2016, their up-and-down seasons, and how recent changes in the last couple of years have set the foundation for the club’s success in 2024. It also shared some unique insights from interviews with staff and players and how the club was eager to make changes after finishing in the bottom half of the table for the last five seasons. The most interesting takeaway for me from reading the article was Head Coach Seb Hines speaking on the process of changing the culture of the club, building that underdog mindset, and how he keeps his players motivated. Although the 24-match unbeaten streak is over, the Pride are breaking records this season and won their first trophy. There’s been plenty to be excited about for the Pride this season, and hopefully they will carry this momentum into the playoffs and make a deep run.
USMNT Defeats Panama in Mauricio Pochettino’s Coaching Debut
The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Panama 2-0 on Saturday at Q2 Stadium, securing the first win in Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s debut in a friendly. Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi scored the USMNT’s goals in the second half to secure the victory. Matt Turner started in goal, and Christian Pulisic added an assist to set up Musah’s goal. The USMNT will face Mexico in Guadalajara on Tuesday. Pulisic, Pepi, and Weston McKennie will miss the match to return to their respective European clubs. Marlon Fossey and Zack Steffen will also return to their clubs.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese earned a clean sheet on international duty as his Peru side defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match on Friday. Wilder Cartagena and Facundo Torres did not play in the match.
- Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were called up to the Brazil Women’s National Team for friendlies against Colombia on Oct. 26 and Oct. 29.
- Sports Illustrated listed five MLS players that could move abroad this off-season, mentioning Orlando City’s Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire as potential targets.
- Angel City FC forward Christen Press scored her first goal in 28 months over the weekend in a 1-1 draw against the North Carolina Courage. Press had been sidelined due to an ACL injury requiring four surgeries before returning to action.
- Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga broke an NWSL record after scoring her 19th goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Bay FC over the weekend.
- The European Leagues, FIFPRO Players Union, and La Liga plan to file an antitrust suit against FIFA over its international match calendar.
- Wesley Fofana defended Kylian Mbappe after reports surfaced that Mbappe was at a nightclub in Sweden on the day France defeated Israel 4-1 in UEFA Nations League action.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/11/24
Orlando Pride in Portland, U.S. men and women news, international upsets, and more.
Milton has finally made its way out of Florida, though many of us will be dealing with the aftermath for a while. We hope that you and yours are safe and that the damage is minimal. I know that many are still without power — which is why I’m writing Lion Links today instead of Marcus Mitchell. Fortunately, the Orlando Pride play in Portland tonight, although it will be a late one. Let’s get to the links.
Pride in Portland
The Orlando Pride may be the NWSL Shield winners, but with three matches left in the regular season, the job is not done. Now, the club will take on the Portland Thorns. The Thorns haven’t been great as of late, but Providence Park is a tough place to play. While the club is focused on the upcoming playoffs, the Pride still want to finish undefeated in the regular season. Portland, like many clubs, are fighting for a playoff spot.
USWNT Players in the News
Lindsey Horan didn’t have the best Olympics in my opinion, but she is doing very well in her start to Lyon’s season. She’s scored five goals in four matches to help Lyon top the table. Back home, Crystal Dunn is being honored by Empowerment on the East River hosted by Black Players for Change.
USMNT in Action
The USMNT plays its first match under Mauricio Pochettino Saturday night against Panama, and you can watch it on multiple platforms. There are no conflicts of interest this go-around, but next year, some players will need to choose between playing in the Club World Cup or the Gold Cup.
International Results
Orlando City, and all the other teams and leagues, aren’t playing right now due to an international break. The matches have already begun. Perhaps the biggest news was Greece’s stunning 2-1 win over England. The victory puts Greece atop Group B2 in the UEFA Nations League competition.
Over in Group A2, Italy blew a two-goal lead to draw Belgium 2-2. There were plenty of other results, including Erling Haaland becoming his country’s all-time top scorer after scoring a brace in Norway’s 3-0 win over Slovenia. If you want to catch more matches, here’s where you can watch.
Free Kicks
- Keeper kits are usually interesting, given how different they are from the normal kits. Here are some of the best (and worst).
- Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui will be out for a while following a heart procedure. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.
- Spain forward Álvaro Morata revealed that he almost quit his national team due to suffering from depression and panic attacks. Mental health is important for everyone.
- Brazil’s Ronaldinho has joined the ownership group for USL League One club Greenville Triumph SC and USL W League club Greenville Liberty SC.
- Wrexham AFC owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney aren’t just investing in the club. Their impact is being felt throughout the Wrexham community.
That will do it for today. Check back tonight for our Pride match recap, and follow The Mane Land on Twitter during the match. Vamos Orlando!
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