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Lion Links: 2/10/18

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Happy Saturday, Mane Land readers! Another beautiful weekend is here and the news did not disappoint.

There is big USSF election taking place today which could decide the future of U.S. Soccer as we know it. Also, Orlando City will play its second preseason scrimmage taking on Minnesota United at Slyvan Lake Park.

Oh and only 3 more weeks until the start of the Orlando City season!

Now on to the links!

Orlando Pride Waive Midfielder Nickolette Driesse

OK, so the news did disappoint for at least one person. The Orlando Pride made another roster move by waiving Nicolette Driesse on Friday afternoon. Driesse was drafted in 2017 from Penn State, as the No. 32 overall pick. She appeared four times for the Pride totaling 47 minutes. Head Coach Tom Sermanni praised her work ethic during her time with the team and we wish the best of luck to Nickolette in the next step of her career. 

Sacha Kljestan comments on New York Red Bulls Experience

In an interview with Sirus XM FC earlier this week, Sacha Kljestan was asked about his experiences in New York and the new Lion did not mince words when it came to talking about his old squad.

“It’s never easy to be told you’re no longer wanted at a club, especially a club that you gave a lot for and were extremely successful for over a short period of time,” Kljestan stated in his interview.

He went on to say that he wasn’t happy with the way his old team were building up for this season. He did end the interview on a positive note, sharing his excitement about all the roster building Orlando City has done this off-season, citing the additions of Justin Meram and Uri Rosell. Though Kljestan has moved on to a new team, the pieces around the 32-year-old midfielder could push him to even higher heights.

Rachel Hill Reflects on W-League

If there is any particular Orlando Pride player that had a great off-season, look no further than Rachel Hill. Hill was loaned out to Perth Glory in the W-League where she finished third in the league in goals scored and first in assists, totaling nine and six, respectively. She proclaimed that her experience in Australia was life altering and that she got a bit better playing there. She had the opportunity to train with Samantha Kerr, which she believes improved her game.

“At every game and training session she is just so grateful to be there and just the joy and happiness that she plays with, it’s inspiring,” Hill said of Kerr. “Obviously she works harder than most so that too was something I really look up to. I definitely learned a lot from her.”

Orlando City Adds Two Grow Lights to Strengthen Field Quality

Orlando City Head Groundskeeper Matt Bruderek has picked up a new tool to keep the field in tip-top shape. With the first season in the books, the club wanted to improve the quality of the field due to all of the games played on the surface. There were 50 games played last season as well as two Florida Cup games and six days of the MLS Combine since the start of the new year. The club went out and bought two grow lights that help assist the growth of grass through an artificial light the simulates sunlight. There were issues on the ends of the pitch due to the lack of sunlight they receive during the winter months so the club invested in the lights to ensure that the pitch is healthy going into the season.

USSF Candidates Ramp up Before Election

With the election for U.S. Soccer Federation president occurring today, there has been a combination of events occurring over the past few days that are sure to shake up the race. According to Jeff Carlisle, there is a group of six candidates who are banding together to ensure that a reform-minded candidate would win and not some of the same, which could be what Kathy Carter or Carlos Cordeiro would bring. It was reported earlier this week that Carter had collected the NWSL vote as well as a block of the athlete council. Today will be an exciting day, for the future of U.S. Soccer could be drastically changed depending on who wins the election. Grant Wahl tries to make sense of this group and what this means to the election but no one is truly sure what this all means. Carlisle and Sebastian Salazar provide the latest update on the election.

Free Kicks

  • The U.S. Soccer Federation is rolling out an initiative to help connect the national team programs to the college game through a partnership with six of the top college men’s programs. The colleges included will be Clemson, Duke, Georgetown, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wake Forest.
  • Geoff Cameron writes a tell-all in the player tribune about what the United States Men’s National Team loss meant to him and how it will affect his career from this point on. He speaks to the failures within the system and what needs to change so that the USMNT can be successful.
  • There has been talk this transfer window about a possible move for Christian Pulisic. The young American star has been turning heads in Europe and some of the larger clubs in the region have eyes on the young star. Sport1 has reported that Borussia Dortmund has put the price tag 90 million euros on Pulisic.
  • Former Orlando City player Brek Shea went from being a Designated Player down to a TAM-level player as the Vancouver Whitecaps stated in a radio interview that they will be buying down his contract to make way for another DP. Shea had an underwhelming season for the Whitecaps and hopes to bounce back next season.
  • The United States Men’s National Team has added another friendly to their schedule taking on the Republic of Ireland on June 2. The match will take place in Ireland at Aviva Stadium. This will be the first trip to Ireland for the U.S. since 2014, when they lost, 4-1.

As I always do, I like to end on a positive and what better way to do that then share the new vision of the club going into this season. Last night Orlando City held an event at Lions Pride highlighting the club’s new campaign, Face of Our City, a program about the fans that’s for the fans. If you were there or were watching, you probably caught a glimpse of our very own TheBeardedGuy, as he was one of the fans called up to the stage.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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