Lion Links: 4/10/18

Good morning, fine people. That was quite the game Sunday, I might be a sprightly 22 years young, but even my heart will give out if games like that become a trend this year. Anyhow, another Tuesday brings another round of Lion Links, so let’s get going.

Weekly Awards Galore for Dwyer

More recognition is in store for Dom Dwyer this week as he was named to the MLS Team of the Week as well as being nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. If that wasn’t enough, his game-winning goal also came in at No. 2 on MLS’s top 10 plays of Week 6. All this after Dom was included in all three of the aforementioned awards last week, although he one-upped last week’s Team of the Week inclusion after he only made the bench in the previous edition.

Kreis Ready for Less Nerve-Racking Games

Like most Orlando City supporters, Head Coach Jason Kreis is ready to stop resorting to heroic comebacks to win games. With the Lions trailing in the first half of every game the team has played this season, one of the main goals moving forward is not needing to chase the game.

“It’s not necessarily about this game, it’s about the fact that now five matches, we’ve given up the first goal in every match and that wears on you.”

Without a doubt, while the last two games have been extremely entertaining to watch, it’s also entirely possible for a 2-0 win to be entertaining. Personally, if late comebacks continue to be a regular occurrence, I’m going to need to check myself into a hospital.

Pride Looking to Score After Tough Start

Following a draw and a loss to start the Orlando Pride’s NWSL campaign, the team is looking to move in the right direction by finding the back of the net. One of the bigger issues thus far has been a lack of goals, with the lone tally of the young season coming from the penalty spot in the team’s opening game. While missing players through international duty was always going to make the first couple games difficult, the team isn’t resting on its laurels and using that as an excuse. According to Chioma Ubogagu, the team has been working in training on creating and finishing chances. With any luck, that hard work will soon start to bear some fruit.

Kathy Carter Leaving SUM Position

Kathy Carter has announced that she is leaving her position as the president of Soccer United Marketing. She has not given a specific reason for her decision beyond saying that she is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Carter came to the attention of the majority of U.S. Soccer fans when she ran for the vacant position of the USSF presidency earlier this year. She’s been involved in the soccer world for a long time however, working with MLS at its inception in 1999 and serving on the organizing committee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It will certainly be interesting to see where she pops up next.

Free Kicks

• Pride defender Shelina Zadorsky went 90 minutes for Canada Monday in a 1-0 friendly loss to France.
• In a surprise and perhaps not very wise move, Japan has fired manager Vahid Halilhodzic a mere two months before the World Cup. If they beat Colombia in the group and I have to eat my words, I’ll be very peeved.

The first seat has been installed at D.C. United’s new stadium:

• Today’s birthdays include Roberto Carlos, Sadio Mane, Vincent Kompany, and John Madden.

That’s all I’ve got for you today. Don’t forget that the Lions have a Friday game this week. They’ll be facing the Philadelphia Union on the road at 8 p.m. ET. Ciao.