Lion Links: 4/23/18

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! For the first time this season, I get to say that both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride won their matches. That’s a great weekend for those of us that bleed purple. Let’s start your week off right, with a heaping helping of Links.

Pride Get First Win

Despite still not having a full squad, the Orlando Pride were able to win, 1-0 at home against the Houston Dash. It wasn’t the prettiest match, but Chioma Ubogagu was able to get a head on a Christine Nairn free kick in the 65th minute and put the Pride in the lead. They would have another chance in the 82nd minute, but Ali Krieger’s shot was kept out by a diving save from Houston’s Jane Campbell. The truly sad thing is how few people were there to watch this first win of the season.

Hopefully the win will increase attendance when the Pride play again next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against the Seattle Reign.

Mueller is Turning Heads

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Chris Mueller and what he brings to Orlando City. It seems that I’m not the only one. His teammates are loving both his energy and goals. But it’s not just the goals that he is contributing, though. If you want to see the quality of a player, look at what they do when they are off the ball. Mueller is making all the right moves, and he is earning the “Cash” nickname. If he keeps it up, there will be talk of MLS Rookie of the Year possibilities. It’d be great to have another one of those for the Lions.

Brazil Wins Copa América Femenina

The Pride’s Monica scored a brace for Brazil in her country’s 3-0 victory over Colombia to claim the nation’s seventh Copa América Femenina title. The win qualifies Brazil for both the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics in 2020. Monica’s goals came in the 29th and 71st minutes. Let’s hope she brings that level of play back to Orlando when she and the others return.

Concacaf Cancels Women’s U-17 Event

Safety concerns have prompted Concacaf to cancel the remainder of its tournament in Nicaragua. On Wednesday, violence erupted and at least 20 people have been killed in clashes between Nicaraguan police and demonstrators regarding a change in the nation’s pension system. All of the players and staff for U.S. Soccer have made it safely back to the U.S. Plans to reschedule the event are yet to be determined.

Free Kicks

• Evidently 90s night was good for the win column but not loved by the fans. Regardless, the Pride seemed to enjoy the night. So much denim.

• The fans that couldn’t make it to 90s night did show up for the Lions the night before.

• Tim Howard received a red card for a handball outside the box, and the Colorado Rapids lost to Real Salt Lake 3-0. Unless the red is overturned, Howard will miss the match next week against Orlando City.
• Hundreds rioted during the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup in South Africa. Evidently, some fans of the Kaizer Chiefs were very unhappy when the team lost 2-0 to the Free State Stars.
• Mo Salah won the first of what could be many awards on Sunday when he received the PFA Player of the Year award. Salah has 31 goals in the English Premier League and 43 in all competitions this season.

That’s going to do it for today’s links, but I’d like to leave you with this classic clip in honor of Super Troopers 2 finally coming out.