Lion Links: 4/30/18

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! Well now, it’s five in a row for the Lions and Marta scored a golazo to give the Orlando Pride a point. It might not be a perfect weekend, but four points is still a great weekend. A record-setting weekend at that. So let’s bask in the glory and get to the start of our links!

Lions Make it Five in a Row

Orlando City hadn’t won five in a row since late in the 2015 season. Neither had it won two in a row on the road since 2015 (during that same streak). That all changed Sunday night as the Cardiac Cats came back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Colorado Rapids, 2-0 on the road. Goals from Cristian Higuita and Yoshimar Yotún secured the record-tying fifth win in a row for Orlando City.

• Michael Citro has your match recap.
• The Bearded Guy has your player grades and Man of the Match.
• You can check out the view from the other side over at Burgundy Wave.

Make sure to check back later for Logan Oliver’s five takeaways as well.

Kljestan Moves Up the Record Books

Sacha Kljestan now has three assists for Orlando City. That might not seem like much, but the one he had on Sunday moved him up to ninth on the all-time list for MLS. It’s a good bet that the veteran will be able to surpass the great Cobi Jones before the season is over. If he has a great season, he might even move up two or three spots. Let’s hope that’s the case.

Two Former OCB Lions Talk Soccer

I’m all for former players getting to continue to talk about soccer. Heck, I don’t even mind when Alexi Lalas does it on television. But when two former lions start doing what I do, I might have to take umbrage. Well, not really, because I want them to do well, and I’m sure you have time to listen to both them and to Michael and me on the PawedCast. Former Orlando City B players Austin Martz and Jake Fenlason are starting their own podcast, “Outside the Box.” Check them out.

Americans Doing Well Abroad

With over 100+ American soccer players plying their trade outside of the U.S. it can be hard to keep track of who is playing in what country. Luckily, the folks at The Washington Post have you covered, and detailed how each and every American did this week. Most notably, Bobby Wood converted a penalty to help Hamburg earn a 3-1 victory at Wolfsburg and Christen Press scored twice in the second half in Goteborg’s 3-1 win against Limhamm in the Swedish women’s league.

Free Kicks

• It turns out soccer might be gaining in popularity. In only seven weeks, the USL reached the 500,000 attendance mark the earliest in any season. Good for them and good for soccer in the U.S.

• It seems that Everton is done with Wayne Rooney already. Ouch.
• Let’s face it. You’re not a cool as the guy that got banned and hired a crane to watch the matches for a season. Or at least you don’t have his money. Either way, he’s fricking cool.

Well, I don’t think I can top that so have a great week and let’s be good to each other. Go Lions, Go Pride!