Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/7/18
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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. It was an Orlando City club-record-setting weekend with the Lions’ sixth MLS win in a row. It feels so very good going to work after a win, and even better when it’s that many in a row. Now, it’s officially time to start looking forward to next weekend’s showdown with top of the table Atlanta United FC.
We’d also like to take a minute and wish a very happy 28th birthday to Sydney Leroux. Now, on to the links!
Orlando City Defeats Real Salt Lake 3-1 for Sixth Straight Win
The Cardiac Cats made another appearance after falling behind 1-0 in the 12th minute of the match. Dom Dwyer, Lamine Sané, and Yoshimar Yotún all scored as Orlando won its sixth match in a row. Dwyer has six goals in six matches, and Sané opened his account for Orlando City. Orlando takes on Atlanta United FC next Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in Orlando City Stadium.
- Michael Citro has your match recap.
- Ethan Smith has your player grades and Man of the Match.
- Check out how our opponents over at RSL Soapbox saw the match.
Make sure to check back later for Sean Rollins’ five takeaways from the match and Carlos Romero’s photo gallery.
Is MLS Expanding Too Quickly?
In the past, there was certainly a danger of soccer expanding too fast, too soon. However, lessons from the past were learned. MLS might be making whole new mistakes, but certainly not the same ones they did in the past. Generally speaking, MLS has been smart about where it has put its expansion teams: Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, and Orlando. Not everyone agrees with that assessment. The argument that the TV ratings aren’t there in great enough numbers is something to consider, but I’m not so sure I agree. Check out this point of view and let us know what you think in the comments.
Florida Teams Get U.S. Open Cup Started
The 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has officially started and four Floridian teams helped kick off the tournament. The Jacksonville Armada defeated The Villages SC 2-1 to book their ticket to the first round, where they will play the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA) — a team loaded with former Orlando City Development Academy players.
#USOC2018 Preliminary Round FINAL: @JaxArmadaFC defeat @TheVillagesSC 2-1 to advance to Round 1 where they will play on the road against @SIMA_Soccer_MVA on Wednesday, May 9. (NOTE: Armada win their @USOpenCup opener for the third straight year) pic.twitter.com/R4gjaftIqT
— TheCup.us (@usopencup) May 7, 2018
Also earning a spot in the first round was the team that eliminated Orlando City in 2017, Miami FC. The club scored twice in the second half to beat FC Miami City, 3-1, and set up a date with Red Force FC this Wednesday.
#USOC2018 Preliminary Round FINAL: @TheMiamiFC 2 advance to Round 1 to play @RedForceFC09 on Wednesday, May 9 pic.twitter.com/Ay1iVITc2R
— TheCup.us (@usopencup) May 7, 2018
Australian Video Review Malfunctions at Crucial Point
There have been plenty of mistakes surrounding the new Video Assistant Referree systems, and the latest comes from the Australian A-League’s Grand Final between the Melbourne Victory and the Newcastle Jets. This time it wasn’t bad camera angles, rather it was that the VAR system malfunctioned just when it was needed. In the ninth minute of the match, Victory’s James Donachie headed the ball down to Kostas Barbarouses to score the only goal of the game. However, replays showed Donachie was offside when he headed the ball, but the VAR system couldn’t confirm, and so the play stood. Let’s hope these types of mishaps get cleared up.
English Premier League Drama
It was quite a weekend for the EPL with teams being relegated, promoted, and some left hanging by a thread. Orlando City affiliate Stoke City was relegated following its 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, and West Ham United staved off relegation by defeating Leicester City 2-0. The wildest result was West Bromwich Albion defeating Tottenham Hotspur, 1-0 in stoppage time to stave off relegation for another week. The win over Tottenham is the latest in all the things that need to happen for West Bromwich Albion to survive the year:
West Brom WIN over NewcastleSwansea LOSS to ChelseaStoke LOSS OR DRAW vs. Crystal PalaceSwansea LOSS to BournemouthWest Brom WIN over Tottenham
Southampton DRAW with Swansea
West Brom WIN over Crystal Palace
Stoke WIN over Swansea
Southampton LOSS to Manchester City
Five out of nine requirements have been crossed off the list so far. Good luck Baggies!
Free Kicks
- Real Salt Lake Head Coach Mike Petke showed a ton of class upon visiting Orlando City Stadium. Well done, Coach.
Respect. Equality. End the Violence. #OrlandoUnited pic.twitter.com/gIeyv28Upc
— @petkemike (@petkemike) May 5, 2018
- Didier Drogba was as cool as you can be, both with this young fan and with the corner kick.
👀 @DidierDrogba spots a young fan’s drink.
😅 Casually has a sip.
⛳️ Takes the corner…..
⚽️ @PHXRisingFC score from the corner.
😂 Celebrates by showering the rest of the drink over himself.
👏 Never change @DidierDrogba.
— SPORF (@Sporf) May 5, 2018
- Kay Rawlins. Is there anything she can’t do?
When your boss @Kay_Rawlins – aka Co-Founder of @OrlandoCitySC, VP of Community Relations, and President of @OrlandoCityFnd – is getting after it drumming on The Wall! Great environment as always @RuckusOrlando and @IronLionFirm! #threepoints pic.twitter.com/BVWP89jKfH
— KaiaForget (@KaiaForget) May 6, 2018
- Scott Sutter was a little early with this tweet, but he wasn’t wrong. Nice prediction, Scott.
6 😈 pic.twitter.com/rjwGq7ZNnX
— Scott Sutter (@scott_sutter) May 6, 2018
- Diego Valeri gave Portland a late game winner off a free kick and the ensuing celebration had fans screaming and teammates injured. Wait what?
Sometimes you can celebrate a little too hard… 🤕 pic.twitter.com/7SAuqb65jz
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 7, 2018
That’s going to do it for today. Enjoy the beginning of the week, and tune it to watch the Orlando Pride take on the Utah Royals at Rio Tinto Stadium this Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/26/24
Orlando City plays CF Montreal tonight, USWNT wins against Zambia, Marta provides assist in Brazil’s win, and more.
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Happy Friday! I hope the work week has gone easy on you as we get ready for a weekend filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. The Olympic opening ceremony is also today, and I’m interested to see what the organizers in Paris have come up with. But for now, let’s get this Friday started with today’s links!
Orlando City Takes On CF Montreal Tonight
The Leagues Cup kicks off today and Orlando City will host CF Montreal tonight in its first of two group games. The Lions will then take on Atletico de San Luis on Aug. 4. It’s worth noting that these games will go into a penalty shootout if the score remains level after 90 minutes, with the winner of the shootout getting an extra point. The top two teams of each group advance to the next round and Orlando will play the Philadelphia Union, Cruz Azul, or Charlotte FC if it survives the group stage.
USWNT Beats Zambia in Summer Olympic Opener
The United States Women’s National Team started its Olympic campaign with a dominant 3-0 win against Zambia. The USWNT’s attack looked free and dangerous, with Trinity Rodman striking first and Mallory Swanson scoring twice in quick succession to give the USWNT a comfortable lead. Those goals also came before Zambia was reduced to 10 players after a red card to Pauline Zulu. The Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda both started for Zambia, although Chanda was subbed out in the first half when Zambia had to make changes due to the red card.
There is some bad news along with the good for the USWNT though. Jaedyn Shaw missed out on playing in the opener due to a leg injury, and Sophia Smith had to exit in the 42nd minute.
Marta Assists in Brazil’s Olympic Win
The USWNT was far from the only team to win its first game of this year’s Olympics, as there were no draws after the first round of games. Pride star Marta provided the assist on Brazil’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Nigeria. Marta did well to pick out Gabi Nunes from a tough angle, and the striker had a great first touch and strike to put it away. Pride defender Rafaelle helped secure the shutout, with Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena coming up with huge saves as well. Elsewhere in Group C, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati had a goal and an assist in her team’s 2-1 win against Japan.
New Zealand struck first against Canada in Group A, but the Canadians rallied to come back and win 2-1. France scored three goals in the first half and survived a rally from Colombia in the second half to win 3-2. Germany may have had the most impressive win so far, beating a talented Australian side 3-0.
Analyzing New Zealand Ahead of Olympic Clash
The United States Men’s Olympic Soccer Team will aim to bounce back from a loss to France when it faces New Zealand on Saturday. New Zealand beat Guinea in its first game and is coached by Darren Bazeley, who led New Zealand to the knockout stage of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. Minnesota United center back Michael Boxall and Viking FK midfielder Joe Bell are two of New Zealand’s overage players and give the team some stability. Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who joined Bournemouth this summer, is capable of coming up with acrobatic saves to give the U.S. fits as well. As for New Zealand’s attack, midfielder Sarpreet Singh and striker Ben Waine are a couple of the dynamic players the U.S. will have to keep in check.
Bev Priestman Removed From Canadian Olympic Team
Canada will have to go the rest of the Olympics without Head Coach Bev Priestman, who was removed from the team by the Canadian Olympic Committee. This decision comes amid a scandal involving spying on New Zealand’s training, which led to Canada Soccer suspending Priestman for the rest of the tournament. Reports have also surfaced that Canada’s men’s and women’s teams have tried to spy on opponents for years, including during the women’s team’s winning campaign in the 2021 Olympics. Only time will tell if Priestman will coach the team after this tournament and if punishments for the team’s actions will be handed out.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City’s Kaleb Harrington received the Spirit of Fair Play Award for his role in the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Game. The East All-Stars were victorious as well, winning 5-0 against the West All-Stars.
- Chicago Red Stars defender Sam Staab was placed on the season-ending injury list after suffering a torn Achilles in the team’s Summer Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
- FC Cincinnati has signed Chidozie Awaziem from Boavista in Portugal’s top flight to help fill the club’s need at center back due to injuries to Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund.
- Paraguayan center back David Martínez joined Inter Miami on loan from River Plate. The loan lasts through July of next year and also includes a purchase option.
- San Diego FC signed center back Patrick McNair as its fifth player before taking the field next year. McNair will spend the rest of 2024 on loan with West Brom.
- Minnesota United signed midfielder Joseph Rosales to a new contract that will keep him in Minnesota through 2027, with an option for 2028 as well. The 23-year-old is having a breakout year of sorts for the Loons, recording 10 assists in 21 appearances.
- Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly willing to pay Spanish winger Nico Williams double what Barcelona would pay the 22-year-old in order to sign him.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Enjoy the Olympics!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/25/24
Marta’s legacy, Orlando Pride get ready for Monterrey, U.S. men lose to France in Olympic soccer, and more.
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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m settling back into the swing of things after a weekend trip to Maine that featured so many lobster rolls that I’m pretty sure my veins have more butter than blood in them at this point. All of the soccer going on takes some of the sting out of returning to work at least. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Marta’s Journey to Paris
Orlando Pride and Brazilian star Marta will begin her final international tournament today when Brazil takes on Nigeria this afternoon. Through interviews with the coaches, teammates, and opponents she’s had over the course of her career, ESPN detailed the impact she’s had on soccer. It’s a great feature that I strongly suggest you read in full, as it also touches on the instability of women’s soccer at the club level that she and many others had to battle against. From her teenage years in Brazil to becoming an outspoken ambassador for the sport, there are plenty of great vignettes into her life as a player included as well.
Orlando Pride Prepare for Monterrey
After losing a penalty shootout to the North Carolina Courage in their NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup opener, the Orlando Pride will aim to right the ship when they take on Monterrey on Saturday. It’s been over a month since the Pride have played at home, which should give the team a boost while notable players are at the Olympics. None of the Liga MX teams beat an NWSL team in the first round of matches, and Monterrey lost 3-1 to Racing Louisville. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how he’s excited to see how the team matches up against a team from outside the NWSL, along with how it will be a good experience for the players.
Checking In With Dennis Chin
As part of the recurring series to put a spotlight on those who have played a part in Orlando City’s history, former Lion Dennis Chin spoke on his time in Orlando during the team’s USL days. It’s been 10 years since Chin played in Orlando, where he scored 32 goals across 103 appearances and won the 2012 USL Pro Golden Boot. His family came to Orlando from Jamaica when he was young, and playing for the club gave him a chance to represent the City Beautiful.
“I felt like an extension of what everyone wanted to be,” he explained. “I felt like I was representing not just myself, but the whole city, my family and everyone. To still have that connection and to still feel that love, it just means the world to me.”
Chin tried his hand at coaching after retirement but stated he didn’t enjoy it, instead choosing to start his own player agency. He’s made strides providing player representation since then, using the lessons he learned from his own career to support players.
U.S. Olympic Men’s Team Loses to France
The United States Men’s Olympic Soccer Team had a rough first game in Paris after losing 3-0 to France. After a scoreless first half, Alexandre Lacazette gave France the lead in the 61st minute and Michael Olise scored another soon after. Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire started up top for the U.S. and was subbed off in the 86th minute, right after Loic Bade scored France’s third goal. The next match for the U.S. will be on Saturday against a New Zealand side that won 2-1 against Guinea. The Yanks will need to be sharper in that match and the group stage finale against Guinea on Tuesday if they want to advance.
MLS All-Stars Fall to Liga MX All-Stars
It was a rough night for the MLS All-Stars, who lost 4-1 to the Liga MX All-Stars in Columbus. Monterrey striker German Berterame got the scoring started in the 16th minute, but Columbus Crew duo Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernandez linked up for an equalizer a minute later. The Liga MX All-Stars scored again before halftime and then put the game to bed with a pair of back-to-back goals in the second half. The MLS All-Stars had their chances to score but lacked a finishing touch and weren’t able to claw their way back into the match. Attention now turns to the Leagues Cup, which kicks off on Friday and will pit MLS and Liga MX teams against each other.
Free Kicks
- Former Pride player Ali Riley won’t be taking the field for New Zealand during the Olympics due to a nerve injury. It’s unfortunate news and hopefully she has a smooth recovery from here on out.
- French winger Delphine Cascarino will join the San Diego Wave after the Olympics, signing a contract through the 2026 season. The 27-year-old has been with Lyon since making her professional debut in 2015.
- An assistant coach and analyst for Canada were both removed from the team and sent home after New Zealand reported Canada for disrupting its Olympic training with a drone. Head Coach Bev Priestman withdrew herself from coaching the match as well.
- The Olympic match between Argentina and Morocco had to be suspended for two hours due to fans rushing the field to protest a goal deep in stoppage time. What would have been the equalizer from Argentina was disallowed for offside upon video review after the delay, and Morocco went on to win 2-1.
- American striker Ricardo Pepi scored a hat trick in PSV Eindhoven’s friendly against FC Eindhoven.
- Konrad de la Fuente is headed to Switzerland after being transferred from Marseille to FC Lausanne. The American has spent the past two seasons on loan, playing for Eibar in Spain’s second division last year.
- The Belgian Pro League kicks off on Friday and there are some Americans to keep an eye out for, including Owen Otasowie, Mark McKenzie, and Westerlo duo Bryan Reynolds and Julian Placias.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a great Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/24/24
The Olympics are here, the MLS Skills Competition thrilled, the East won the MLS NEXT All-Star game, and more.
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Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. With the start of the Olympics, the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, and the Leagues Cup, it’s tournament time in our soccer world. There is plenty to watch and follow, but I want to take the opportunity to wish my wonderful wife a happy birthday! She is very supportive of my work with The Mane Land, and I appreciate her greatly. Now, let’s get to the links.
Olympic Pride
The Olympics are upon us, and thus the opportunity to watch the Orlando Pride’s representatives in action. You will definitely want to check out the matches, as it is Marta’s last Olympics. The Brazilian is playing in her sixth Olympics, though she isn’t there just because of her name. She has earned it through her play. It’s no surprise to Orlando Pride supporters that Marta secured her place on the squad, as she has looked much more like her old self this season during the Pride’s undefeated regular season run.
MLS Skills Competition and MLS NEXT All-Star Game
The MLS Skills Competition took place Tuesday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH. Liga MX won the Shooting Challenge, MLS won the Touch Challenge, Liga MX took the lead again on the Cross & Volley Challenge, and MLS tied things up by winning the Passing Challenge. The Crossbar Challenge tiebreaker went to the visitors, as Liga MX won the overall competition. Special Olympics Ohio received a $25,000 donation as Liga MX’s charity of choice.
The Philadelphia Union’s young star, Cavan Sullivan, scored a goal and provided an assist as the East squad came from two goals down to win 4-2 over the West in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Tuesday. Orlando City was represented by Colin Guske and Juan Rojas on the winning side. It was quite a showcase for the future of MLS.
U.S. to Face Host France in Olympic Opener Today
The U-23 USMNT starts its Olympic journey today against host France. Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire will likely be leading the attack for the Yanks. He will be a part of a squad unlike those that many are accustomed to watching, since the normal stars won’t be in attendance. Of course, that does give players like McGuire a chance to shine on the international stage.
USWNT Prepares for Zambia
The USWNT begin its quest for Olympic gold tomorrow against the Zambian National Team. Obviously, Orlando Pride supporters will get to watch Pride players Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda for Zambia. USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes is aware of the expectations surrounding her squad, and knows the challenge that Zambia presents. Hayes said the assumption that the U.S. will simply dominate is “disrespectful” of the growth of the women’s game across the world.
This is Zambia’s second Olympics, though the road to Paris was not an easy one, thanks to the Football Association of Zambia. There are accusations of money laundering by the president of the association, and sexual misconduct by a coach. It really is impressive that the team made it and will compete. Of course, Banda and Chanda are not the totality of the Zambian team, meaning there is a lot more to know about the USWNT’s first opponent.
Free Kicks
- Real Salt Lake recently acquired Lachlan Brook from A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers FC through the 2025 season with options for 2026 and 2027.
- Speaking of RSL, Diego Luna is considering a one-time switch to the Mexican national team after declining the invitation to be an alternate for the U.S. squad at the Olympics.
- The U-20 USMNT defeated Cuba 4-0 on Monday night, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship. The team has an impressive +13 goal differential through two matches.
- Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler rocked the new Aston Villa kit. I’m not a Villa supporter, but that is still a good get.
- The Concacaf Award Nominees have been announced. U.S. national team players Sophia Smith and Christian Pulisic are up for their respective Player of the Year awards.
- The New Zealand Women’s National Team was allegedly spied on by a drone for the Canadian Women’s National Team during training for the Olympics. The two teams will meet on Friday for their fist match.
- Former Lion Denny Chin has a new gig with Young Money APAA Sports.
- Lionel Messi is nursing an ankle injury, and Luis Suarez has “knee discomfort,” and as such, the pair will miss the MLS All-Star Game.
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- The Orlando Pride are also participating in a school supply drive for the Orlando community, and you can contribute as well. Here’s Simone Charley to tell you all about it.
That will do it for today.
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