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Lion Links: 5/20/18

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7 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. A tough road loss in Toronto on Friday night seemed to set the tone for a bleak weekend here in the Central Florida area, and the weather surely didn’t help. But every team has peaks and valleys, and quite frankly, this isn’t much of a valley.

The Lions are still in an advantageous position on the MLS Eastern Conference table, and the more and more experience the boys in purple gain with each other in real-time match scenarios, the better. There’s a lot to be optimistic about with this squad, and I hope our audience here shares that sentiment.

The Pride, too, give us much to be excited about, with a home clash against the undefeated North Caroline Courage coming up Wednesday. A win in that match would be massive, and I can’t wait to tune in for the action.

Other than that, it’s been a pretty slow weekend, folks. But here’s your Sunday serving of Lion Links. Enjoy.

A Win Against the Chicago Fire Critical for the Lions

Orlando’s loss was, well how do you put it…deflating. Losses against teams that are surely going to be in the playoff race deep into the season have been upsetting to say the least, and the Lions must do everything possible to ensure they don’t fall into a slump (as they did around this time last season). The players are well aware of the foreboding possibility of a slump, too.

“We have to be mentally very strong,” said midfielder Cristian Higuita after Orlando City’s match against TFC. “We have a great team and I felt like today, for the first time in four seasons that I’ve been here, we were superior to Toronto here at BMO Field. Unfortunately, they won, but I think that we showed we’re a very mentally strong team. I think we’re going to be able to prevent [another slump].”

The loss sets up what some are calling a must-win match against the Chicago Fire in Orlando City Stadium next week. Regardless, prosoccerusa.com’s Jordan Culver does a great job breaking down some key factors in what the Lions do successfully.

Philadelphia Union Players Wear Names of Fallen Heroes at Training

The Union partnered with the Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS) for an event that was held on Friday ahead of Military Appreciation Night, which was recognized at the Real Salt Lake match last night. The decision to partner with TAPS was a heartfelt move that emphasized the Union’s’desire to remain close to the local community, famous for its military roots. The Union’s players, typically outfitted in normal training gear, were provided specially crafted kits that were branded with the names of fallen soldiers on the back of them. The event also allowed victims of the fallen heroes the opportunity to share their stories of their loved ones with some of the athletes that they admire on match days.

“To see the Union players wearing their loved one’s name on the back of their jersey and just saying their name out loud and recognizing their loss and wanting to honor that is just beyond words, it’s so special for these families,” said Megan O’Keefe, TAPS entertainment and sports coordinator in a video released by the team. “Not that this is filling a void but it’s really giving them a new person to connect with and share their loved one’s story,” O’Keefe said.

NYRB Goalkeeper Luis Robles’ Ironman Streak Set to End

Luis Robles, arguably one of the best MLS goalkeepers of all time, will finally miss a match due to a knee injury. The keeper hasn’t missed a match in 183 straight, going the full 90 minutes in every single one of them. The legend started his first match near the end of the 2012 season, and there was simply no looking back. He seized the spot in between the sticks, and he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, posting 65 clean sheets through all competitions. Andrew Vazzano over at newyorkredbulls.com put together a handy little stat counter that emphasizes just how incredible Robles’ ironman streak was, and he also provides a more in-depth view of the streak ending, and even gets a quick word in with Robles himself. The streak ending is significant for the New York Red Bulls, who travel to face a streaking Atlanta team tonight. Ryan Meara will be the man to replace Robles on the evening. We’re rootin’ for ya, Ryan.

Timothy Weah Handed First-Ever Senior Team Start at PSG

Weah, the son of legendary striker and current Liberian President George Weah, was handed the first start of his senior team career for PSG as they traveled to Caen in the final Ligue 1 match of the season yesterday. The result on the day was a 0-0 draw, but Weah seeing out the full 90 minutes at striker (despite picking up a booking in the ninth minute) is significant and has two major implications. The first is that he’s now viewed as a talent that can break into the starting 11 of an elite European side, and that his ascendancy in exposure and stardom should surely follow suit. The second, which correlates directly with the first, is that the U.S. Men’s National Team may now have the young, budding stars it has lacked — and, most importantly, they’re being trained properly by some of the top clubs in the world. Ultimately, seeing Weah find success could prove vital to the development of the national team, the popularity of the sport in our country, and the future of our own national youth development. Plus, just imagine a fully-developed Weah, Cristian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams walking out for the Stars and Stripes together.

Gianluigi Buffon Ends His 17-Year Playing Career with Juventus

The legend’s final match for the The Old Lady couldn’t have gone any better, either. Earning his 301st clean sheet for the club, Buffon was substituted off after an hour of play with tears in his eyes, his teammates at his side, and the entire stadium in complete adulation. The supporters showed their love for their club legend by displaying banners and adoring gifts as he mingled with his fans, and Buffon returned the favor as he took a lap to honor the fans in attendance at his substitution. He ended the day by winning his ninth Serie A title. Nobody truly knows what’s next for the 40-year-old; rumors are that he’s been offered a playing deal with France’s PSG, while others say that he’s been offered an influential role within Juventus’ highest offices. Regardless, the man is a legend, and if his playing days are over I’ll personally be selfishly depressed that he’s no longer making incredible saves on my television.

Free Kicks

  • Everyone’s favorite Italian enigma, Mr. Mario Balotelli, has been called up to the Italian national team for the first time since the 2014 World Cup. Personally, I can’t wait to see him don the famous blue kit again. His former gaffer during their time at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini, is the one who gave him the call.
  • ESPN FC put together an excellent presentation that highlights Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta’s impactful career.

  • Chelsea downed Manchester United, 1-0, to win the FA Cup final.
  • Portuguese legend and Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has officially struck 450 times for Real Madrid. That’s just for Real Madrid. Sheesh.

All right, folks. That’s about all I’ve got for you today. Before I go, I want to leave you with a clip of who I think will one day become the greatest football manager of all time. That’s one hell of a bold statement, but I’ll stand by it to my grave. Fergie, José, Pep…you fellas better watch out for this kid:

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/21/25

Marco Pasalic’s soccer journey, MLS storylines to watch, USWNT shuts out Colombia, and much more.

Published

2 days ago

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February 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to the final day before the MLS season kicks off! I don’t know about you, but the off-season and preseason flew by for me. I’m ready to throw on some purple and cheer this weekend, even if I won’t have the pleasure of being there in person. Before we dive into today’s links though, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride forward Amanda Allen!

Marco Pasalic Prepares for First MLS Season

Many eyes will be on Orlando City winger Marco Pasalic this season after the club signed him as its latest Designated Player. The 24-year-old spoke on how a strong work ethic was instilled in him at a young age from his parents while growing up in Germany. He also talked about his injury while with Borussia Dortmund and the difficulties he faced both physically and mentally to overcome it. He’s now in the City Beautiful after playing for Rijeka in Croatia and the dual-national shared some insight about his decision to become a Lion.

“I think getting the chance to see a new league, to make the next step in my career, for me, it’s a better step to come here than to stay in Croatia. That’s my opinion,” he said. “I like it here a lot so far. It’s an honor when a club really wants you, and I wanted to come here, also. My decision didn’t take long, either. Maybe one day before I said yes. Now, I want to bring this league to another level, to bring this club joy and play good games.”

MLS Storylines Ahead of 2025 Season

The 2025 MLS season is finally upon us and there are already plenty of storylines to keep an eye on after an interesting off-season. For Orlando, it’s a simple inquiry into if the club’s new players can truly replace the players who won’t be on the field for the Lions this year. Facundo Torres is gone and Wilder Cartagena is out for the season, and only time will tell if Pasalic and Eduard Atuesta can fill those voids.

There are many questions all over the league I’m looking forward to getting answers to as well. How quickly can Bruce Arena turn things around with the San Jose Earthquakes? Will Atlanta United’s attack live up to the hype? What will the Philadelphia Union look like without Jim Curtin at the helm? Can the Chicago Fire reach the playoffs under Gregg Berhalter? I have the feeling it’s going to be a really great season for the league.

USWNT Wins Against Colombia

In its first game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup, the United States Women’s National Team beat Colombia 2-0 in Houston. The first goal for the USWNT was wonderfully crafted and sparked by a nice ball over the top by Lily Yohannes to Yazmeen Ryan, who found Catarina Macario in front of the net. It’s great to see Macario scoring again for the U.S. after she missed out on the Olympics due to injury. Ally Sentnor scored her first international goal by doubling the USWNT’s lead with a great strike from distance that you can check out below.

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams didn’t come off the bench, but the defense still did well to shut out Colombia. The USWNT’s next match will come on Sunday against an Australian team that got beaten 4-0 by Japan.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

After a rough week that included many Americans getting eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, attention now turns to a weekend filled with soccer. Former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will host Oxford United on Saturday, with Josh Sargent, Brenden Aaronson, and Ethan Horvath as other Americans to watch in the EFL Championship. In the English Premier League, Antonee Robinson and Fulham will take on Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace. The usual suspects like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are also set to take the field. If looking for a game off the beaten path, Damion Downs could score his 10th goal of the season when Cologne faces Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday in Germany’s second division.

Luis Rubiales Guilty of Sexual Assault

Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As a result, he was ordered to pay more than $10,400 in fines and is prohibited from being within 200 meters of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a year. The prosecution had asked for a prison sentence of a year for sexual assault and a year-and-a-half for coercion, the latter of which he was acquitted of. FIFPRO issued a statement standing in solidarity with Hermoso and other victims of sexual assault, while also stating that the courts must send a stronger message in regards to the level of punishment.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City and the Orlando Pride announced a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I’ve actually never tried Jameson, as I’m a bit more of a tropical cocktail kind of guy when it comes to libations.
  • LAFC has a new Designated Player after signing Turkish winger Cengiz Under on loan from Fenerbahce through June 30, with an option to buy. He should add even more firepower to a potent LAFC attack that includes Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, and Jeremy Ebobisse.
  • This year’s MLS Competition Guidelines include an interesting addition where only a team’s captain should approach the referee. If crowded by multiple players, the ref is to signal that to the players and only the captain can be within four meters of the referee, with intruding players being shown a yellow card.
  • Former Orlando City B forward Ates Diouf is joining Detroit City FC on loan from Lexington SC for the USL Championship season.
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard has signed with Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

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Lion Links: 2/20/25

Marco Pasalic named an MLS newcomer to watch, Houston Dynamo sign Nico Lodeiro, USWNT takes on Colombia today, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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February 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? We’re only a few days away from the start of Orlando City’s 2025 season and I can’t wait. There’s also plenty of women’s soccer to enjoy thanks to the SheBelieves Cup. It’s a great time to be a soccer fan here in the U.S. Let’s dive right into today’s links!

Marco Pasalic Noted as MLS Newcomer to Watch

Orlando City signed Marco Pasalic as a Designated Player this off-season to help fill the void left by Facundo Torres, and he was noted as one of the top newcomers in the league for 2025. While I don’t think he’s expected to fully replace the goal contributions Torres provided, I’m hoping he can unlock defenses and am looking forward to seeing some overlapping runs between him and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson on the right wing.

The rest of the list has multiple players on Eastern Conference teams who could have Orlando fans reaching for the liquor cabinet this season, including Charlotte FC’s Wilfried Zaha, FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey, and Atlanta United’s shiny new striker, Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Nico Lodeiro Signs With the Houston Dynamo

Midfielder Nico Lodeiro, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Orlando City earlier this week, has officially signed with the Houston Dynamo on a deal through 2025 with an option for 2026. This signing was reported leading up to his departure from Orlando, and he should be able to get some solid playing time with the Dynamo. Lodeiro had 11 assists with the Lions last season and is great from set piece situations, so he should be able to help a Houston team that made the playoffs last season but only scored 47 goals.

USWNT Takes On Colombia Today

The 2025 SheBelieves Cup kicks off today and the United States Women’s National Team will face off against Colombia at 8 p.m. in Houston. It will be the USWNT’s first match of the year and Head Coach Emma Hayes’ first time coaching the U.S. during the SheBelieves Cup. The team will be without star players like Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, and Sophia Wilson (née Smith) but still has plenty of talented players to get the job done. Colombia should present a solid challenge for the U.S., as it reached the quarterfinals of both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. After this match, the USWNT is set to take on Australia in Arizona on Sunday before closing out the tournament in San Diego on Wednesday against Japan.

MLS Clubs Begin Champions Cup Campaigns

The Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and there are many MLS sides aiming to start the tournament off on the right foot. The Seattle Sounders’ new signings from FC Dallas linked up for a goal just three minutes into their match with Guatemalan club Antigua GFC, with Jesus Ferreira teeing up Paul Arriola’s goal at the top of the box. Antigua equalized later in the first half, but the Sounders struck twice in the second half for a 3-1 victory. In Costa Rica, Real Salt Lake and Herediano battled to a scoreless draw. Lionel Messi scored the lone goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in a bitter cold game that exemplifies why MLS should not switch to a winter schedule.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

Only 16 teams remain in the UEFA Champions League after the latest round of matches. Most of Wednesday’s drama was in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 win over Juventus. American forward Tim Weah scored for Juventus, but PSV advanced thanks to a goal from defender Ryan Flamingo in extra time. In Spain, Kylian Mbappe had a hat trick in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Manchester City, eliminating the English club from the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain booked its spot in the round of 16 in convincing fashion as well, with seven different players finding the back of the net in a 7-0 home win over Brest. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, a scoreless draw at home against Sporting CP was enough for Borussia Dortmund to advance to the next round too.

The draw for the round of 16 is on Friday and should deliver on some fun matchups. Either Barcelona or Liverpool will face PSG, with the other getting Benfica. We may also get Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 2/19/25

Halliday and Lodeiro are out, Cartagena’s season is over, the SheBelieves Cup starts tomorrow, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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February 19, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! Orlando City continues to see more departures than arrivals to the roster with the season opener looming this weekend. Sure would be cool if the Lions added an experienced MLS striker this week. Alas, I feel it’s not in the cards. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

In better news, it’s Marta’s 39th birthday! Happy nirthday to the captain from all of us here at The Mane Land. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Say Goodbye to Halliday, Lodeiro

Both Michael Halliday and Nico Lodeiro have departed Orlando City. Halliday was traded to the Houston Dynamo for a first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. With Dagur Dan Thorhallsson starting at right back and Alex Freeman moving into the number two spot behind him, it made sense for Halliday to try to get minutes elsewhere.

Nico Lodeiro mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club. Lodeiro’s departure will free up $800,000 salary for the club and allow Lodeiro to pursue more playing time at another club. According to Tom Bogert, that club may also be the Houston Dynamo. Given Lodeiro’s role off the bench for Orlando City, this is a move that makes sense for both the player and the club.

Cartagena Out for the Season

While the news was expected, Orlando City officially placed Wilder Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury list. The midfielder suffered the injury in the preseason match against Atletico Mineiro. The surgery on his left Achilles tendon was successful, but he will still be out for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, the Lions brought in Eduard Atuesta to shore up the midfield. While Orlando City may even be better with Atuesta on the pitch, losing Cartagena still hurts the team depth.

Orlando City in the Top 10?

The off-season was not as long as usual, thanks to Orlando City’s run to the Eastern Conference final. Despite the shorter time frame, I had forgotten how useless, dumb, and yet fun power rankings can be. I’d warn you against spoilers, but these rankings mean absolutely nothing — especially before a match has been played — so I’ll just tell you that the Lions came in at number nine. However, I won’t spoil why they made the top 10, nor which Ft. Lauderdale based club is in the top spot.

SheBelieves Cup Starts Thursday

The USWNT plays its first match of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup Thursday at 8 p.m. The match will take place at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Unless you plan on traveling to Texas, you’ll have to watch it on TV or streaming. The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams is on the squad and will hopefully see some minutes for Emma Hayes.

Free Kicks

  • In the “isn’t that mildly interesting” category, Pete Mangione will appear for FC Cincinnati.

That will do it for today. Check back everyday as we get you ready for the season opener on Saturday. Vamos Orlando!

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