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Lion Links: 7/22/18

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6 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. We’ve got a lot on the docket today, so I say we just jump right in. You ready? Let’s do this.

Here’s your Sunday helping of Lion Links! Bon appetite.

Orlando City Done in at Columbus by Late Penalty, Rocket

The Lions fell 3-2 in Columbus after being just moments away from victory. Leading 2-1, Orlando City fell victim to a late penalty call that seemed softer than anything you’d see on a toilet paper commercial. The resulting tying goal from the spot gave the Crew a boost and Wil Trapp’s laser shot from 30 yards out in stoppage ripped out what was left of Orlando City fans’ hearts.

Check back later this morning for Dave Rohe’s five takeaways from the match. Spoiler: it might contain something about officiating decisions.

The Pride Draw the Reign Yet Again, 1-1

In what’s become a draw-fest over the years, the Orlando Pride and Seattle Reign played to their fifth consecutive draw in a 1-1 match at Orlando City Stadium yesterday afternoon. A few notable stars from both sides, namely the Pride’s Alex Morgan and Reign’s Megan Rapinoe, were not in attendance as they’ve been called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team to represent their country in the upcoming Tournament of Nations. Toni Pressley put the Pride ahead early in the first half, but a second-half surge from the Reign was imminent, and you could sense that a goal for the Reign would just be a matter of when, and not if. Jodie Taylor proved to be the difference maker, and it was her 70th-minute goal that stole a point for the Reign on the road. The fight for second place in the NWSL standings will come down to the wire with only a few fixtures left to play. Here’s a few words from Pressley, the only Pride player to find the back of the net on the day:

Pride Spotlight: Dani Weatherholt

I’m not sure there’s a better teammate than Dani Weatherholt. In this excellent write-up from OrlandoCitySC.com’s (and former TML writer) Meg Van Dyk, fans gain insight into not only the type of player Weatherholt is, but also the type of person she is off the field. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NWSL Draft out of Santa Clara University, Weatherholt was largely a mystery to Tom Sermanni and his staff, but they took a chance on the young midfielder anyway, and boy has it paid off. Weatherholt herself even explains how much it meant to her that the club would put their faith and valuable draft pick on her name.

“For him to believe in me before I even got here was big,” Weatherholt said. “Being a fourth-round draft pick, they never held that against me. I was able to prove myself just like everyone else and make the team.”

And Weatherholt has certainly brought much more than just talent to the pitch for the Pride. Her determination and work rate is second to none on the the squad, something she says she displays to inspire her teammates.

“I try to bring a work rate that inspires others to work harder, both on and off the pitch,” Weatherholt said. “I think that is what people respect about me and it allows me to have that connection with my teammates, to push them and encourage them.”

The Pride are lucky to have Weatherholt, and she’s proven crucial to this season’s push for a playoff appearance. She’s the ideal teammate, and all of the young men and women out there playing should take note of how she conducts herself both on and off the field. I mean, who else would stay back after playing 90 minutes for 47 additional minutes just to greet each fan individually, signing autographs and taking countless pictures in the process?

SIMA Bounced from USL PDL Playoffs

The SIMA Aguilas fell 2-1 in the Southern Conference final last night in extra time to The Villages SC. The two Central Florida clubs met and couldn’t decide the match in 90 minutes, with each side finding the net once. The Villages scored in the 105th minute through Alvaro Macias Raimundo, and held on from there to advance to the national semifinals. Leonardo Novaes scored for SIMA. Congratulations to the Buffalo. The Villages seemed pretty amped about the win.

The Pursuit of Alphonso Davies

With reports abound that Davies has been targeted by the German powerhouse Bayern Munich, speculation has been rising that the move is concrete and just a matter of time before made official. Davies was given permission from his current club, the Vancouver Whitecaps, to sit out yesterday’s match against the Seattle Sounders (and that attack sure did miss him). It’s been rumored that Bayern has offered $12 million for Davies’ services, and I think we’ll be seeing an official announcement in the coming days.

International Champions Cup Update

Bayern Munich started off on the right foot in their pursuit of the International Champions Cup by beating Paris Saint-Germain, 3-1. Despite the poor result for the Parisians, fans of the U.S. Men’s National Team are swooning over a beautiful goal from Tim Weah. Weah’s pace was on full display as a chipped through ball, won by Kevin Rimane off of an errant Bayern pass, found its way into the goal courtesy of Weah’s right boot. It was certainly an exciting moment for Weah, PSG supporters, and USMNT supporters alike, and can only serve as a springboard for Weah into more meaningful minutes. With that said, his attempted sliding celebration didn’t quite go as planned, but at least he found the humor in it:

Bayern took control of the match in the second half, and goals from Javi Martinez, Renato Sanches, and Joshua Zirkzee sealed a comfortable win. Dortmund also held off Manchester City, thanks to a goal from Mario Götze the day before. American sensation Christian Pulisic has impressed his new head coach, which isn’t the least bit surprising really. Enjoy today’s fixture, which features Dortmund and Liverpool — which is bound to have some flavor since Jürgen Klopp managed Dortmund before darting for an opportunity to manage Liverpool.

Free Kicks

  • The Portland Timbers have withdrawn their protest over the allegation that Los Angeles FC had one too many international players on the match day squad following their defeat in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
  • The Seattle Sounders have followed a strange trend this season with MLS clubs and recent international signings by waiving Norwegian midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem, who was signed on Jan. 30.
  • Didier Deschamps has praised Paul Pogba following their country’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, specifically highlighting Pogba’s maturity in dealing with the constant media pressure.
  • Speaking of the World Cup, Neymar’s compatriot and teammate, Dani Alves, has come to his friend’s defense following Brazil’s crashing out of the World Cup and meteoric emergence of anti-Neymar memes, mocking the striker’s dramatics displayed in Russia. I love Neymar, but the memes and challenges that were birthed from his theatrics truly are hysterical.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Be sure to check back in periodically to remain up to date on all things Orlando City and Orlando Pride. And before I go, I just wanted to leave you with this little nostalgic gem, with a little bit of Rex Orange County mixed in. I know, I’m a Rex fanboy. Wanna fight about it?

You’ve got a friend in me, Mane Landers. Have an excellent week, and cheers!

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Lion Links: 11/15/24

Barbra Banda speaks about playing alongside Marta, USMNT beats Jamaica, international soccer roundup, and more.

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12 hours ago

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November 15, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! I hope the week hasn’t been too rough on you as we gear up for what should be an exciting weekend. There aren’t too many plans lined up for me, but I’m still looking forward to being able to relax a bit over the next few days. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to our favorite Beefy Swede, Robin Jansson!

Barbra Banda on Playing With Marta

It’s an understatement to say it’s been a fantastic year for the Orlando Pride, and NWSL MVP finalists Barbra Banda and Marta have been major reasons for the team’s success. Marta has been with the Pride since 2017 and is thriving in what may be the twilight of her legendary career. Meanwhile, it’s Banda’s first year with the Pride and she’s taken the league by storm alongside Marta. In an interview with Futbol W, which is co-hosted by former Pride player Ali Krieger, Banda spoke about how motivating it is to play with the greatest women’s soccer player of all time.

Battle of the Rebuilds in NWSL Playoffs

Of the four teams remaining in the NWSL playoffs, only NJ/NY Gotham FC was in the playoffs last year. Not only are this year’s semifinalists a testament to how much things can change each year, but it’s also an interesting showcase of the different ways clubs can build a team capable of winning in this league. The Pride capped off a patient and smart rebuild by signing international players like Banda, while the Current have benefited greatly from adding Temwa Chawinga. After winning the NWSL Championship last year, Gotham added several American stars like Rose Lavelle and Crystal Dunn in free agency to do it again. Meanwhile, the Washington Spirit have leaned on a strong rookie class and other young players to reach this point.

USMNT Beats Jamaica in Nations League

The United States Men’s National Team got its quarterfinal series started with a solid 1-0 win over Jamaica in Kingston. Ricardo Pepi scored the lone foal of the game early on with a nice strike after a silky smooth assist from Christian Pulisic. Matt Turner came up with a great save on a penalty kick in the first half, earning a clean sheet the hard way. It wasn’t exactly a comfortable victory for Mauricio Pochettino and the Yanks, but winning on the road in Concacaf is hardly ever comfortable. The two teams will reconvene in St. Louis on Monday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Keeping Up With International Soccer

The U.S. obviously isn’t the only nation taking part in the international break, with teams all around the world in action. Paraguay arguably had the biggest win of the day, beating Argentina 2-1 in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Venezuela also had a decent result, drawing 1-1 against Brazil in a match that included a missed penalty by Vinicius Junior.

In 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, and Gabon all booked their tickets to next year’s tournament after the latest round of matches. Saudi Arabia and Australia battled to a scoreless draw in AFC World Cup qualifying, while South Korea moved closer to qualifying after a 3-1 win over Kuwait that featured Son Heung-min’s 50th international goal. There weren’t too many surprises in the UEFA Nations League, with England cruising past Greece and Italy beating Belgium. France was held to a scoreless draw against Israel but still qualified for the quarterfinals.

Free Kicks

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

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Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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November 14, 2024

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 13, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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