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Lion Links: 8/3/18

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6 years ago

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What’s up, Mane Landers? The Tournament of Nations has come to a close and attention now turns to this weekend’s action, with both Orlando City and the Pride playing here in Orlando. Both teams will be looking to get results at Orlando City Stadium as their seasons head into the home stretch. It should be a great next couple of days, so let’s kick them off with some links!

Justin Meram Reportedly Headed Back to Columbus

Reports came out yesterday that Justin Meram will be traded back to the Columbus Crew after just six months with Orlando City. Sam Stejskal of mlssoccer.com writes that the Crew would send $750,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and a 2019 international slot to Orlando for Meram after already selling him to the Lions earlier this January for $1.05 million in combined allocation money. Essentially, the Lions paid $300,00 for six months of service from Meram. In that time, Meram had only scored one goal apiece in MLS and the U.S. Open Cup, and could not seem to find his form in Orlando. The Lions and the Crew will meet later this season in Orlando City’s last regular season home game, with Meram possibly on the opposing side.

Orlando City Hires Assistant Coach

Sean McAuley has joined Orlando City’s coaching staff after seven seasons as the assistant coach for the Portland Timbers. This isn’t the first meeting between McAuley and Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor as McAuley actually coached O’Connor when he was a player for Sheffield Wednesday from 2008-2011. Part of the staff that won the Timbers the MLS Cup in 2015, the 47-year-old assistant coach hopes to bring a winning attitude to Orlando when he joins the Lions some time next week.

USWNT Wins 2018 Tournament of Nations

The United States Women’s National Team has won the Tournament of Nations after beating Brazil, 4-1, to edge out Australia by goal differential. Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan finished as the top scorer of the tournament, with four goals in three games. Morgan’s last goal was the last of the competition as she got on the end of a set piece cross by Megan Rapinoe to put the USWNT comfortably up by three goals. There was a little scare late in the game when Morgan had to be taken off the field after what looked like an ankle issue, but it doesn’t seem serious as she was seen celebrating fine after the victory.

For Brazil, Marta and Monica both started while Poliana and Camila came off the bench but the Brazilians were unable to upset the Yanks, with Brazil’s lone goal coming from an own goal by the U.S.

In the earlier game between Australia and Japan, the Matildas scored twice in the second half to win 2-0 and finish second in the tournament. Pride defender Alanna Kennedy scored the first goal for Australia with a perfect free kick that snuck into the bottom left corner of the goal. Sam Kerr scored to secure the win and although they did not win the tournament, the Matildas exit unbeaten with their heads held high.

Niki Budalic Assesses Orlando City Transfer Plans

With the summer transfer window ending on Aug. 8, Orlando City General Manager Niki Budalic fielded questions in regard to the Lions’ transfer plans. So far, the Lions have only added center back Shane O’Neill to the squad while the team has lost 12 of its 13 games. The hiring of James O’Connor came at an inopportune time as he tries to evaluate his players and identify areas that need improvement while the transfer deadline looms. Regardless of the complications from a new coaching hire, Budalic is optimistic that the Lions will straighten things out, even if that means not bolstering the squad and just getting more out of the players already on the team.

United States Men’s National Team Schedules October Friendly

The USMNT’s slate of games this fall just got even more enticing with a friendly scheduled against Colombia on Oct. 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Colombia is the fifth of an expected six opponents that the Yanks will face off against before 2018 ends, joining heavyweight teams like Brazil and England. The last time the U.S. played against Colombia was in the Copa America Centenario in 2016, when the U.S. lost two times against its South American foes.

Free Kicks

  • With a tough stretch of games ahead as the NWSL season’s end nears, Orlando Pride defender Toni Pressley believes the Pride will rise to the pressure and are ready to get back on the field this Sunday against Sky Blue FC.

  • Ex-Orlando City striker Cyle Larin has kicked off his 2018 campaign with Turkish club Besiktas on the right foot, scoring a hat trick in a 6-0 win against a B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands. Congratulations to Cyle as he leads his team into the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
  • The Orlando SeaWolves of the Major Arena Soccer League have added a third former Lion to their squad by signing defender Tyler Turner. The 22-year-old joins Lewis Neal and Johnny Mendoza as former Orlando players to become SeaWolves.
  • Speaking of past members of Orlando City on the move, former Orlando Vice President of Soccer Operations Paul McDonough is headed to Miami to help David Beckham with his still unnamed new MLS team. Jumping from Orlando to Atlanta and now to Miami, it is nice to see that one of the league’s top executives is dedicated to making the south a popular place for soccer. Congrats, Paul!
  • James O’Connor’s old team has found a new head coach as Louisville FC has appointed John Hackworth to take over.
  • 17-year-old Alphonso Davies has won MLS Goal of the Week for his strike against Minnesota United in the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 victory over the Loons. Davies’ well-placed shot was only overshadowed by his footwork as he sent a defender the wrong way with a beautiful cutback.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rightfully named MLS Player of the Week for his hat trick against Orlando last Sunday night. Although it is a sour feeling losing to Zlatan and the LA Galaxy 4-3, there is a small comfort that comes knowing it took an incredible performance by one of the league’s best players to defeat the Lions.
  • Regarding the other team in Los Angeles, LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye will miss the remainder of the 2018 season.

  • Reports have surfaced about the future of Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal throughout yesterday, with a move to Barcelona being a “done deal”.
  • We end our links with a little remix put together by our past contributor and current Orlando City writer Austin David about how Dom Dwyer is feeling. Our managing editor told him to give it a beat and Austin ran with it.

That’s all from me, folks. Make sure to check back in later today for more coverage of soccer here in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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6 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

Free Kicks

https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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1 day ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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