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Lion Links: 3/17/19

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5 years ago

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day Sunday, Mane Landers. I’m sure you’re frustrated right now, and to be honest, I get it. I am too. Yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Impact at Orlando City Stadium was demoralizing to say the least. This weekend in general has been an awful one for me. A relationship ended, my Trailblazer is about to cost more than it should, and now the search is on for a replacement just days after planning a trip to Washington D.C. for a good friend’s wedding.

I’m not looking forward to it (the car search, that is). At any rate, I’m still here per usual to feed you some Sunday Lion Links, even if they aren’t seasoned the way we’d like them to be — you know, with an OCSC win. I just took a deep sigh. You couldn’t hear it, but maybe you took one too.

Before we get started, we here at The Mane Land want to wish Orlando Pride midfielder and all-around amazing individual Dani Weatherholt a very special birthday. The club is lucky to have her on the roster, and we’re all fortunate as supporters to have her here in the City Beautiful.

Lions Drop Three Points to the Impact at Home, 3-1

In a contentious and mistake-ridden affair, the Lions didn’t have the impact on the match that they had wished going into this one, however, namesake Montreal did. The Lions lost their first match of the 2019 season, at home nonetheless, to a surprisingly strong Impact side that saw Ignacio Piatti become the player with the most goals against the Lions in the club’s short MLS history (10). Dom Dwyer did manage to scrape one back in stoppage time courtesy of a selfless Santiago Patiño assist, but ultimately, the match was far out of reach by that point.

Stay tuned later for the bearded guy’s five takeaways from the match.

The SeaWolves Fall to the Comets, 9-7

In a key MASL showdown with major playoff implications, Orlando defender Joshio “Yoshi” Sandoval saw an early red card and the SeaWolves fell at home. They put up one hell of a fight, especially after trailing 6-2 early on, with one fewer player on the bench, but ultimately the Kansas City Comets took the win in Orlando. The SeaWolves’ tenacity has to be praised though, as the club continued to push forward and fight, even coming within striking distance of the Comets with a final scoreline of 9-7. The SeaWolves see action next on Friday, March 22, against the Baltimore Blast in Maryland.

Berhalter: MLS Has Grown Over the Last Five Years

USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter was at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday to take in the Lions vs. the Impact. While Dwyer’s finishing won’t have Berhalter wishing he’d have selected Dom for the two upcoming friendlies — including one next week at OCS — the new national team coach is pleased with the progression of MLS players in general, saying the league has grown significantly in recent years. He also did mention to ProSoccerUSA.com’s Jordan Culver that he’s keeping an eye on some of the current Lions.

“So, for players like Dom Dwyer, like Chris Mueller, like Danilo Acosta, these are guys that are all on our radar. We’ve evaluated them all. We’re watching all the games, so at any given moment, they have the opportunity to be part of the team.”

Alexandre Pato Headed to MLS?

Did someone say Pato? (If I could, I’d insert the eyes emoji right here.) While Orlando City could likely benefit more from an additional option at forward, there isn’t much money left for a player of Pato’s stature, and there’s no way he’s coming to Orlando. Nobody believed me when I said the club was going to sign Nani, but at this juncture, I’m not willing to go out on a limb and say the club is going to acquire the rights to this gifted striker.

“My dear Chinese friends, I‘d like to inform you that my adventure in China has come to an end…When I arrived in Tianjin for the first time in 2017 I didn’t know the city at all. It was a surprise and also it was love at first sight for me. These two years in China were full of happy moments with my team-mates and full of new experiences. I am quite sure that China made me grow up as a man. I visited new cities and places, I learned new different culture and habits of this great country. I helped my team with my goals and my football to reach the Asian Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.I would like to thank my club, my team-mates, coaches, all the working people in the club, my fans and supporters who always sent me wishes and love and all the nice Chinese people I met during these two years in China.”

While the 29-year-old technical striker has already been linked to a move back to his native country of Brazil, there are still plenty of rumors afloat that he’ll have a stint in MLS before his career ends. We’ll see what happens, but please don’t go to Miami or Atlanta, Pato. Please.

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  • As always, keep an eye on the other results around the league, because it’s always nice to be familiar with your opponents.
  • David Beckham refused to rule out future moves for all-world talents Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Whew. It could get quite interesting in the Sunshine State in a few years, that’s for damn sure.
  • MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati announced that the team’s inaugural MLS home opener was sold out, having an announced attendance of 32,250.
  • My hometown (sort of, as I was actually born in Salem, MA) team, Tallahassee Soccer Club, has begun selling tickets to its inaugural season. Check them out. They have a lot of talent on the roster in the likes homegrown phenoms like Pete Love and Evan Barksdale (both players I’ve played with extensively, and, trust me when I say the word quality), and their head coach, Joshua Bruno, is one of the best players and coaches I’ve interacted with in my day.

  • In case anyone was holding out hopes of Clint Dempsey hopping into some MASL action…I apologize for pouring some cold water on those hopes…pimp.

  • And to end, they say money talks, right? Sheesh, take a look at this:

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Try your best to enjoy your Sunday. I may sound like a broken record when I say it, but when it comes to the Lions, remain patient and keep the optimism flowing. That’s all we can do, right?

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

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8 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

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  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/30/24

Luana’s season ends with Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis, San Diego linked with Chucky Lozano, U.S. and Mexico withdraw 2027 World Cup bid, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 30, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was another busy weekend of Orlando soccer, and things aren’t going to slow down anytime soon. May is an absolutely packed month for all three teams, and the games will be coming thick and fast. We have a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s jump into the links.

Luana Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

This week started off with some very sad news, as the Orlando Pride announced on Monday that midfielder Luana has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury list as a result of her being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Brazilian international is starting chemotherapy treatments with the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. In a statement, Luana thanked both the Brazilian National Team and the Pride for the support she’s been receiving. Seb Hines and Rafaelle also spoke about how the team has been supporting Luana.

San Diego Reportedly Nears Deal for Chucky Lozano

The Athletic’s Tom Bogert has reported that San Diego FC is in advanced talks to sign Chucky Lozano ($) from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch team is expected to receive a transfer fee in the area of $12 million, and Lozano would likely be the highest-profile player for the expansion team ahead of its maiden Major League Soccer season in 2025. While nothing is official, San Diego is said to be hopeful of getting a deal done before Copa America kicks off this summer.

U.S. and Mexico Withdraw 2027 Women’s World Cup Bid

The United States and Mexico have announced their decision to withdraw a joint bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and instead focus on bidding for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The bid had made it to the final three of the selection process, in addition to a bid from Brazil and a joint effort from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlowe Cone cited a desire to have more time to prepare while also having the opportunity to learn from the experience of the joint effort of hosting the 2026 World Cup. As far as who will host in 2027, the decision will be made on May 17, with Germany having hosted a Women’s World Cup back in 2011, while Brazil would be the first South American nation to host the tournament.

English Premier League Approves Spending Cap

Premier League teams took the first step towards implementing a spending cap on Monday. While a final vote is still needed to ratify the proposed changes, Monday’s vote gave the green light to start the legal and economic studies needed to change to a spending cap model. The proposed cap would be based on how much the lowest earning Premier League team earns from television rights, and could be implemented for the 2025-2026 season. There were 16 teams that voted in favor of continuing the process of moving towards a salary cap, while Chelsea abstained from voting, and Manchester United, Manchester City, and Aston Villa voted against the motion.

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That does it for me this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/29/24

Orlando City and OCB lose to Toronto, Pride beat the Spirit in Washington, EPL title race update, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was a mixed weekend for our teams, with the Pride winning, while Orlando City and OCB lost. I’ve been busy covering high school volleyball, badminton, and soccer throughout the past week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Lose at Home to Toronto FC

Orlando City SC saw its four-match unbeaten streak come to an end, losing 2-1 to Toronto FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday. Duncan McGuire scored the opening goal to put Orlando ahead in the first half. The Lions held on to the 1-0 lead until late in the second half, when goals from Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu put the Reds up 2-1, and they were able to hang on and walk out of Orlando with all three points. Toronto FC has won two in a row in league play and is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 16 points. Meanwhile, the Lions are in 13th with nine points. Orlando City will look to bounce back Saturday at home as it takes on FC Cincinnati.  

Pride Grab Road Win Over Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride held on to defeat the Washington Spirit 3-2 at Audi Field Friday — their third straight victory. Angelina scored to put the Pride ahead in the first half, but the Spirit equalized just before halftime. Barbra Banda scored her first goal for the Pride, and Summer Yates added her third goal of the season, giving the Pride a 3-1 advantage in the second half. Ashley Hatch pulled one back for the Spirit on a howler by goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, but the Pride keep their unbeaten streak alive at six matches (3-0-3). Orlando remains undefeated and is fourth in the NWSL table with 12 points. Next up for the Pride is a pair of home matches this week, starting Wednesday at home against the North Carolina Courage. Orlando will host Racing Louisville FC Sunday.

OCB Falls at Home to Toronto FC II

Like the first team, Orlando City B also lost 2-1 to Toronto FC II in its first home match at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions went down early in the match when Charles Sharp scored for Toronto FC II to take a 1-0 lead. Wilfredo Rivera scored the equalizer in the second half to tie the match, however, late in the second half, Jesus Batiz scored the game-winning goal to seal the win for Toronto. The Young Lions have yet to win a match at home, but has played well on the road this season and are on a four-match unbeaten streak away. The Young Lions will face MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference leaders Chattanooga FC Saturday at Finley Stadium. 

Manchester City and Arsenal Win to Keep EPL Title Race Close

The Premier League title race is going down to the wire as Manchester City and Arsenal won their matches over the weekend. Arsenal held on to defeat rival Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the North London Derby. That result moves Arsenal into first with 80 points with three matches remaining. Manchester City shut out Nottingham Forest 2-0 and is second, with 79 points and still four matches left to play. Liverpool dropped points to West Ham in a 2-2 draw, putting another blow to the Reds’ title chances and leaving them in third with 75 points and three matches left.  

Free Kicks

  • If you missed it, check out the first goal from Pride forward Barbra Banda.

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

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