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Lion Links: 3/19/19

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Good morning, Mane Landers. Unfortunately, Orlando City lost over the weekend, which makes the team 0-1-2 on the MLS season and 1-1-1 when I have watched the team in person. There’s no time to dwell on the spilled milk though, because there’s plenty of good links to get to.

Orlando City Rookies Standing Tall

A pair of Orlando City rookies have been doing all sorts of good things and earning their due recognition. First up is Santiago Patiño, the Orlando City Academy product who notched an assist on his professional debut last Saturday after coming off the bench in the 74th minute. While Dom Dwyer’s goal in stoppage time wasn’t enough to stop the Lions from falling 3-1 to the Montreal Impact, I certainly took encouragement from the way Patiño helped to create Dom’s goal with his intelligent run and strength to hold off the defender on his shoulder. Then there’s defender Kamal Miller, who has started two out of Orlando’s first three matches and earned great reviews. His performances in the fledgling season have resulted in a call-up to the Canadian Men’s National Team for its friendly against French Guiana this weekend. While Miller didn’t feature in the loss at the weekend, his absence was simply due to the coaching staff’s desire to manage his workload, seemingly indicating that he is very much in the team’s plans for the remainder of the season. While Miller is in for Canada, Will Johnson (concussion protocol) is out.

Pride Roster News

The Orlando Pride have announced an updated preseason roster that now puts the total number of players on the roster at 26 as opposed to the original 25. Defender Kim Reynolds is no longer with the team while a pair of non-roster invitees have joined camp in midfielder Leah Mohammadi and forward Caitlin Farrell. Additionally, the seven players that were away on international duty have rejoined the squad, making Camila the only player listed on the roster who is not currently with the team — She’s in Brazil finalizing her green card. Both the new invitees are former college players who were not selected in the NWSL College Draft, with Mohammadi playing at Harvard and Farrell playing at Georgetown, where she was last year’s Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Berhalter’s Interesting Lineup Choices

It would seem that Gregg Berhalter will be going off the beaten path with his lineups for the upcoming pair of U.S. Men’s National Team friendlies. According to Paul Tenorio of The Athletic, Berhalter has gone on the record as saying that he will deploy Tyler Adams at right back and DeAndre Yedlin on the wing. While both players are certainly capable of playing those positions, particularly Yedlin on the wing, those wouldn’t seem to be their best positions. Yedlin in particular has done quite well at right back, making the starting job at Newcastle United his own and doing a pretty good job most of the time. However, Berhalter seems keen to experiment with every possible lineup permutation and hopefully he strikes some gold in doing so.

Big Strides for Argentinean Women’s Game

Over the weekend, the Argentine Football Association announced that the country’s women’s league has been granted professional status, a great step for a country where no such league previously existed. However, each team in the top flight must have at least eight professional contracts, which mirror those of the nation’s men’s league. The AFA will also be giving each of the league’s 16 clubs around $3,000 a month to help finance those contracts. The minimum salary of players in the league is now around $365 a month, which is equivalent to what a player in the fourth division of Argentinian men’s soccer makes. So clearly there is work still to be done. Regardless, every journey begins with a first step, and hopefully the women’s game in Argentina will take many more.

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Don’t forget that while there’s still a soccer game at Orlando City Stadium this week, it will not be the Lions playing. Instead it’s a USMNT friendly against Ecuador on Thursday, a game which I will be attending. That is followed by Orlando City taking on the New York Red Bulls on the road Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET from Red Bull Arena, which I understandably will not be attending. If you do happen to see me out and about on Thursday, feel free to grab me and say hi, I’ll probably be with The Mane Land’s very own heavily bearded correspondent, so you can get two birds with one stone. Y’all stay safe out there.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/2/24

Orlando City’s playoff run ends, Barbra Banda nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player, USWNT draws against England, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving weekend spent with your family and loved ones. Under Armour kept me busy all weekend, along with working at Wrigley Field for the Northwestern and Illinois college football game. Let’s all wish Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar a happy birthday! It was frustrating to see Orlando City’s season end over the weekend, but let’s get to the links to catch up on all of the action.

Lions Fall to the New York Red Bulls in MLS Playoffs

Orlando City’s 2024 MLS playoff run ended on Saturday after a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference final. Andres Reyes scored the lone goal to seal the win for the Red Bulls to advance to the MLS Cup final for the second time in club history. It’s the second time this postseason that the Lions have been shut out. Orlando didn’t beat the Red Bulls at all this year, drawing 1-1 at home and falling 1-0 on the road during the regular season prior to this playoff match. Orlando’s 2024 season ends just one round before reaching what would have been its first MLS Cup final appearance. Considering how Orlando’s season started, turning things around to finish as one of the final four teams in the playoffs gives the Lions something to build on next year.

Barbra Banda Nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player Award

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2024 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. Banda is coming off a stellar season in her first year with the Pride, leading the club with 17 goals and scoring the winning goal against the Washington Spirit to seal Orlando’s first NWSL Championship title. She scored a hat trick for Zambia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris against Australia as well. USWNT players Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman are also in contention for the award. Other notable players nominated are last year’s winner, Aitana Bonmati, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, and Jamaican forward Khadija Shaw.

LA Galaxy Beat Seattle Sounders to Reach MLS Cup Final

In the Western Conference final, the LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Dejan Joveljic scored a late goal in the second half to seal the win for the Galaxy and clinch a spot in the MLS Cup final. Joveljic has scored five goals in the postseason and the Galaxy return to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2014. Riqui Puig added the assist on Joveljic’s goal and has three assists and four goals this postseason. Unfortunately, Puig suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the match and will miss the final when the Galaxy host the Red Bulls on Saturday.

USWNT and England Play to Scoreless Draw in Friendly

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team fought to a scoreless draw against England in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium. The USWNT thought it had scored a goal in the second half courtesy of Lindsey Horan, but the goal was waived off due to offside. The USWNT was also given a penalty kick after it appeared defender Alex Greenwood handled the ball, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. The USWNT will travel to The Hague to take on the Netherlands tomorrow at ADO Den Haag Stadium at 2:45 p.m. for its final match to close out the year.

Scouting Report on the Netherlands

Stars and Stripes FC unveiled its scouting report on the Netherlands. The USWNT will face the Netherlands for the 11th time, winning eight of the past matches. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage. Some notable names on the Dutch roster include forward Chasity Grant, goalkeeper Lize Kop, and defender Dominique Janssen. Kop is known for her quickness to get to the ground and possesses the physical strength to absorb contact from her opponents when going after aerial balls. Veteran defender Danielle van de Donk is another player to keep an eye out for, as she can still provide a spark and identify gaps in the opposition’s defense. Even though this is a friendly, this match will provide another test for Head Coach Emma Hayes to give opportunities to the younger players while building chemistry for the squad.

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  • Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were both in action for Brazil in a friendly on Sunday. Brazil won 2-1 over Australia.

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

Lion Links: 11/29/24

Orlando City’s deepest playoff run so far, USWNT prepares for England, Europa League roundup, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to Friday, Mane Landers. Hopefully your Thanksgiving was a joyous one filled with great food and greater company. If not, at least you can revel in the fact that the weekend is right around the corner (many of you may already be in yours because of the holiday) and is packed with plenty of soccer to enjoy. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Enters the Unknown

Despite a slow start to the season, Orlando City finds itself further in the playoffs than ever before and will host the New York Red Bulls Saturday night in the Eastern Conference final. The Lions may be in uncharted territory, but they have plenty of experience in knockout tournaments to draw upon. Taylor Twellman broke down how the Lions reached this point and became one of the top teams in the league. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese helped solidify Orlando’s defense, and attackers Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique, and Martin Ojeda all found their groove at the right time.

Along with recognizing the many weapons in Orlando’s dynamic offense, Bradley Wright-Phillips gave deserved praise to midfield duo Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena, who have made life difficult for opponents. As for the key Red Bulls players to watch for tomorrow, Emil Forsberg has the team firing on all cylinders and Lewis Morgan may be due for a big game. He has a history of success against Orlando.

USWNT Prepares for Friendly Against England

The United States Women’s National Team will take on England at Wembley Stadium Saturday in the first of two friendlies to close out the year. It will be the 20th match between the two nations, with England winning the most recent meeting on Oct. 7, 2022. England boasts plenty of talent all over its roster, including forward Beth Mead and defender Lucy Bronze. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is a part of England’s roster. It should be a great match between the two highest ranked teams in the world and also an interesting chess match between coaches Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman.

USMNT Moves Up in FIFA Rankings

The latest men’s FIFA rankings were unveiled and the U.S. jumped up two spots to 16th following its pair of wins over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The Yanks are the highest-ranked Concacaf team, with Mexico falling three spots to 19th and Canada climbing four spots to 31st. There was also some movement in the top 10 of the rankings, with Germany moving up to 10th while Colombia fell to 12th. Argentina remains at the top of the rankings despite a loss to Paraguay and a narrow win over Peru.

Keeping Up With the Europa League

The UEFA Europa League rolled on and Manchester United came up with a crucial win in manager Ruben Amorim’s first home game at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho scored early and Rasmus Højlund had a brace to help the team rally and beat Bodø/Glimt 3-2. Elsewhere in England, Mats Hummels scored an equalizer in stoppage time for AS Roma to draw 2-2 against Tottenham. Lazio’s perfect run in the tournament came to an end after a scoreless draw against Ludogorets. Rangers, Fenerbahce, and Eintracht Frankfurt came up with solid wins in this latest round of matches as well.

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That’s all I have for you all this time around. If you plan on going out and shopping today, I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be staying in and knocking out some gift buying online. Have a great Friday!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/28/24

Orlando City prepares for Eastern Conference final, details revealed on Osceola Heritage Park changes, MLS roster changes, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Thanksgiving, Mane Landers! I don’t have too much preparation today beyond putting together some cranberry and brie bites for my family. The baking trials over the past week were more…trialing than expected, but I think I’ve figured out how to make them without giving myself too much stress today. My muffin tin was also a bit bigger than is probably optimal, so they come out more like muffins than anything. Before we dive into today’s links, here’s a picture of an imperfect batch before I realized they need a drizzle that I’ll make today.

Orlando City Prepares for the New York Red Bulls

For the first time in club history, Orlando City will take part in an Eastern Conference final when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. It will be the third game between the two teams this year, and the Lions did not win either of the previous two meetings. The past hardly matters now though, as both teams are now just a game away from playing in the MLS Cup final. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on the importance of Saturday’s game and how the Lions are preparing for their last home game of 2024.

Changes Planned For Osceola Heritage Park

Public documents revealed some of the major changes planned for Osceola Heritage Park following the Wilf family’s submitted proposal for parts of the land. The project is estimated to cost close to $1.3 billion and would include expansions for the team’s headquarters, academy, and 18 training fields. There are also plans for apartments, hotels, and restaurants and construction could begin next year. Orlando’s letter of interest in the land was the only one submitted and Osceola County Manager Don Fisher will reportedly recommend that county commissioners proceed with negotiations with the Wilf family.

Eliminated MLS Clubs Make Roster Moves

With only four contenders left in the MLS playoffs, the eliminated teams have turned their attention to getting their rosters ready for 2025. LAFC exercised the options on the contracts for goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and David Ochoa. It declined the option on MLS veteran Kei Kamara’s contract and is in discussions with forward Carlos Vela and defender Aaron Long as well. Former Lion Benji Michel’s contract option with Real Salt Lake was one of many declined by the club. Rubio Rubin, Maikel Chang, and Marcelo Silva won’t be in Salt Lake City next year either. Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Dayne St. Clair predictably had their contract options exercised by Minnesota United, while former Lion Derek Dodson had his declined.

The Columbus Crew will roll into 2025 without Yaw Yeboah or Alexandru Matan, but is keeping a decent amount of players around like Christian Ramirez, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and Patrick Schulte. Luis Suarez and Inter Miami have also agreed to a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2025.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The most exciting match from the latest round of Champions League matches was in the Netherlands, with PSV Eindhoven coming back to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. The Americans shined, as Malik Tillman scored twice to tie things up, and then Ricardo Pepi provided the winner in stoppage time as a substitute. Benfica also had a thrilling 3-2 win thanks to a pair of late assists from Angel Di Maria to beat Monaco.

Real Madrid’s rough tournament continued with a 2-0 loss to Liverpool that included Kylian Mbappe having a penalty kick saved and an injury to Eduardo Camavinga. Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa and Juventus battled to a scoreless draw in England, and Ngal’ayel Mukau had a brace in Lille’s 2-1 victory against Bologna. Cameron Carter-Vickers had a rough day after an own goal in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Club Brugge.

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  • Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner may have revealed that not every MLS team will take part in Leagues Cup next year, which would be a change from its past iterations.
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy will reportedly become Leicester City’s next manager. This news comes after his solid and brief stint as Manchester United’s interim head coach.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and enjoy plenty of great food and time with friends and family.

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