Lion Links: 5/8/19

Good morning, Mane Landers! It’s teacher appreciation week, we’re headed to Atlanta this weekend for the match, and we’re halfway through this never-ending week. I’m working hard to stay positive, despite five straight days of state testing, the OCSC loss last weekend, and the anxiety of three quick matches coming.

Here’s what you may or may not have missed yesterday.

Orlando City Invites Homegrown Prospects to Training

Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi personally called four potential Homegrown Players to invite them to Tuesday’s training. Muzzi told ProSoccerUSA.com:

“All of these guys are always welcome to come back and train with us during the summer. They should feel like this is their home. They can come back at any time. Even if they’re not going to be pro players, we’ll welcome them as part of their growth, as part of life. They need to feel that.”

The club is making strides to show their commitment to Homegrown Players.

OCB’s Simeon Named to USL League One Team of the Week

OCB defender Nathan Simeon made it to the USL League One Team of the Week. He recorded 11 recoveries and seven clearances while finishing with an 83% passing average. An added bit, former USL Lion Dennis Chin also made the lineup.

U.S. Soccer Denies the Allegations Brought Forward by the USWNT

The U.S. Women’s National Team officially filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Foundation on March 7 citing institutionalized gender discrimination. This is mostly in response to unequal pay as it relates to the U.S. Men’s National Team. In the latest news on this, Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the team, stated: “There is no legal basis for USSF’s claim that it is anything other than a single employer operating both the men’s and women’s teams — who face drastically unequal conditions and pay under their shared employer.”

The case won’t stop here, and Levinson continued, “Even as the most decorated American soccer team in history, USSF treats the women’s team as ‘less-than’ equal compared to their male colleagues. We look forward to a trial next year after the World Cup.”

FC Cincinnati Fires Head Coach Alan Koch

In a surprising announcement yesterday, we learned that FC Cincinnati has parted ways with Head Coach Alan Koch. In the official statement, President and General Manager Jeff Berding noted, “After a series of recent issues and a team culture that had deteriorated, we determined that it’s time to make a change to return a club-centered focus to the team.” According to the statement, the decision was not made as a result of a lackluster April. Orlando City is set to play FC Cincinnati at the next home match on May 19.

Free Kicks

• A backheel goal from Mix Diskerud confirms Ulsan Hyundai’s place in the AFC CL knockouts.
• Is Juan Mata headed to Barcelona?
• A 2011 act from Messi earns lifelong respect.
• Justin Meram is headed to Atlanta ahead of OCSC match.
• Joevin Jones is headed back to Seattle.
• Is Jonathan Lewis headed to Colorado?

That’ll do it for me today. Is anyone else headed to Atlanta this weekend? It’s nice to sit in the air conditioning at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but I’ll take Orlando City Stadium over it any day!