Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/19/19
Happy Sunday, Mane Landers, but more importantly, happy match day! I’ll be at Orlando City Stadium today to soak in the expansion clash with MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati and I can’t wait. It feels like a great opportunity for the Lions to put a halt to their three-match losing streak, as FC Cincinnati has been struggling to find its footing in a new professional environment. Regardless, I’ll do my best to distract you for a bit with Sunday’s helping of Lion Links. Enjoy!
James O’Connor Wants a Win
Well, obviously we all want a win. But it seems that O’Connor is no longer taking any positives away from his team’s close matches, comparing the feeling of the the current losing streak to someone who works three weeks but only receives 30% of their pay. Clearly, it’s getting to him (as it should). O’Connor sees today’s home match as an opportunity to get back on track and find winning ways, despite the prevalent feeling that the team has been playing well enough to earn more points.
“A lot of the performances that we’ve seen are good performances and are worthy of more points,” O’Connor said. “Even some of the fellow coaches who we’ve played have commented on how well we’ve been doing. Again, people can see, but ultimately, when you’re not getting points on the board, it’s really frustrating.”
He goes on to express just how much this home clash with the MLS newcomers means to him.
“I can’t describe how badly,” O’Connor said when asked how badly he wanted a victory against FC Cincinnati. “Even if I began to try, we would be here for about eight hours and you would be bored silly. For the whole club, for supporters, for the players, for the coaching staff, we need a win. And we want to win,” O’Connor said. “Desperately, we want to win.”
Wondo Hits Four, Surpasses Landon Donovan
Chris Wondolowski is MLS’s all-time top goal scorer, having notched goal numbers 145, 146, 147, and 148 all in yesterday’s 4-1 demolition of the Chicago Fire. Wondo was able to break the record with two matches to spare at 338, as Donovan set the previous record in 340 appearances. The other three players in the top five are Jeff Cunningham, (134 goals), Jaime Moreno (133 goals), and Ante Razov (114 goals).
FC Cincinnati Set to Announce Gerard Nijkamp as General Manager
Today’s opponents are set to announce the Dutch executive as GM of the club, with multiple sources all confirming the rumors. Gerard Nijkamp has experience with the U-21 Dutch National Team under his belt, as well as many years of experience with FC Zwolle to pull from in his new role, and the brass in Cincinnati hope that he can turn what’s starting to look to be an abysmal first season in MLS into a respectable campaign. Time will tell, but he’s certain to make an impact in some fashion. We’ll see how it turns out.
USA on Cusp of Beach Soccer Glory
That’s right, “USA” and “soccer glory” were just used in the same headline. The U.S. Beach Soccer National Team advanced to the semifinals of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship following its 5-1 thrashing of Guadeloupe. Tanner Akol and Nick Perera, the tournament’s two top scorers, each scored twice and David Mondragon also put one in the back of the net. The Yanks next see action on Saturday, when they’ll face El Salvador, which beat the Bahamas in the opposite quarterfinal. The clash is set to be a rematch of the 2013 final that saw the U.S. win 5-4 in overtime. The winner of the semifinal match will automatically be qualified for the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, and vie for the Concacaf title on Sunday.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando City Foundation Jamboree was yesterday. Did you get your practice in? It looks like Kay did.
Out at @OrlandoCityFnd Jamboree – shooting practice in between games. #KickingItBack pic.twitter.com/tszR6jbJ7O
— Kay Rawlins (@Kay_Rawlins) May 18, 2019
- Orlando Pride center back Shelina Zadorsky started in Canada’s Send-Off match for the World Cup. The Canadians beat Mexico, 3-0.
- I really wish I could make it to this one.
🚨Breaking News🚨3 time World Cup Veteran @landondonovan joins fellow US National team star @Jermainejunior to represent the USA for the upcoming arena International friendly match against Mexico, May 31st! Presented by @blinkfitness https://t.co/ArwjgJVjgk pic.twitter.com/FgWavINkZx
— Ontario Fury (@OntarioFury) May 18, 2019
- I promise I don’t mean this with sass, but isn’t your number of stripes five, Atlanta United? I mean, I’m just saying.
The heartbeat of the 🅰️
Stripes collection available NOW at the Atlantic Station Team Store pic.twitter.com/sxYz5NumED
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 17, 2019
- The U-20 Men’s National Team lost to Uruguay on spot kicks in the final tune-up match before the U-20 World Cup. Chris Richards notched one for the Yanks.
- Brilliant Marketing, Southampton FC. Well done with this one.
- Tyler Boyd may suit up as a Yank sooner than anyone had ever expected.
NEWS: FIFA has approved a one-time change of association request from attacker Tyler Boyd, clearing the way for him to represent the #USMNT.
Welcome, Tyler! 🇺🇸⚽️
MORE >> https://t.co/HRkTtDY7fv pic.twitter.com/QjygILbL7P
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 18, 2019
- Lyon’s women’s side lifted the Champions League trophy, triumphing over Barcelona, 4-1.
- FC Bayern Munich sent off Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, and Rafinha the right way by winning a seventh consecutive Bundesliga crown. You legends will be missed! #MiaSanMia
- And as always, stay up to date with the results from around the league.
Well, that’s it for now. Whether I run into you down at the stadium today, or you’re watching from a bar or from home, be safe and enjoy the match!
Have a great Sunday and an even better week.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/13/24
Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.
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.
- Jude Bellingham’s younger brother, Jobe, may make a move to La Liga giant Real Madrid.
- The USMNT’s Gio Reyna is still nursing a mystery injury at Borussia Dortmund.
- 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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/12/24
Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Orlando City’s Playoff Path
It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.
What to Watch For With the USMNT
It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.
Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States
The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.
Free Kicks
- NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.
- The U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team battled Argentina to a scoreless draw at the Deaf Pan American Games on Monday, but fortunately advanced in the tournament due to a coin flip tiebreaker. The U.S. will play either Brazil or Mexico in the semifinal.
- Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended due to a social media video that seemed to show him making negative marks about Jurgen Klopp.
- Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club following the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim, who wants to bring in his own assistants.
- Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are among a whopping eight players who have pulled out of England’s UEFA Nations League squad due to injury.
That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/11/24
Orlando City and Orlando Pride advance in the playoffs, MLS and NWSL playoff roundups, USMNT roster announced, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you in Florida. Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who have served or are currently serving in the military. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour during the holiday weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals
Orlando City defeated Charlotte FC 4-1 in penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight year. The Lions were down 1-0 late in the match, with their run in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs about to end. However, Duncan McGuire was pulled down in the box and Orlando was awarded a penalty kick deep in stoppage time. Facundo Torres had his penalty kick saved but scored on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1. In the penalty shootout, Pedro Gallese came up with big saves, and every Lion converted their kick to book Orlando’s ticket into the next round. It took three matches, but the Lions are through and will face Atlanta United at home Nov. 24.
Pride Secure First Playoff Win Against the Chicago Red Stars
The Orlando Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1 on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium to secure their first-ever NWSL playoff win. Barbra Banda scored twice, and Haley McCutcheon and Marta each added one for Orlando. The Red Stars pulled one back with a goal from Jameese Joseph, but the Pride dominated the match from start to finish and advanced to the semifinals. The Pride will face the Kansas City Current at home Sunday with a spot in the NWSL Championship on the line.
First Round of MLS Playoffs Wraps Up
It was a wild weekend to conclude the first round of the 2024 MLS playoffs, with plenty of Game 3 drama. Let’s start with a big upset in South Florida, as Atlanta United got two goals from Jamal Thiare and won 3-2 win against Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami. New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 6-5 in penalties after a scoreless draw and will move on to face the New York Red Bulls in a playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby in the next round. Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati were the three highest seeds in the Eastern Conference and all three were eliminated after the first round. Out west, LAFC secured a 1-0 over the Vancouver Whitecaps with Mateusz Bogusz scoring the lone goal to advance. LAFC will take on the Seattle Sounders, while the LA Galaxy will face Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals.
NWSL Playoff Quarterfinals Roundup
The first round of the 2024 NWSL playoffs is also in the books. The Kansas City Current defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Saturday. Temwa Chawinga scored for the Current and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches. There were two more matches on Sunday, and the Washington Spirit fought back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Bay FC 2-1 to advance. NJ/NY Gotham FC edged the Portland Thorns 2-1 with Rose Lavelle scoring the winning goal late in stoppage time. Gotham and the Spirit will square off on Saturday at Audi Field.
USMNT Roster Announced for Nations League
United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced the 25-man roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Jamaica. Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, and Chris Richards are a few of the defenders called up, while the midfield includes Brenden Aaronson, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah. Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Tim Weah, and Brandon Vazquez are some of the attackers to keep an eye on. Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Zack Steffen were called up alongside Patrick Schulte and Diego Kochen. Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire was not called up, and Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna is another notable player who wasn’t selected. The USMNT will face Jamaica in a two-legged series this week, with the first match in Kingston Thursday followed by the second leg Monday at City Park in St. Louis.
Free Kicks
- In case you missed it, check out this video of Facundo Torres’ equalizer on Orlando City’s social media page to secure his 20th goal of the year.
- The Orlando Pride honored Brazilian midfielder Luana before their playoff win on Friday.
- FC Cincinnati is reportedly close to a club-record deal to sign forward Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge.
- Bayern Munich has reportedly signed U.S. youth international forward Bajung Darboe from LAFC.
- With Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton over the weekend, the club has now lost four consecutive matches across all competitions, which is the first time this has happened since 2006.
- Ruben Amorim is reportedly facing a delay in starting work as manager of Manchester United because the club is awaiting confirmation of his work visa.
- AS Roma has fired its second manager of the season, Ivan Juric, following its 3-2 loss to Bologna on Sunday.
- North Texas SC won the MLS NEXT Pro Cup after trailing 2-0 and completing the comeback to defeat Philadelphia Union II 3-2 and claim its first league title.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
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