Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/21/19
Happy Tuesday, Mane Landers, and for the first time in a great many weeks I mean that wholeheartedly! Not only did Orlando City SC snap a losing streak with a net-bursting win over FC Cincinnati, but Orlando City B also won its first game of the season, meaning that all Orlando teams in action over the weekend walked away with victories. As always, there’s lots to discuss so lets bask in the warm glow of victory and get to the links.
Recognition for Lions
A pair of Orlando players earned very justified recognition for their exploits over the last week. Chris Mueller is up for the MLS Goal of the Week for his superb left-footed solo effort in the Lions’ 2-1 loss on the road to Seattle last Wednesday. Tesho Akindele, meanwhile, was named to the bench of the MLS Team of the Week for his two-goal performance in Sunday’s 5-1 shellacking of FC Cincinnati. Akindele scored the team’s first goal courtesy of a quick turn and fortunate deflection off a Cincy defender, and the goal got Orlando back in the game. He then struck again for the team’s fourth goal when he was the first to react to a loose ball in the box after a corner kick, completing his brace. Congratulations to both men, and keep up the good work.
Dom Unavailable for Friday
Bad news and even worse timing for both Dom Dwyer and Orlando City as its been confirmed that Dom will be suspended for Orlando City’s home game this Friday against the LA Galaxy. The suspension really couldn’t come at a worse time as Sunday’s game saw Dwyer back among the goals for the first time since March, when he converted a really quite difficult header for the Lions’ fifth goal. Unfortunately, he did pick up a fifth yellow card of the year in Sunday’s game, but there was a little confusion over whether or not he would be suspended for the team’s next game or not, as he had gone five games without picking up a yellow card. That five-game stretch means that the league’s Good Behavior Incentive goes into effect, reducing the player’s yellow card tally by one, but only if the player concerned hasn’t received “… a yellow card, red card or supplemental discipline in such matches.” Since Dom was fined in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Impact the incentive doesn’t apply to him, and he’ll have to sit this one out.
Provisional Gold Cup Rosters Released
The 40-man provisional rosters have been released for each nation participating in this summer’s Gold Cup. On the U.S. roster there are plenty of familiar big names, with Christian Pulisic, Jozy Altidore, Josh Sargent, and Weston McKennie making the initial cut, among other names. While Orlando City has no players on the U.S. roster, the team is well represented elsewhere, with Benji Michel, Tesho, Will Johnson, Kamal Miller, Danilo Acosta, and Greg Ranjitsingh on the lists for Haiti, Canada, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. With this year’s tournament kicking off on June 15, the final 23-man rosters will be announced in the first week of June. As exciting as it is to have Orlando players in the mix for their national teams, it’s also a double-edged sword, as it depletes reinforcements during the summer, a time when the Lions have been notoriously horrid. Thanks very much, wonky and non-FIFA-calendar-compliant MLS schedule (though it really should only affect the two matches in late June, at worst).
NYCFC Stadium Rumors
Yesterday was quite the day for anyone following rumors of a possible soccer-specific stadium for New York City FC. Early in the afternoon there were a pair of tweets that spoke about whispers being heard that a deal was done and an announcement was to be made soon. The rumor was/is that the stadium would be located in the Bronx, meaning that the team would be able to move out of Yankee Stadium at some point in the reasonably near future. Considering that I think playing games at that stadium is the worst setup in the league, and the only thing that I truly sympathize with NYCFC fans for, this would be a great step for the team and league as a whole. However, a second tweet soon after seemed to quash the earlier rumors, so basically no one knows what the hell is going on. Pour one out for NYCFC fans.
Contrary to reports/tweets that a new soccer specific stadium for #NYCFC is a done deal or even close, I can tell you unequivocally, that is not the case. #MLS
— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) May 20, 2019
Free Kicks
If anyone is yammering on about Nani being “over the hill” or some similar nonsense, show them this chart.
Non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 minute so far (min. 500 minutes). Keep in mind that Giovinco was at 1.10 in what was the greatest season of all-time back in 2015. pic.twitter.com/0CWmzzrDSz
— Ben Baer (@BenBaer89) May 20, 2019
- Orlando City B has moved from 10th to eighth in the USL League One rankings after getting its first win of the year.
- Houston Dynamo defender and captain DaMarcus Beasley has announced that he will be retiring after the end of the 2019 season, his 20th as a professional.
- Former Lion Jonathan Spector has been released by Hibernian FC.
- Steve Clarke has been named the new manager of Scotland.
- Vincent Kompany will re-join Anderlecht as a player-manager next season.
That’ll be all for me today. It’s another busy week of Orlando soccer with Orlando City B starting things off on Wednesday with a home game against Richmond. Orlando City will be the meat in the proverbial soccer sandwich, as the team hosts the LA Galaxy Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and the Orlando Pride will close things out with a Saturday game away to Utah Royals at 8 p.m. ET. Y’all stay safe out there.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/21/24
Two Lions recognized, Pride player up for weekly honors, United States releases training camp roster, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was a damn good weekend for Orlando’s teams, as Orlando City beat San Jose 1-0, and the Orlando Pride took down the Seattle Reign 3-2, which meant that the two teams picked up all six points on offer, and out on the west coast, no less! We’ve got plenty of news to talk over today, so let’s jump straight into the links.
Lions Included in Team of the Matchday
A pair of Lions have been rewarded for their efforts in Saturday’s win with a place in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Wilder Cartagena was given a spot in the starting XI as a center back after yet another commanding performance in a three-man back line for Orlando City. The Peruvian was superb and finished with five tackles, four clearances, and two interceptions, as OCSC kept a second clean sheet in a row. Jack Lynn was given a spot on the bench, after grabbing a late winner in an extended substitute appearance. Lynn entered the fray for an injured Duncan McGuire in the 16th minute, and was the difference maker as he latched onto a scuffed Martin Ojeda shot to win the game for Orlando in the 89th minute.
Pride Player up for Weekly Honors
Emily Sams’ strike against the Seattle Reign has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. On a night that had plenty of goals, Sams opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The ball found its way to her at the top of the box, and the defender didn’t even bother taking a touch as she hit the ball first time and curled it past the despairing dive of Laurel Ivory. Sams isn’t exactly a prolific goal scorer, so that makes the sweetly hit goal that much better. Be sure you go and drop a vote for her to win!
United States Releases Pre-Copa Roster
The United States Men’s National Team has announced its 27-player roster that will take part in a pre-Copa America training camp. The final tournament roster needs to have at least 23 players and a maximum of 26, so Gregg Berhalter won’t need to make a ton of cuts if he doesn’t want to. The roster features Josh Sargent making his return to a training camp for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, as well as Cameron-Carter Vickers, Luca de la Torre, and Sean Johnson making their first appearances in 2024. LAFC youngster Timmy Tillman is the least experienced player in the mix with just one appearance to his name, while Christian Pulisic’s 66 appearances leads the team. The USMNT will play Colombia and Brazil in tune-up friendlies on June 8 and June 12, with the latter match taking place in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.
MLS Stock Watch
With another MLS matchday in the close, we can reflect on which teams are on the rise, and which ones seem to be headed in the wrong direction. FC Cincinnati has now won six straight games, and is hot on Inter Miami’s heels at the top of the Eastern Conference table. New York City FC has now won three in a row after beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the Hudson River Derby, a result which saw the Pigeons leapfrog NYRB into third place in the East. At the other end of things, the Chicago Fire have lost four straight and only scored two goals in their last seven matches, while CF Montreal got hammered 5-1 by Toronto FC and has matched Chicago with a fourth-straight loss.
European Transfer Rumor Roundup
Several European club seasons may have ended, but that just means that the off-season transfer rumor mill is starting to kick into gear. Premier League champion Manchester City has reportedly agreed to personal terms with West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta, but is still negotiating with the Hammers about a sale price. Runners-up Arsenal wants to bolster its team to get over the line and win the title next year and is said to have Alexander Isak, Brian Brobbey, and Viktor Gyokeres on a short list of strikers, although the Gunners expect to face competition from Chelsea for Gyokeres. Despite chatter concerning a possible move away during the summer, Mohamed Salah has said he will “fight like hell” to win trophies with Liverpool next season. Finally, Bayern Munich is said to have had internal talks about appointing Vincent Kompany as the club’s next manager, and the board has even reached out to the Belgian directly to discuss his current situation.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride rose one spot to first in CBSSports.com’s NWSL power rankings, while ESPN.com rather inexplicably kept them at third.
- Orlando City dropped a spot to 19th in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings, despite taking seven points from the team’s last three games.
- Inter Miami defender Nicolas Freire will miss the rest of this season after tearing his ACL in Saturday’s game against D.C. United.
- France’s sports minister has called for Monaco to be sanctioned after one of its players taped over an LGBTQ message of support on the team’s jersey over the weekend.
- Tottenham boarded a flight mere hours after the team’s Premier League finale to travel to Australia for a summer friendly against Newcastle United.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/20/24
Lions and Pride win, MLS weekend recap, Manchester City wins Premier League title, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was another good weekend for our teams, as Orlando City and the Pride both won their respective matches. I’ve been busy covering high school playoff action with soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, and softball. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Pull Out Late Win on the Road
Orlando City pulled out a late 1-0 win on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday. Jack Lynn came off the bench and scored the lone goal in this match for Orlando to grab the three points. Duncan McGuire started the match but had to be substituted out early in the first half due to injury and was replaced by Lynn. The Lions are on a three-match unbeaten streak after a scoreless draw at home against Inter Miami on Wednesday. Orlando City moves up to 10th in the Eastern Conference with 16 points. The Lions return to action on Saturday to face the Columbus Crew at Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando Pride Win Against Seattle Reign FC
The Orlando Pride won their seventh straight match after a 3-2 win against the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field on Sunday. There were plenty of goals in this one, with Barbra Banda lifting the Pride to their first ever win in Washington against the Reign. Orlando remains undefeated in league play after 10 matches and the Pride sit atop the NWSL table with 24 points. The Pride return home for a Friday night matchup against the Portland Thorns at Inter&Co Stadium.
MLS Weekend Recap
It was another busy weekend in MLS, with four rivalry matches taking place. Let’s start with the Hudson River Derby, as New York City FC edged past the New York Red Bulls 2-1. Real Salt Lake got a thrilling 5-3 win against the Colorado Rapids in the Rocky Mountain Cup. In Canada, Toronto FC cruised past CF Montreal with a 5-1 victory. The Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas battled to a 1-1 draw down in Texas. FC Cincinnati defeated St. Louis City SC 3-1, while the Columbus Crew beat the Chicago Fire 3-1 as well.
The Philadelphia Union shut out the New England Revolution 3-0 to snap its six-match winless streak. Austin FC won 3-2 over Sporting Kansas City, Minnesota United handed the Portland Timbers a 2-1 defeat, and Inter Miami got a late goal from Leonardo Campana for a 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Manchester City Wins English Premier League
Manchester City defeated West Ham 3-1 to win a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title on Sunday with 91 points on the final day of the season. Phil Foden scored twice in this match as Manchester City became the first club to win four straight Premier League trophies. Arsenal defeated Everton 2-1 but ended up short of the title, finishing second with 89 points. Liverpool won in Jurgen Klopp’s final match as manager, beating Wolves 2-0 to finish third. Aston Villa finished fourth despite a 5-0 loss to Crystal Palace, Tottenham finished fifth, and Chelsea finished sixth in the table. Luton Town lost 4-2 at home to Fulham to finish 18th, officially joining Burnley and Sheffield United in being relegated to the EFL Championship next season.
Free Kicks
- Former Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Manchester United, with an option for another year. Manchester United won its first major trophy earlier this month, winning the Women’s FA Cup.
- Former USMNT player Jonathan Bornstein has agreed to play for NPSL side Tallahassee SC in their summer season. He made his debut on Saturday as the Battle Lions won their opener 2-0 against the Miami Dutch Lions FC.
- According to Tom Bogert, new MLS expansion side San Diego FC is reportedly closer to sealing a move to sign Chucky Lozano over from PSV Eindhoven.
- Charlotte FC has reportedly been negotiating to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus as his contract is set to expire this summer.
- Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi announced he will leave the club after its Premier League season ended in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
- Bayer Leverkusen completed its Bundesliga season unbeaten with a 2-1 win over FC Augsburg. The club also made history as the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to complete a full season without a loss.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/17/24
MLSPA releases player salaries, Duncan McGuire discusses move to Blackburn, Orlando Pride prepare for the Seattle Reign, and more.
Happy Friday! The weekend is nearly here, with plenty of soccer both here in the domestic leagues and abroad. I have a pretty packed weekend but am looking forward to watching Orlando City and the Orlando Pride in action. It should be a nice next few days, so let’s get it started with today’s links!
MLSPA Releases Player Salaries
The Major League Soccer Players Association unveiled the base salary and guaranteed compensation information for every player under contract with the league as of April 25 — except Wilder Cartagena, apparently. Luis Muriel is the highest-paid Orlando City player, and his $4.3 million in guaranteed compensation is the 12th most in the league, while his base salary is just over $2.83. As for other Orlando newcomers, Nico Lodeiro’s compensation is $800,000 and David Brekalo’s is $683,000.
Lionel Messi predictably tops the list of all players with $20.4 million guaranteed for playing with Inter Miami. To put that number into perspective, it’s more than the compensation of every team in the league except his own team (Miami), Toronto FC, Nashville SC, and the Chicago Fire. Orlando City is 22nd in the league in compensation, clocking in at $15.07 million.
Duncan McGuire Weighs In on Moving to Blackburn
Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire had a hurricane of an off-season due to a transfer saga that nearly saw him join Blackburn Rovers in England. An administration error by Blackburn prevented the move from going through, and McGuire ultimately returned to Orlando. In the time since, there have been reports that Orlando offered him a new contract and that Blackburn still wants him to join in the summer. McGuire spoke about whether he is still interested in a move to Blackburn after the difficult experience.
“It’s tough to say,” McGuire told GOAL.”That was a pretty bad mistake, a pretty bad mistake by them. I’d be open to maybe having a conversation but it would have to be a lot to get me to go back there. On the plane ride back, I just felt like my tail was between my legs. I asked my agent how often this happens and he was like ‘This doesn’t happen’.
“I didn’t burn bridges with my teammates or have it be like ‘Oh you wanted to leave and now you’re back’. When I got back, it was like I never left.”
Orlando Pride Prepare for the Seattle Reign
The Orlando Pride will take their six-game win streak on the road for a match against the Seattle Reign Sunday night. The Reign are coming off of a 4-0 loss to the Portland Thorns in their sixth defeat of the season, but Pride Head Coach Seb Hines discussed how the Reign played better in that match than the score suggests. The Pride have also never won in Washington, and the turf and atmosphere of Lumen Field could give Orlando some trouble after a long trip. Injuries, particularly to the midfield, have made things difficult for the Pride, but midfielder Morgan Gautrat detailed how the team’s chemistry has helped them get results despite the adversity.
Nashville SC Fires Gary Smith
Nashville SC has parted ways with Gary Smith, who had been the club’s only head coach while in MLS. Smith joined Nashville back in 2018, coaching the team for two seasons in the USL Championship before. With a defensive style, Smith led the team to MLS playoff appearances in all four years but couldn’t put together a deep run. Nashville is currently 10th in the Eastern Conference and Rumba Munthali will serve as the club’s interim head coach while the club searches for a new permanent coach.
Charlotte FC Transfers Enzo Copetti Out
Another Designated Player is leaving Charlotte FC, as the club transferred Enzo Copetti to Rosario Central in Argentina’s top flight. The forward recorded eight goals and three assists across all competitions while with Charlotte, and has played less than 500 minutes this season. Copetti is the latest Designated Player transferred out since Dean Smith took over as Charlotte’s head coach, with Kamil Jozwiak sent to Granada and Karol Swiderski loaned to Hellas Verona. Despite the turnover, Charlotte sits fifth in the Eastern Conference and could make some noise this season if it brings in the right players in the summer transfer window.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Miguel Gallardo spoke with the folks over at The Blazing Musket about the New England Revolution and the art of goalkeeping.
- Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Derek Sanderson, who played for many teams across many leagues back in the 1980s, including the American Soccer League’s Orlando Lions.
- Hugo Lloris, Walker Zimmerman, and Sebastian Driussi were a few of the notable names on the MLS Team of the Matchday for Wednesday’s matches. No Orlando City or Inter Miami players made the cut after a scoreless draw in the City Beautiful.
- Detroit City FC acquired land to build a soccer-specific stadium, with plans for it to open by the club’s 2027 season.
- Josh Sargent and Norwich City’s bid for promotion came to an end after a 4-0 loss to Leeds United.
- It didn’t take long for American midfielder Johnny Cardoso to settle in with Real Betis, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in the United States Men’s National Team’s plans this summer.
- CONMEBOL confirmed that rosters for the upcoming Copa America have been increased from 23 players to 26.
- Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson will miss out on the final game of the Premier League season this Sunday and the FA Cup final on May 25 due to an eye injury.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
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