Lion Links: 6/6/19

Happy Thursday to all our Mane Landers out there. The Women’s World Cup is just one sleep away and with more international action starting to come in, most of the attention will be on our national teams. Some of that attention starting in today’s Lion Links!

Orlando City B Set to Host Forward Madison FC

After managing to find points in each of its last three matches, Orlando City B (2-5-3, 9 points) will be looking to extend its unbeaten streak to four games on Friday night when the Young Lions host Forward Madison FC (2-5-2, 8 points). The Lions have gathered seven points from their last three matches, six of those coming on home turf. The first (and only) time the Lions faced Forward Madison FC, they were defeated 2-1 at Montverde Academy. Hopefully our boys in purple can change the story this time around.

USMNT Suffer Defeat In Friendly Against Jamaica

Gregg Berhalter’s young lineup didn’t get the job done against Jamaica, as the Reggae Boyz cruised to a 1-0 win at Audi Field in D.C. The USMNT barely threatened goal in the match and was sloppy throughout as a lot of young guys were given an opportunity to make their case for the final Gold Cup roster. About the only player who had a good showing was Duane Holmes, who had a brief appearance off the bench and was nearly a difference maker.

Pride Players Make Top 50 Women’s World Cup Players List

With the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finally starting up tomorrow, the hype is unreal now. In case you wanted to know who to look out for during the tournament, SB Nation has provided everyone with a Women’s World Cup Top 50 Players list. Spoiler alert, three of those included in that list are from our very own Orlando Pride — Emily van Egmond (Australia), Marta (Brazil), and Alex Morgan (United States). We wish them all the best of luck!

Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris Set Boundaries For World Cup

Possibly being one of the best soccer couples out there, Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris plan on succeeding as World Cup teammates and as a couple at the same time by setting boundaries.

“What has made us so successful in the work space together for so long is our boundaries,” said Harris, one of three goalkeepers on the World Cup roster. “We’ve done it long enough to know what works and what doesn’t work.

“When we’re at work, we’re there to work. I’m her teammate. So if she wants to come to me for something, I’m gonna give her the real answer, the accountability answer. And then when we’re at home, that’s our time to be at home, and then soccer doesn’t walk through the front door.”

Free Kicks

• Exploria Stadium will host a friendly between C.F. Pachuca (Mexico) vs Independiente Medellín (Colombia).
• Orlando City’s U-16/17 Development Academy team lands in Group G of the 2019 Academy Playoffs.

• Portugal became the first of two UEFA Nations League finalists after defeating Switzerland 3-1, with a Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick of course.

That is all for me today, folks! Hope everyone has a great weekend. Even though we won't have much Orlando action for a bit, we’ve got plenty of international football to look forward to!