Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/14/19
What’s up, Mane Landers? It’s been a wild week filled with soccer and that excitement continues into the weekend with both the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B in action tomorrow. The Concacaf Gold Cup is also starting tomorrow so make sure to charge up your devices because there will hardly be any time this weekend without soccer to watch. But for now, let’s savor some links from the soccer world.
Orlando City Will Face New England Revolution
After dispatching Memphis 901 FC earlier this week, Orlando City advances to the next round of the U.S. Open Cup where it will host the New England Revolution on Wednesday, June 19. While the Revolution aren’t the most dangerous team in the tournament, they should not be slept on either. New England’s past two games played have been wins over the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls.
If the Lions win, they will have a quarterfinal date with the winner of D.C. United’s showdown with New York City FC. But for now, we can only focus on one game at a time and you can purchase tickets later today for just $15 (or less if you are a season ticket member).
Matildas Come Back to Defeat Brazil
After falling into an early 2-0 hole at the start of the game, Australia was able to rally and win 3-2 over Brazil in the Women’s World Cup as the group stage continues. The Orlando Pride’s Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond both played a full 90 minutes to help the Matildas win, although neither found their way on the score sheet.
Marta did however, scoring the first goal of the game with a calmly taken penalty kick. The goal was Marta’s 16th in a World Cup, extending her record in the women’s game and matching Miroslav Klose’s total overall.
MARTA SCORES!
Brazil's superstar strikes from the penalty spot for her 16th career #FIFAWWC goal, extending her own record. pic.twitter.com/nYzJZL6BR0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2019
Marta was substituted out after the first half and Camila rode the bench and did not feature. Both nations are still in a good spot to make the knockout stage with third-place finishers in the group stage still having a shot to advance.
Allies and Adversaries Discuss Marta
Perhaps the most dominant female player to ever take the field, Marta has earned the respect and awe from teammates and opponents alike. Many players weighed in on the 33-year-old and her legacy with some describing her as energetic as well as frightening. All seemed to agree that she is one of the most skilled and important players to ever play the game. If wanting more about Marta’s impact on the soccer world, make sure to check out this awesome feature as well.
OCB’s Rafael Santos Claims Another Goal of the Week
Orlando City B’s unbeaten streak came to an end earlier this week when the Young Lions lost 2-1 to FC Tucson, but there is still some reason to celebrate for the OCB faithful. Midfielder Rafael Santos won Goal of the Week with a strong 54% of the vote after his curling shot from range against Forward Madison FC. This makes back-to-back Goal of the Week honors for Santos and the third straight week an OCB player has won. I don’t know about you, but I remember looking at this team at the start of the season thinking they would never score. Congrats Santos!
Free Kicks
- Wearing what looks like a combination of a bucket hat and something straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale, Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner spoke about the Women’s World Cup and the Pride’s road game tomorrow night against the Houston Dash at 8:30 p.m. ET.
"I'm expecting, as it was last time, a tough game."#HOUvORL | #FilledWithPride pic.twitter.com/dpCKSxpjl0
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) June 13, 2019
- Although LAFC’s Carlos Vela is the strong favorite, Nani may be in the MLS MVP race if he keeps up his strong performances. Regardless, I think we can all say that the Portuguese star is exceeding most expectations.
- The MLS All-Star Game concert here in Orlando will be headlined by Prince Royce, a big name in Latin music. Grammy-nominated DJ A-Trak will also be performing at the free event on July 27.
- The credit will go to Toronto FC’s Jordan Hamilton for the MLS Goal of the Week, but it was a team effort by Toronto with just four touches from four different players to equalize late.
- The Home Depot and MLS have extended their partnership through the end of 2022. It’s only a matter of time before we have Orlando City branded power tools.
- Check out this really cool article about the United States Women’s National Team’s equipment managers and how they managed to get 400 jerseys, 120 pairs of cleats, seven massage tables, and 60 pounds of chewing gum to France.
- With defender Tyler Adams injured and unable to join the U.S. for the Gold Cup, Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has to move forward with Reggie Cannon. Regardless of the team’s shortcomings, the USMNT is second in these power rankings.
- Grab your calendars because the English Premier League fixtures are out for the upcoming season.
That will do it for today’s links. But before I sign off, know that today is World Blood Donor Day and the need for donated blood is high and it is a lifesaving resource that can truly help those in need. As someone scared of needles, donating blood is far from my favorite thing in the world, but it’s still something I try to get out and do. Follow this link to find the blood bank nearest you and keep an eye out for blood drives today. Have a great Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/10/24
Orlando City hits the road, Angelina has a successful knee procedure, Europa League final is set, and more.
Happy Friday! I don’t have many plans for the weekend beyond working and looking after my friend’s cat, but I’m hoping it’s a fairly relaxing next few days. Both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are in action tomorrow night, so make sure to plan your weekend accordingly. For now, let’s get to today’s links!
Orlando City Prepares for the Philadelphia Union
After a tough loss at home to FC Cincinnati, Orlando City hits the road for a tough match against the Philadelphia Union tomorrow night. The Lions showed plenty of fight in that loss, which included a red card to Rodrigo Schlegel and injuries to both Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Rafael Santos. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke about the matchup against the Union and stated that Thorhallsson is in concussion protocol and that both he and Santos are day-to-day heading into this match.
The Lions at least won’t have to worry about Philadelphia forward Julian Carranza in this match, as he will miss it due to yellow card accumulation. Both teams have struggled in recent weeks, with the Lions winless in their last three games and the Union winless in their last four. Orlando managed to beat the Union on the road last year and will need to do it again to climb up the Eastern Conference standings.
Angelina Will Be Evaluated Weekly for Return
Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina had a successful arthroscopic procedure on her knee and will be evaluated by the club’s medical team for a return to the field on a week-to-week basis. She suffered the injury late in the Pride’s 4-1 win over the North Carolina Courage, and rookie Ally Lemos filled in for her in the team’s 1-0 win against Racing Louisville. Angelina signed with the Pride this past off-season and has been a major reason why the Pride are undefeated in 2024. The Brazilian has done well on both sides of the ball and has a goal and an assist to her name so far, while bringing stability to the midfield. Hopefully, she returns to the Pride’s midfield sooner rather than later.
Philadelphia Union Sign 14-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan
The Philadelphia Union have a penchant for developing young players and have now signed 14-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan to a Homegrown Player contract that will last through 2028. Sullivan, who is the brother of Quinn Sullivan, is now the fifth-youngest signing in MLS history. He excelled in the past two Generation Adidas Cups with the Union and made his debut for Philadelphia Union II earlier this year. When he turns 18, he will reportedly be transferred to Manchester City as well, so it will be interesting to see how he does in MLS until then.
Leverkusen and Atalanta Reach Europa League Final
Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta both got the job done in second legs at home to advance to the Europa League final. The match in Germany between Leverkusen and Roma was a wild one, with Leverkusen managing yet another late comeback to draw 2-2 and advance on aggregate after winning the first leg. The draw extended Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak to 49 games and it can secure a treble by the end of the month. In the other semifinal, Atalanta cruised to a 3-0 win over Marseille. The Italian club will have a chance at silverware in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus on May 15 before the Europa League final on May 22 in Ireland.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy these sights and sounds from the Pride’s gritty win over Racing Louisville.
- Olivier Renard is no longer the vice president and chief sporting officer of CF Montreal, with the two sides agreeing to part ways.
- PSV Eindhoven reportedly won’t be exercising the option to sign American right back Sergino Dest, who joined the Dutch club on loan from Barcelona last year.
- Legal action could be coming FIFA’s way if it continues adding competitions to an already congested schedule for men’s soccer.
- James Benge of CBS Sports believes that this year’s Borussia Dortmund side is the most surprising team to make the Champions League final.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/9/24
Get to know Wilder Cartagena, Orlando Pride get ready for Bay FC, Orlando City B wins, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week hasn’t been too hectic for you. There’s been plenty of soccer to enjoy over the past few days and I’m looking forward to the weekend slate of games as well. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Learning More About Wilder Cartagena
Orlando City midfielder Wilder Cartagena was the latest Lion to field questions for fans to learn more about the players. The 29-year-old discussed growing up playing soccer in Peru as a child, as well as having to spend time away from family and friends to fulfill his dreams as a professional player. Cartagena also talked about how important his friendship with Pedro Gallese is, as the two have played together at both the club level and internationally with Peru. It’s a fun interview and I’m glad we have Cartagena here in Orlando.
Pride Prepare to Host Bay FC
The Orlando Pride are on a five-game win streak and will look to make it six when they take on Bay FC for the first time ever on Saturday. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the difficulty of the team’s past few matches, along with the importance of getting wins in those games. Bay FC is in 12th in the standings, but Hines noted how this week’s opponent has plenty of talented attackers. Saturday’s match could be a tough one for Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, and she talked about the team’s grit and determination to close out games for points this season. Moorhouse also credited her back line for the Pride’s three shutouts this season.
OCB Secures First Win at Home
It took a few games, but Orlando City B won at Osceola Heritage Park for the first time this season after a 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls II. The Young Lions didn’t make it easy on themselves, but ultimately held on for the win after scoring twice early on. It’s nice for OCB to put another tally in the win column to climb up the conference standings. The Young Lions will be back in action next Wednesday with a road match against Columbus Crew 2.
Champions League Final is Set
The semifinal matchup between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich lived up to expectations, with Real Madrid advancing after a dramatic finish. Bayern was up to the task on the road and took the lead in the second half thanks to a goal from Alphonso Davies. But Real Madrid did what it always does, with Joselu scoring two late goals in quick succession. Bayern nearly had an equalizer, but a player was ruled offside and it couldn’t be checked as the flag was raised and whistle blown before the attack fully played out. It all sets up for a final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium. Dortmund will be the clear underdog, but the German club has proven capable of taking down some of Europe’s best this tournament.
Free Kicks
- St. Louis City is reportedly interested in signing Marco Reus once his contract with Dortmund ends this summer, although talks are just in the preliminary stage at this point.
- Not a single Pride player was named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the Month for the months of April and May. While I can see the reasoning behind each inclusion, it’s crazy that Angelina, Marta, Summer Yates, or Emily Sams didn’t earn a spot in the eyes of the league’s voters.
- American midfielder Keyrol Figueroa has signed with Liverpool’s first team. The 17-year-old has risen through the ranks of Liverpool’s youth system and scored seven goals for the U.S. in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
- Luis Rubiales will face trial for one count of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso and a count of coercion for his actions in the aftermath. The former head coach of the Spanish women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, is also accused of coercion, along with Sporting Director Albert Luque and the federation’s head of marketing, Ruben Rivera.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/8/24
Orlando Pride move up in power rankings, OCSC will celebrate Pride Month, Orlando City B plays tonight, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We’re halfway through the week and I hope you’re doing well. Personally, I love Wednesdays, because in my job they are effectively my “Friday,” as my day off is on Thursday. So, as such, I love bringing you the news to start out your midweek morning. Let’s get to the links.
Orlando Pride Nearly Top Power Rankings
The Orlando Pride are at the top of the NWSL standings with 18 points, and are riding a five-match winning streak while staying undefeated so far this season. If you thought that would be enough for the team to top ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, you’d be wrong. The Pride actually came in at second despite all the factors I listed above, with the Kansas City Current ranked above them. Even more shocking is that the writer admits he doesn’t have much of a reason for not ranking the Pride first. I’m not sure what to do with my hands.
Orlando Soccer Matches Will Celebrate Pride Month
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride will recognize Pride Month during a pair of matches in June at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are set to host the Utah Royals on June 21 and the Lions will then host the Chicago Fire on June 22. Both matches will include celebrating Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. There are plenty of additional events throughout Pride Month in the Greater Orlando Area as well. I will be at those matches and I hope to see you there as well.
Orlando City B Hosts New York Red Bulls II Tonight
OCB will try to follow up a result on the road with its first result at home tonight at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. Forwards Yutaro Tsukada and Shak Mohammed lead the attack for the Young Lions as the club plays only its third home match of the season — and only the second at its actual home field. There’s plenty to look for from OCB as it takes on New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. Try to make it to the match if you are able.
U.S. Soccer Doubles Down
The battle between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer over equal pay has been going on for years. Now, U.S. Soccer has reportedly employed Washington D.C. lobbying firms to provide what the organization asserts are “accurate information and factual numbers” to policy makers. Spokespersons for the players’ associations of both the USWNT and USMNT expressed disappointment regarding the move by U.S. Soccer. The issue is front and center as two congresswomen have proposed legislation to block funding for the 2026 World Cup unless equal pay is enacted.
Free Kicks
- Were you wondering how good Barbra Banda has been since arriving in Orlando? Me neither, but here is a cool stat from OptaJack on her shot production.
- Orlando City fans know all too well how good FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta is at scoring goals. Now, the striker is in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and expressed a desire to play for the USMNT. It would be nice to have him score goals for a team I support.
- Nottingham Forest’s point reduction appeal was rejected by the independent board overseeing the decision. Only three points separate Nottingham from Luton Town and the relegation zone with two matches left this season.
- I know that some Orlando City fans were hoping to see Thiago Silva join the Lions after he left Chelsea, but that rumor never made sense financially, and the defender has chosen to rejoin his old Brazilian club, Fluminense.
- It’s not often that someone follows up an unpopular decision with an even more unpopular explanation for that decision, but that is exactly what MLS Commissioner Don Garber did when explaining that the U.S. Open Cup didn’t offer a competition that “drives value” and that “rises to the level where fans care about it.” I’m sure everyone will now understand the decision. Well done, Commish.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
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