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Lion Links: 6/16/19

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. I have to start by wishing everyone a happy Father’s Day. I hope you have a good one. I know I will. I’m taking my stepdad and mom to a barcade for the day. It should be good one, as most barcades these days have broken machines aplenty and a poor selection of beer.

Arcade Monsters over in Oveido, while it may be more of an arcade than a bar, is the spot and I’d recommend you folks check it out if you can. I can’t wait to see my parents’ faces when they see that the original Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man machines actually work. Meanwhile, you can catch me in the virtual reality game section. Man those are fun.

All right, we’ve got a lot to get into today so enough of my rambling, let’s do this. Here’s your Sunday dosage of Lion Links. Enjoy!

The Pride Visit the Dash and Steal a Point

The Orlando Pride, thanks to goals from Joanna Boyles and Danica Evans, stole a point on the road against the Houston Dash, battling out to a 2-2 draw. The match, missing many of the would-be starters due to the Women’s World Cup, featured some new faces on both sides as coaches Marc Skinner and James Clarkson experimented with the personnel available to them.

Orlando City B Visits Georgia, Loses 2-0

Taking on Tormenta FC of south Georgia, Orlando City B fell 2-0, with both goals coming in the second half. OCB dominated much of the first half, but failed to find the back of the net during spells of long possession that often ended disappointingly. After two intense matches, the young Lions now have an entire week off to prepare for their next match, an away trip to Michigan to take on Lansing Ignite FC.

Things to Watch For at the Gold Cup

Tom Bogert over at mlssoccer.com provided a nice list of things to keep an eye on during this summer’s Gold Cup. The list includes exploring the idea of the USMNT being a new powerhouse under Berhalter, Mexico and Tata Martino turning the corner, acknowledging the Canadian and Jamaican national teams, and even predicting what he thinks will be the biggest Cinderella story of the tournament. Meanwhile, the USMNT has fallen to an overall world ranking of no. 30 — down six spots after its recent uninspiring losses. Hopefully the Yanks can use this as motivation and parlay that into strong performances at the Gold Cup. Time will tell.

The U.S. Women’s National Team Looks to Improve

Where do I even start with a team that put 13 past a helpless Thailand? I guess the first thing I could say is that the U.S. women are looking to improve upon their performance, noting that they want to fine-tune the details. That’s right. They want to do better. The competition and level of quality they’ll see will only increase from here on out, so I’m glad they are keeping their focus as they play out an already historic World Cup. Another strength that the U.S. has? The depth of quality on the bench. Players like Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, and Ali Krieger (among many more) are not currently designated as starters for the UWSNT. That really speaks to just how strong the bench is for the Yanks, and they’re raring to go when called upon.

The (Other) Women’s World Cup Update

The Canadian Women’s National Team beat their counterparts of New Zealand, 2-0, thanks to efforts from UCLA’s Jessie Fleming and the Houston Dash’s Nichelle Prince. The Netherlands beat Cameroon, 3-1, with two Dutch goals coming from Vivianne Miedema. Dominique Bloodworth also scored for the Dutch, while Gabrielle Onguene got Cameroon’s only goal.

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  • Speaking of Grinny, who had a strong performance against Memphis rewarded with a trip to the round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, check out this hype video!

“Louisville humbled me a lot, and I appreciate them for that,” Kaye said. “[I got better because of] my overall drive to keep pushing. I think that talent-wise, I was always there. I think that James just harped more on the little things, on the mental side of the game and just not letting your opponent get into the game and trying to really beat them out. Being around the team environment, it really gave me an understanding of what it takes to be a top-level pro.”

  • Tallahassee Soccer Club hosted AFC Mobile in important match between the GFPL’s second and third placed teams, respectively, with the match going the full 90 minutes without a goal.


All right, folks. That’s all I’ve got for you today. Enjoy the Women’s World Cup fixtures today (most importantly, the U.S. vs. Chile — watch this site for full coverage), celebrate your loved ones (especially our fathers, stepfathers, and fathers-in-law), have a great Sunday, and an even better week!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/5/24

Orlando City announces preseason match, how the Orlando Pride turned things around, Americans in midweek action, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We have a massive week ahead of us, as the Orlando Pride take on the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL playoffs on Friday. That will be followed up by a pivotal Game 3 for Orlando City against Charlotte FC on Saturday. Both matches will be at home, so suffice it to say we have a lot going on around these parts. As usual, we have lots to talk through today, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City Announces Friendly

Orlando City has announced that the club will play a preseason match against Inter Miami in Tampa on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The game will take place at Raymond James Stadium at 7:30 p.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public on Nov. 14. There will also be a pregame fan festival set up outside the stadium, which is free if you have a ticket. The decision to play Miami in a preseason game isn’t a surprising one, as it involves minimal travel for both clubs, and a chance to capitalize on the box office draw of Lionel Messi. It is a little surprising that the decision was made to host the game at Raymond James Stadium rather than Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, but it’s possible that the latter wasn’t available, or that there was a desire to capitalize on the additional gate money from the extra 15,000 seats at Raymond James.

How the Pride Escaped the Cellar

In a season that featured several teams who played outstanding campaigns, the Orlando Pride still managed to finish first in the National Women’s Soccer League. It’s a feat made even more impressive when considering how the club has historically struggled, but the change didn’t happen overnight. The rebuild really got underway in 2021, which was when a series of high profile exits and trades began to take place, which would eventually allow the Pride to do a lot of maneuvering in the transfer market. It was a long process though, and it took the arrival of Haley Carter in the front office and Seb Hines as the head coach for things to really start coming together. It’s been an all-around effort, but one that paid off with a first-place finish this season.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans playing this week, so make sure you’ve got everything marked down on your calendar. UEFA Champions League action returns tomorrow, as Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and Richie Ledezma will take on Girona with PSV Eindhoven. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan face Real Madrid, and Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Juventus hit the road to take on Weah’s former club, Lille. European action then continues on Thursday as Tanner Tessmann and Lyon face Hoffenheim on the road in the Europa League, and Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Celje in the Conference League.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always seems to be the case, there are a number of transfer rumors floating around. First up, Spanish outlet Marca says that if Vinicius Jr. becomes available then Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain would be interested in signing him. This comes amid reports that the Brazilian is considering a move to Saudi Arabia. Speaking of Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez could seek an exit from the Blues reportedly due to not being favored by boss Enzo Maresca, with Barcelona and Inter Milan as possible destinations. Finally, Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush is reportedly attracting interest from some of Europe’s big clubs, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both interested in signing him.

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That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/4/24

Orlando City falls to Charlotte FC in penalty shootout, Orlando Pride defeat the Seattle Reign, Megan Montefusco retires and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I covered high school cross country state semifinals over the weekend, and I’m getting ready to cover a high school soccer playoff match later this week. We have plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Lose Penalty Shootout to Charlotte FC

Orlando City fell 3-1 on penalties to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night after playing to a scoreless draw in Game 2 of the MLS Cup playoffs. Orlando’s offense struggled to create anything throughout the match in the attack. The best chance came late in the second half when Facundo Torres thought he had scored the game-winner for Orlando, but the assistant referee deemed him to be offside. In the penalty shootout, Luis Muriel was the only Lion to find the back of the net. Nico Lodeiro and Duncan McGuire had their penalty kicks saved by Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, while Robin Jansson’s kick sailed over the net. The Lions will host Charlotte FC in Game 3 at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday with a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the line.

Orlando Pride Defeat the Seattle Reign in Regular Season Finale

The Orlando Pride snapped their two-match losing streak and defeated the Seattle Reign 3-2 to close out the 2024 NWSL regular season. Ally Watt, Kerry Abello, and Marta all scored for the Pride. Even though the Reign fought back to keep it close, Orlando held on for the win. The Pride finished the regular season first in the NWSL standings with 60 points. The Pride will take on the Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NWSL playoffs on Friday in their first home playoff match ever. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

Megan Montefusco Announces Retirement

Orlando Pride defender Megan Montefusco will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. She’s played in the NWSL since 2015 and joined the Pride prior to the 2022 season. In her time in Orlando, Montefusco made 45 appearances for Orlando and scored in a 2023 Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC. She did not play in any matches in the 2024 season after undergoing foot surgery during the off-season and was placed on the season-ending injury list. Montefusco finishes her career with 179 appearances, scoring three goals and adding four assists across all competitions.

MLS Playoff Roundup

The first round of the MLS Cup playoffs continued over the weekend, with a few teams booking their spot in the next round. The Columbus Crew’s title defense ended after they lost 5-4 on penalties to the New York Red Bulls after a 2-2 draw. The LA Galaxy dominated the Colorado Rapids 4-1 on the road to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. Minnesota United also moved on, defeating Real Salt Lake in a shootout after a 1-1 draw and the Loons will face the Galaxy. The Seattle Sounders edged past the Houston Dynamo 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to advance to the Western Conference semifinals as well.

New York City FC bounced back with a 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati, while Atlanta United did the same with a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami as both teams stayed alive to force a third game in their series. LAFC fell 3-0 on the road to the Vancouver Whitecaps in a match that included two own goals.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/1/24

Orlando City plays Charlotte FC tonight, Orlando Pride get ready for the Seattle Reign, NWSL playoff scenarios, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to November, Mane Landers! It’s kind of crazy that there are only two months left of 2024, and I’m not looking forward to the holiday shopping frenzy. I checked on how my resolutions are doing for this year and am going to have to pick up the pace if I want to reach my reading goals. Let’s get this November started with today’s links!

Lions Takes On Charlotte FC Tonight

Orlando City has a chance to book its spot in the next round of the playoffs tonight when it faces off against Charlotte FC at 7:30 p.m. This will be Charlotte’s first playoff game at home since joining the league and it will likely be a loud environment for the Lions to deal with. Charlotte is without Designated Player Pep Biel due to his red card, but midfielders Kerwin Vargas and Patrick Agyemang are more than capable of making an impact. The Lions will have to remain at the top of their game to avoid the series being sent back to Orlando for Game 3 on Nov. 9.

Orlando Pride Prepare for Regular Season Finale

The Orlando Pride will aim to get back on track Saturday night when they take on the Seattle Reign at home in their final game of the regular season. After a pair of losses, a match against the Reign presents a good chance for the team to return to its winning ways after securing its first NWSL Shield. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the international break gives the team a decent chance to reset, as well as how playing at home should give the team a boost.

NWSL Playoff Race Nears Its End

While the Pride secured the top spot in the standings weeks ago, a majority of the league has plenty on the line this weekend. There are three teams in contention for the final two playoff spots, and there’s a three-team race for the second seed in the playoffs. The Portland Thorns can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a result tonight against Angel City FC, while Bay FC can clinch with a result tomorrow night against the Houston Dash. If either team loses, it opens the door for Racing Louisville to snatch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday against the San Diego Wave. After last year’s drama that included the Pride narrowly missing out on the playoffs, I’m glad things are already locked up for Orlando this year.

USWNT’s New Era Off to Strong Start

One of the biggest takeaways from the United States Women’s National Team’s trio of victories in the recent international window was how many new players took the field and impressed. Head Coach Emma Hayes utilized plenty of rotation across the three matches, and Pride defender Emily Sams was one of seven players who made their debut. Sams received a rating of 7 coming off the bench in the team’s win over Argentina, a match that showcased just how deep the U.S. player pool is. It’s been a fantastic past few months for Hayes, who leaned on innovation and experimentation with Chelsea and has the U.S. rebuilding while still staying on top.

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  • Forward Diana Ordonez won’t play in the Dash’s final game of the season after undergoing successful surgery earlier this week.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and a relaxing weekend!

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