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Lion Links: 6/30/19

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. We’re in the midst of amazing soccer abundance with the World Cup, Gold Cup, Copa America, MLS, and NWSL in full swing. The Lions, who fell victim to an amazing Wayne Rooney half-field strike last Wednesday, were back in action against the Columbus Crew. Fortunately they walked away with a clean sheet and the full three points, and closed out a surprisingly successful June. Things are certainly looking up for the Lions.

Anyway, let’s get to it. Here’s your Sunday serving of Lion Links. Enjoy.

Lions Travel to Columbus, Win 2-0

Orlando City took on the Crew in a testy, back-and-forth affair that saw the boys in purple walk away with a 2-0 win. The first goal came early on when Nani found Chris Mueller with a deft flick, with Mueller taking a good first touch towards goal and burying it in the 41st minute. Tesho Akindele added a second in the 66th minute, continuing to show his value to his new club with his sixth of the season. From there, the Lions coasted to a comfortable road win, adding to an impressive month of June results.

Keep an eye out for David Rohe’s five takeaways from the match later this morning, too!

Berhalter Won’t Reveal Striker Plans

With tonight’s much-anticipated clash between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Curaçao upon us, U.S. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter is holding off on naming his starting striker between Gyasi Zardes and Jozy Altidore. When asked if he would name a starter, he reportedly responded with a simple “no.” It’s an interesting dilemma, if you want to call it that, for Berhalter and the USMNT to have. Both have performed well as of late, so in my opinion I’m not sure it makes much of a difference in tonight’s match. But what does strike me is the thought that neither of these men are in the early stages of their career, but rather in the later stages. I hope Berhalter has a succession plan in place for the era when these two don’t have enough left in the tank to suit up for their country.

Meanwhile, Berhalter says that his team can’t take Curaçao for granted.

Celebrating Pride: Collin Martin

A year ago yesterday, Collin Martin, a midfielder for Minnesota United FC, came out as gay to the public. Martin is the second active MLS player to come out, after Robbie Rogers, and remains a pioneer as the only active male team sports athlete in the five American major leagues to be out at the time of writing this. He reflects on the year that followed, noting that he received love and support from all of those around him. Meanwhile, the Loons demolished Cincinnati FC, 7-1.

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  • Lion on loan Pierre Da Silva scored a goal yesterday.
  • Former OCB Young Lion Austin Martz is hanging up the boots. Cheers, Austin!

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RETIREMENT- usually meaning to leave and cease one’s work. After 24 years of playing the sport that’s provided me so much joy, it’s time to say goodbye. In a worldly standard, retirement would be the end and it would be time to rest and relax. Yet, my eyes are set on greater things above and greater things to come. My work for the Lord and His kingdom is ongoing. It doesn’t have an end because eternity is forever. While a season of my life is coming to closure, a new season begins. Though the seasons change, His love remains and so does my desire to love others. I’ll be moving to Wilmington, NC for my next endeavor and I’m thankful that Jesus has been faithful to His promises of providing for my family and I. I’m thankful for Hannah, my amazing wife for being by my side and with me every step of the way through difficult decisions. I’m thankful to my parents for always believing in me and continuously supporting my needs in all circumstances. I’m thankful for every coach and mentor that has aided in my growth and built me up to be a better version of myself year after year. I’m thankful to every brother I’ve played alongside and the friendships have taught me what real community is supposed to look like. I’m thankful for every trainer, strength coach, kitman, chaplain, office staff member, nutritionist, friends in other roles, and so many more for constantly being there for me. God is so good and He blessed me tremendously through my platform as a professional to influence the next generation as often as possible. Nonetheless, it’s time to say goodbye and step into the future faithfully and full of confidence, knowing I’m cared for and loved by a good good father. Thank you Lord for a ride I’ll never forget.

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All right folks, I won’t keep you much longer. Have a great Sunday, enjoy the Pride vs. Chicago and the USMNT’s match against Curaçao, and then have an excellent 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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