Lion Links: 7/10/19

Good morning, Mane Landers! It’s Wednesday, which means your week is half over, and to help break it up even more we’ve got an Open Cup match at home tonight. Let’s get to the links.

Summer Transfer Window Underway for Orlando City

The second transfer window for Major League Soccer opened yesterday and team’s across the league are already wheeling and dealing. According to The Mane Land’s sources, Orlando made a move as well.

While Gallardo would have been a nice addition to Orlando’s offense, the team didn’t have the cap space to sign him anyway and hopefully the influx of cash could be just what the front office needs to bring in a missing piece to the team.

Speaking of which, ESPN put out a piece on what each MLS team needs during the summer transfer window. According to them, Tesho Akindele has been a great addition, but his great season can’t continue (though they didn’t state why) and that bringing in another attacking piece to help push Dom Dwyer could be just what the team needs to reach the playoffs. What do you think the Lions need to do during this (so far) quiet summer transfer window?

All Eyes On the Open Cup

Tesho Akindele is no stranger to an Open Cup win. In 2016 he and FC Dallas won the cup and this will be his fourth time in the quarterfinals over six years.

“Home field in MLS is an advantage and in the Open Cup it is big,” Akindele said. “There’s something about playing on the road – unfamiliar territory, the fans against you – it’s hard. We’re looking forward to the game and having this crowd behind us.”

You heard him. If you’re not already going, there’s still time to get tickets and rally behind the boys in purple.

Rumor has is that New York City FC will see a huge rotation in the starting XI as NYCFC rest players for its match against the Red Bulls. I’ll believe it when I see it though. It’s no secret OCSC is all in for the Open Cup, it would mean a lot to the club and the fans, but being stuck in Philadelphia and losing training time for the Lions comes at a really bad time. Here’s what James O’Connor had to say about what MLS is reporting as “plane troubles,” though player instagram stories told a different story before they were deleted.

The USWNT Has Crowd Support

The lawsuit over gender inequality has been hanging over the World Cup tournament, all the while the United States Women’s National Team players were out proving they’re not just worth what they’re asking, but more. Crowds could be heard after the final match chanting “Equal pay! Equal pay!” as a vote of support from the fans. When asked about how the win changes the lawsuit, Megan Rapinoe said,

“Well, it’s not good for them, is it?[Winning the World Cup] is huge, we’ve been shy to say that and put so much pressure on ourselves because we think we have a case no matter what. But this just blows it out of the water. Is it even about that anymore, or is it just about doing the right thing? The federation is in a unique position to ride this good wave of fortune.”

The team is expected to head out on a victory tour now that it’s back. Despite the tour, Marc Skinner hopes to see Pride players Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris back next week.

E! News Loves the Love

E! News wrote about Alex Morgan and Servando Carrasco’s relationship. The pair makes long distance work for the time being, as they both take full advantage of their prime soccer playing years.

“I love her for the person she is, and what she accomplishes is almost secondary to that. Of course, I’m proud of her, there’s no doubt about it. When my nieces talk to her and they look up to her, that’s as good as it gets,” Servando told MLS Soccer. “I mean, the soccer stuff, yeah, for sure, cool. But to see her on the ‘100 Most Influential in the World’ in Time magazine? I’m like, damn. She’s making a difference.”

Morgan has been nominated for the ESPYs’ Best Female Athlete award and you’ll get to see if she wins when it airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Free Kicks

• Dom Dwyer and Sydney Leroux welcomed their baby girl to the world last week and yesterday their birthing story was shared on Bad as a Mother. I’m not crying, you’re crying!
• Zack Steffen is excited to get to work with “such a traditional club.” Use your web browser’s translation tool to read the full story.
• MLS power rankings have OCSC at 17, and the Lions’ U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal opponents at second in the league.
• The Chicago Fire and Village of Bridgeview agree to amend the stadium’s lease as a step toward the Fire playing games at Soldier Field.
• Somehow Nani falls from number 12 to 16 in week 18’s MLS Player Rankings.

That’ll do it for me today, Mane Landers. Be sure to check back in right here for all the latest as OCB takes on Chattanooga and OCSC takes on NYCFC!