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Lion Links: 10/20/19

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5 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. Well, here we are. The Lions and Pride have closed out their 2019 campaigns, much to our chagrin, both having failed to reach the postseason again, with the Lions still searching for a new head coach. The life of an Orlando soccer supporter — the ups and the downs (there’s a lot of downs) — it’s a tough life sometimes. Thankfully, the club has some resilient supporters.

I’ll stop myself there before I fall into the rabbit hole rant. Let’s get to these Sunday links, shall we?

MLS Playoffs Are Here

First and foremost, in case you aren’t aware of which teams were awarded first-round byes, it’s Los Angeles FC and New York City FC. Also, check out the Benny Feilhaber Playoff Guide — it’s full of firsthand intel on each team and it’s quite interesting. As expected, Atlanta United FC took down the New England Revolution, 1-0. Michael Parkhurst, an integral figure both on the field and in the locker room, could miss the remainder of the MLS postseason after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the affair. If so, he’s played his last MLS game ashe previously announced his retirement. Also of note, Pity Martinez didn’t play in the match.

The Seattle Sounders won an exciting, high-scoring match against FC Dallas, winning 4-3. Some are already considering it to be one of the greatest playoff matches in MLS history. It was even one of the highest scoring playoff matches of all time, too. Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney’s days in D.C. may be over, as D.C. United fell to Toronto FC (in extra time!), 5-1.

On tap today? The Philadelphia Union host the New York Red Bulls (3 p.m. ET), and Minnesota United FC hosts the LA Galaxy (8:30 p.m. ET).

And in case you need the refresher (nobody will know if you click the link, I promise), here’s how extra time and penalty kicks work in MLS.

NWSL Playoffs Begin Today

Consider this a friendly reminder, as we’ve touched on it briefly before, but today marks the day that the North Carolina Courage host Reign FC and the Chicago Red Stars host Portland Thorns FC in NWSL playoff action. The Courage are the easy favorites against Reign FC, but it should provide an entertaining match between two of the strongest teams of 2019. On the other card, all eyes will remain on the Red Stars’ Sam Kerr, NWSL MVP. Will she be able to carry her side to a final with a win against a strong Portland team? The soccer gods shine upon us today, for it is full of quality soccer. Unfortunately, none of it will be coming from the fine athletes of Orlando.

Josh Sargent Shining in Germany

Josh Sargent scored his second goal of the Bundesliga season for his club team, Werder Bremen, in a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin. It may not have been the prettiest goal he’s ever scored, but I’m sure it doesn’t make the slightest difference to him. The young man is representing the American brand well, much like some of his international teammates who also ply their trade in the Bundesliga.

VAR Company Issues Public Apology

In a strange, and quite frankly wild, turn of events, VAR company Hawk-Eye Innovations has publicly apologized to the supporters of the Premier League’s Tottenham and Watford for the confusion their technology caused during and following last week’s 1-1 draw. There was drama aplenty in the match — most notably a scoreboard that displayed “No Goal!” and then corrected itself to inform the crowd that the goal was allowed. Ultimately, Tottenham was the benefactor throughout a match marred by questionable calls and even more questionable VAR decisions.

“We are working together with the Professional Game Match Officials Board and the Premier League to understand the root cause of this problem and propose a series of measures to ensure it won’t happen again,” it said in a statement.

Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores said he is losing faith in the VAR process.

“I was thinking VAR is something objective but I’m starting to think it’s very subjective,” Sanchez Flores said after the game.

Meanwhile Tottenham gaffer Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t think blame should be put on his club for the dramatic affair, but on the Premier League. And it’s clear he’s moving on.

“After Bayern our confidence was on the floor. It was so important the way we achieved the point in the end, we kept fighting,” Pochettino said ”I hope this is the first step we need to build our confidence again.”

Free Kicks

  • Kick back and relish in Nani’s goals from 2018-2019, both with Sporting and Orlando City.
  • We’ve all been tuned in to Christian Pulisic’s journey, and it appears the American icon has hit a valley. But fear not, the man himself believes his scoring touch will return.
  • Leicester City paid tribute to the club’s late owner a year after his tragic passing approaches.

  • Is Liverpool unstoppable? Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola thinks so.
  • Jadon Sancho was dropped and fined by his club team, Borussia Dortmund, for arriving later than permitted following Sancho’s Monday match with the Three Lions.
  • I hate (insert expletive here) like this, but it needs to be touched on because it’s important. There’s no room for racism, not only in this game, but in this world. Be better than this.

  • Gigi…how do you do it?

  • This is certainly one way to show the front office that you’re collectively upset with unpaid wages (I mean, who wouldn’t be?). I hear that people are upset with Tigres for scoring during the protest. What do you think?

All right folks, that’s all that’s fit to print on this fine Sunday. Before I take my leave, watch this brilliant celebration. No need to thank me — thank Ciro Immobile.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/20/24

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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December 20, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced

MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.

Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft

The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.

Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.

The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.

GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club

MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.

Free Kicks

  • The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
  • Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/19/24

Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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December 19, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve knocked out all of my shopping except for one gift I’m still trying to procure. I have a lead on it though and high hopes that I can get a literal bow on it before traveling to visit my family next week. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Getting Ready for the MLS SuperDraft

The 2025 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Friday and the league released the list of 477 eligible players clubs can choose from. This year’s Generation Adidas class includes Cornell forward Alex Harris, North Carolina left back Tate Johnson, Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz, and UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah. Those players likely won’t be on the board by the time Orlando City’s 27th overall pick rolls around, but the team has proven in the past it isn’t afraid to make a trade for a top prospect.

Here’s a nice position-by-position breakdown of some of the best players available on Friday. I personally think Orlando could use some depth at center back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team rolls the dice on a center forward given its track record. Unfortunately, we’ll have to follow along with each pick on the league’s website rather than a stream.

MLS Transfer Roundup

After falling in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, the New York Red Bulls have added some firepower by signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player. The 35-year-old heads to MLS after playing for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Stoke City, and Schalke 04 over the past 10 years. The Red Bulls now have a fairly dangerous trio of Designated Players in Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Dante Vanzeir.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution added midfielder Jackson Yueill as a free agent. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract that includes options for 2028 and 2029. D.C. United traded away $150,000 in General Allocation Money to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton. FC Dallas signed midfielder Ramiro Benetti, who has spent the past two seasons with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Brazil. Veteran defender Nick Lima has returned to the San Jose Earthquakes, signing a two-year contract with the club.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

The injuries continue to rack up for the Americans, as Tim Weah will miss some time after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this week in Juventus’ win over Cagliari. In better news for Americans plying their trade abroad, forward Ricardo Pepi scored twice in PSV Eindhoven’s 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in left back Antonee Robinson, who turned some heads with a pair of assists on Sunday.

EFL Cup Semifinals Nearly Set

The EFL Cup semifinals are setting up to be a heavyweight affair, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle all advancing from the quarterfinals. The day belonged to Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first hat trick for Arsenal in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions after a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Newcastle United beat Brentford thanks to a brace from Sandro Tonali. The final semifinalist will come from today’s match between Manchester United and Tottenham, with the draw taking place afterwards.

Free Kicks

  • The NWSL Shield and Championship trophy paid a visit to WFTV’s studios, and it’s still a bit surreal that the Orlando Pride secured both pieces of silverware this season.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 12/18/24

Another report on the Facundo Torres transfer, Marta wins her own award, Becky Sauerbrunn retires, and more.

Published

5 days ago

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December 18, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. For those that celebrate Christmas, we’re only a week out, so I hope you’ve gotten your shopping done. If not, no judgement from me, just encouragement. I know you can do it! I think we can all do with a little more encouragement these days. For now, let’s get to the links.

Torres Deal Done?

WESH is reporting that the Facundo Torres to Palmeiras deal is done. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation from either club, but it is reasonable to think where there’s this much smoke, there’s fire. Torres may have scored his last goal in purple, and will leave as the club’s all-time leader in that category after three seasons. According to the report, Torres signed a five-year deal with the Brazilian club. We will provide updates as information becomes available.

Marta Wins Marta Award

In the most appropriate award selection in history, Marta has won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer, aptly named The FIFA Marta Award.

The award winning goal came in Brazil’s international friendly against Jamaica in June, as the Brazilian made a nice move to clear a defender and then sent in a long-range shot. Check it out.

Marta received the award at FIFA’s “The Best” Award ceremony in Doha, Qatar.

USWNT Legend Becky Sauerbrunn Retires

Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn is retiring from professional soccer. The legendary defender has played in the NWSL in every year of it’s existence. She retires having won three championships, one NWSL Shield, multiple Women’s World Cups, and Olympic medals. Sauerbrunn is definitively one of the best to ever wear a U.S. jersey.

NWSL, MLS NEXT Pro Expand

The NWSL is entering into exclusive negotiations with a Denver-area group regarding the league’s next expansion franchise. Denver was picked above both Cincinnati and Cleveland. The expansion fee is in the $105-$120 million range.

MLS NEXT Pro is also adding another new team. Until a new name, logo, and brand are settled on, the team will be called West Michigan Soccer. The team will be the sixth independent club in MLS NEXT Pro. Orlando City B won’t have the opportunity to play the new team until 2027.

Free Kicks

  • Torres’ goal against Nashville made it into a compilation of volleyed goals from the MLS Twitter account.

That will do it for today. Keep checking in as our Orlando City and Orlando Pride Season in Review pieces continue. Vamos Orlando!

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