Lion Links: 11/10/19

Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. The MLS Cup is today, with Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders set for yet another clash in the final. I don’t really have any skin in the fight, so the result doesn’t make too much of a difference to me. I’m just happy Atlanta United isn’t competing again. It’s not that I hate Atlanta, it’s just that…I greatly dislike Atlanta. While the Lions can’t boast the trophy cabinet that they have in MLS (yet), they can boast about having a far classier fan base (wink).

All right classy peoples, let’s get jiggy wit it. Here’s your Sunday serving. Enjoy.

Toronto, Seattle Mayors’ Friendly MLS Cup Wager

Mayors of cities with sports franchises in championship games have a rich history of making friendly wagers — often of the silly sort. Today’s MLS Cup final between the Reds and the Sounders is no different, as Toronto mayor John Tory and Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan have wagered three albums from local artists of their cities respectively. I have a wide taste in music, and I must say, nice choices from both sides. In other MLS Cup news, it appears that Jozy Altidore may make the clash — at least that’s what Toronto is hoping. His return to training recently has the Reds’ optimism high.

Christian Pulisic Suffers Hip Injury

With the final strike in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday, Christian Pulisic proved that his recent streak of form is the real deal, netting yet another goal. Unfortunately for Pulisic, he also managed to suffer a hip injury while clattering into the opposition’s goalkeeper, hobbling off in obvious pain. Hopefully the injury isn’t a major setback for the young American that could keep him out of the USMNT’s match in Orlando on Friday.

USMNT Looks to Ramp Up Intensity

Following the embarrassing and surprising loss to Canada in their last meeting, the USMNT is ramping up the intensity leading up to a second clash between the two nations here in Orlando. Defender Walker Zimmerman noted that his side lacked “bite” in the previous clash, and stresses that his team must be stubborn in every challenge in order to find a better result.

“The overall theme we left that game with is the bite we have to have, the competitiveness we have to have,” Zimmerman said in an exclusive interview with Pro Soccer USA. “We have to show up and be willing to win every duel that we can and at the very least show that we are very difficult to play against.”

Hopefully the Yanks vent their frustrations in a proper way when the two meet next. Will you be in attendance?

USWNT Hosts Costa Rica

The USWNT will square off against Costa Rica tonight in Jacksonville at 8 p.m. in an international friendly. The match provides new USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski another opportunity to add a notch to his proverbial win belt after his side squeezed past a stout Sweden side, 3-2, in his first match in charge. The match also provides a valuable chance for the team to prepare for the Olympic qualifying tournament, slated to begin in late January. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris is the only Pride player on the roster for the match.

Free Kicks

• Curious as to what exactly a Seattle “Sounder” is? So was I.
• Macklemore and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready are set to perform before the MLS Cup. I’m not a huge fan, but they definitely could have done worse.
• The USL Championship final is now set, with Louisville City and Real Monarchs winning their conferences respectively. Who ya got? The purple team, right?
• Pulisic’s injury aside…things are still looking bright for some of the USMNT stars. Check out DeAndre Yedlin finding the back of the net yesterday for Newcastle.

• And I’ll leave you with a stat that may have you questioning if you’ve even scored 34 goals — let alone hat tricks — in your local Sunday league.

All right, folks, I’m out. Enjoy the bevy of soccer we have on our plates today, and have an excellent week!