Lion Links: 12/27/19

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been terrific for you and your family and that the upcoming weekend is even better. For Christmas, I was gifted a few books and a new bar set to help craft those post-game cocktails after watching Orlando City or the Orlando Pride. Now, let’s hop into the last Friday links of the decade.

Pride Players in the W-League

Five Pride players are spending the off-season down in Australia for the W-League. You can catch up on all of last week’s action and look ahead to this week’s as well. Recently, Camila and Canberra United fell 4-0 to the Western Sydney Wanderers. She finished with 72 touches, 28 more than her teammate with the next most, and led her team in both crosses (nine) and passes (29). Later this week, Alanna Kennedy and Sydney FC will face Adelaide United, while Carson Pickett’s Brisbane Roar takes on Claire Emslie and Emily van Egmond’s Newcastle Jets.

Orlando SeaWolves Make a Move

After a fairly disappointing start to the season in which they have only won one of six games, the SeaWolves traded away Mario Alvarez for undisclosed financial considerations. One of the first players signed by the SeaWolves and a strong part of Orlando’s offense, Alvarez now joins the Milwaukee Wave while Orlando must find a way to fill the gap left by the departing midfielder.

Zlatan Returns to Milan

Global sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic will head to AC Milan on a free transfer, returning to the Italian club for which he played from 2010 to 2012. The Swedish star helped Milan win a Serie A title in his first year there, and the 38-year-old will try to replicate that success once again. The former LA Galaxy man has his work cut out for him in Serie A, but he has proven his ability many times with 535 career goals. Regardless of how AC Milan does with him on their side, it will be fun to see Ibrahimovic square off against Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Boxing Day Recap

While the day after Christmas means little to Americans beyond taking down the decorations, it’s one of the biggest days in soccer over in England. Boxing Day featured nine English Premier League games with plenty to take away afterwards. Liverpool went on the road and dismantled second-place Leicester City,4-0, to remind the world it’s the best on the planet.

Carlo Ancelotti won his first game with Everton, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal debut was a draw. Chelsea lost to a surging Southampton side, Tottenham came back to beat Brighton, and Aston Villa began its climb from the relegation zone with a win. Anthony Martial had a brace in Manchester United’s 4-1 win at home over Newcastle United, but 18-year-old Mason Greenwood stole the show with a frame-rattling strike.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City’s match with Atlanta United on May 12 was the fifth-most attended game in the United States this year. Check out the full list of top attended games in the U.S.
• Bobby Warshaw doled out his MLS Team of the Decade, with longevity in the league and skill both used to determine the squad.
• The Vancouver Whitecaps pulled the trigger on Erik Godoy’s loan option to bring him on board for good.
• Here is an interesting feature about the rise of soccer over the past decade here in the U.S.

That’s going to do it for today’s links. Have a great Friday and rest of your weekend as we start saying farewell to 2019.