Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/10/20
How’s it going, Mane Landers? Congratulations on making it through most of the work week with only Friday left to conquer. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me the next few days, but hopefully things will be a bit lighter on your end as we head into the weekend. Now, let’s get this Friday started with some links about yesterday’s MLS SuperDraft and more from around the soccer world.
Orlando City Addresses Multiple Positions in Draft
With the fifth pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Orlando City selected center forward Daryl Dike. One of the best talents in the draft, it was a surprise Dike fell to fifth for Orlando as he finished his sophomore year with the University of Virginia as the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament. With imposing size and an ability to score, the 19-year-old draws comparisons to former Orlando draft pick Cyle Larin, but has an understated strength in holding play and distributing the ball after doing so. He’s a Generation Adidas player so that will help with the Lions’ cap situation.
The Lions had three picks in the second round, using them to shore up all the other position groups on the roster. Midfielder Joey DeZart was selected 31st overall and adds more defensive depth to the midfield after the departure of key players from 2019. Orlando then added defender Jonathan Dean, who captained UCF this past season, and goalkeeper Austin Aviza out of Providence. The third round of the draft will continue on Jan. 13 and the Lions have the fifth selection then as well to help fill the roster out further.
For the first two rounds, MLSSoccer.com gave Orlando City a grade of A. It’s not often we get to read nice things about our team on the league’s website.
Exploria Stadium Will Host 2020 SheBelieves Cup Opener
Orlando will be the host of the first set of games for the SheBelieves Cup on March 5, including probably the best match of the tournament with the United States Women’s National Team taking on England at 7 p.m. The two teams last squared off in the 2019 FIFA World Cup semifinals when the U.S. won 2-1 over England after the Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan scored the game-winner and did her tea celebration.
This is Orlando’s second time hosting the tournament after doing so in 2017 in another showdown between the U.S. and England. While that match will surely be worth attending, don’t sleep on the earlier game at 4:35 between Spain and Japan as well.
Pride Players Score in W-League Round 9
Down in Australia, Round 9 of the W-League started off with a resounding win for Orlando Pride players Claire Emslie and Emily van Egmond as Melbourne City won 4-0 against Pride teammate Camila and Canberra United. After Kyah Simon opened the scoring, Emslie doubled it through a penalty in the 33rd minute after beating Canberra’s goalkeeper and forcing a foul. She nearly scored multiple more times and was named Player of the Match. Van Egmond had a strong game as well, leading all players in touches (92) and passes (80), and scored Melbourne’s final goal of the match with a nice volley.
Would you like some sauce with that 🍟? @Em_surf seals the three points with a delightful finish. #MCYvCBR
📹 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/uLlX9VrjuQ
— Melbourne City FC 🏙️ (@MelbourneCity) January 9, 2020
After the win, she had plenty to say not only about how Melbourne is peaking at the right time and excelling not just on offense, but defense as well.
Orlando SeaWolves Hit the Road
With Head Coach Tom Traxler back at the helm, the SeaWolves head out for a three-game road trip that starts tonight against the Kansas City Comets. The team is coming off of its first win of the season, although momentum from that may be waning since it was back on Dec. 22 when the SeaWolves beat the Baltimore Blast 5-4 at home. However, there is plenty of energy around the club after the return of Traxler a little over a week ago and tonight’s game will be his first chance to right the ship although the SeaWolves haven’t won on the road since March 8 of 2019.
Elsewhere in the MLS SuperDraft
Let’s backtrack to how the rest of the draft went. With the first pick, Inter Miami went with Clemson forward Robbie Robinson, who then got a Skype call from David Beckham that was awkward to say the least. Nashville SC went on the road for the second pick, as a bus of staff and supporters showed up outside of the house of Indiana defender Jack Maher to select him.
In other draft news, the Philadelphia Union once again traded out of the first round. Thierry Henry and the Montreal Impact selected Jeremy Kelly and promptly shipped him to the Colorado Rapids for $75,000 in General Allocation Money. For those following UCF forward Cal Jennings, he fell to 17th where he was scooped up by FC Dallas.
Free Kicks
- Orlando’s Homegrown Player Jordan Bender is joining the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team for its pair of matches with Mexico after an injury to Kevin Bonilla.
UPDATE: Jordan Bender (Orlando City SC) will replace Kevin Bonilla (FC Dallas) on the roster due to injury.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) January 9, 2020
- Pride Goalkeeping Coach Lloyd Yaxley is enjoying the freedom and challenges that come with coaching the Lake Highland Prep’s girls soccer team during the Pride’s off-season.
- FC Cincinnati signed forward Yuya Kubo as a Designated Player, making him the first Japanese DP in MLS history.
- Inter Miami is reportedly close to completing a deal for Colombian forward Roger Martinez as well as adding an unnamed international winger.
- In more MLS transfer news, reports surfaced that the LA Galaxy will make an offer for Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the coming week. Minnesota United is still in negotiations with goalkeeper Vito Mannone but also have interest in Joe Hart. Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony claimed that MLS clubs have reached out to him.
- American defender Sergino Dest is leaving Ajax’s training camp in Qatar due to the rising tension in the region.
- Harry Kane is out until April as he will undergo surgery for his hamstring injury suffered on Jan. 1 in Tottenham’s loss to Southampton.
- With just 27% of possession in the match, Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2 to advance to the Supercopa final against Real Madrid.
- Jay Ajayi got clowned on in his eMLS debut, losing all 12 of his games against the best in the country.
That’s going to do it for me today, folks. I hope each and every one of you have a great Friday and weekend as 2020 rolls on.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/13/24
Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.
Lions on International Duty
Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.
The NWSL Playoffs Continue
The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.
NWSL Award Voting Open
The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.
Pepi is Ready
The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.
Free Kicks
- In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
- England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
- The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
- Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
- We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
- Jude Bellingham’s younger brother, Jobe, may make a move to La Liga giant Real Madrid.
- The USMNT’s Gio Reyna is still nursing a mystery injury at Borussia Dortmund.
- We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
- Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/12/24
Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Orlando City’s Playoff Path
It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.
What to Watch For With the USMNT
It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.
Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States
The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.
Free Kicks
- NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.
- The U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team battled Argentina to a scoreless draw at the Deaf Pan American Games on Monday, but fortunately advanced in the tournament due to a coin flip tiebreaker. The U.S. will play either Brazil or Mexico in the semifinal.
- Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended due to a social media video that seemed to show him making negative marks about Jurgen Klopp.
- Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club following the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim, who wants to bring in his own assistants.
- Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are among a whopping eight players who have pulled out of England’s UEFA Nations League squad due to injury.
That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/11/24
Orlando City and Orlando Pride advance in the playoffs, MLS and NWSL playoff roundups, USMNT roster announced, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you in Florida. Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who have served or are currently serving in the military. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour during the holiday weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals
Orlando City defeated Charlotte FC 4-1 in penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight year. The Lions were down 1-0 late in the match, with their run in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs about to end. However, Duncan McGuire was pulled down in the box and Orlando was awarded a penalty kick deep in stoppage time. Facundo Torres had his penalty kick saved but scored on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1. In the penalty shootout, Pedro Gallese came up with big saves, and every Lion converted their kick to book Orlando’s ticket into the next round. It took three matches, but the Lions are through and will face Atlanta United at home Nov. 24.
Pride Secure First Playoff Win Against the Chicago Red Stars
The Orlando Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1 on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium to secure their first-ever NWSL playoff win. Barbra Banda scored twice, and Haley McCutcheon and Marta each added one for Orlando. The Red Stars pulled one back with a goal from Jameese Joseph, but the Pride dominated the match from start to finish and advanced to the semifinals. The Pride will face the Kansas City Current at home Sunday with a spot in the NWSL Championship on the line.
First Round of MLS Playoffs Wraps Up
It was a wild weekend to conclude the first round of the 2024 MLS playoffs, with plenty of Game 3 drama. Let’s start with a big upset in South Florida, as Atlanta United got two goals from Jamal Thiare and won 3-2 win against Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami. New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 6-5 in penalties after a scoreless draw and will move on to face the New York Red Bulls in a playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby in the next round. Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati were the three highest seeds in the Eastern Conference and all three were eliminated after the first round. Out west, LAFC secured a 1-0 over the Vancouver Whitecaps with Mateusz Bogusz scoring the lone goal to advance. LAFC will take on the Seattle Sounders, while the LA Galaxy will face Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals.
NWSL Playoff Quarterfinals Roundup
The first round of the 2024 NWSL playoffs is also in the books. The Kansas City Current defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Saturday. Temwa Chawinga scored for the Current and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches. There were two more matches on Sunday, and the Washington Spirit fought back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Bay FC 2-1 to advance. NJ/NY Gotham FC edged the Portland Thorns 2-1 with Rose Lavelle scoring the winning goal late in stoppage time. Gotham and the Spirit will square off on Saturday at Audi Field.
USMNT Roster Announced for Nations League
United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced the 25-man roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Jamaica. Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, and Chris Richards are a few of the defenders called up, while the midfield includes Brenden Aaronson, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah. Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Tim Weah, and Brandon Vazquez are some of the attackers to keep an eye on. Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Zack Steffen were called up alongside Patrick Schulte and Diego Kochen. Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire was not called up, and Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna is another notable player who wasn’t selected. The USMNT will face Jamaica in a two-legged series this week, with the first match in Kingston Thursday followed by the second leg Monday at City Park in St. Louis.
Free Kicks
- In case you missed it, check out this video of Facundo Torres’ equalizer on Orlando City’s social media page to secure his 20th goal of the year.
- The Orlando Pride honored Brazilian midfielder Luana before their playoff win on Friday.
- FC Cincinnati is reportedly close to a club-record deal to sign forward Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge.
- Bayern Munich has reportedly signed U.S. youth international forward Bajung Darboe from LAFC.
- With Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton over the weekend, the club has now lost four consecutive matches across all competitions, which is the first time this has happened since 2006.
- Ruben Amorim is reportedly facing a delay in starting work as manager of Manchester United because the club is awaiting confirmation of his work visa.
- AS Roma has fired its second manager of the season, Ivan Juric, following its 3-2 loss to Bologna on Sunday.
- North Texas SC won the MLS NEXT Pro Cup after trailing 2-0 and completing the comeback to defeat Philadelphia Union II 3-2 and claim its first league title.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
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