Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/20/20
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! I am a very happy guy this morning. Not only did Liverpool defeat Manchester United 2-0 in the North West Derby, but it went 30 points clear of its rival. Oh well, as we all know teams are up and teams are down at different times. Here’s hoping that Orlando City is on an upswing as the team begins preseason training at the new facility in Kissimmee today. Now, let’s get to the links!
Orlando SeaWolves Fall Again
The tough season continued for the Orlando SeaWolves as they lost 16-3 to the Florida Tropics in Lakeland. The match started out on the wrong foot for the SeaWolves as the Tropics scored the first five goals of the match before Eduardo Cruz got the first for Orlando. The SeaWolves got another in the first half, but still went to the break 7-2. Sadly, Orlando was able to do even less in the second half. The SeaWolves will return to action on Jan. 23 when they host the St. Louis Ambush.
FC Dallas Player Gives Insight on Oscar Pareja
Midfielder Ryan Hollingshead may be on FC Dallas instead of Orlando City, but he is excited to have his former coach Oscar Pareja back in MLS. Pareja coached Hollingshead for four years, and his former player had nothing but praise and belief that the 51-year-old can help Orlando City reach heights it hasn’t before.
“I’m so excited to see him back in MLS,” Hollingshead said. “I think that him coming back to Orlando — if you watch what he did with Dallas, he’s almost like an entrepreneur. He is so good at taking a club that’s maybe struggling, maybe hasn’t found their identity, maybe wants to figure out what are they going to be going forward, and making that happen.”
Skinner Excited About Pride’s Top Draft Pick
Taylor Kornieck was selected by the Orlando Pride with the third overall pick in the NWSL Draft. The tall midfielder was a great pick for a Pride squad needing some physicality, and Marc Skinner is happy to have her on the team. Kornieck gets to live out her dream of being a professional soccer player and Skinner thinks she’ll be a great fit for the organization.
“To find a player of that stature physically, that has the ability to play, there are not many in the world [like her]. We felt that she had to be a key target for us, and I’m buzzing to have her in and I can’t wait to work with her.”
Van Egmond Excels for Melbourne City
The Orlando Pride’s Emily van Egmond made the W-League’s Round 10 Team of the Week thanks to a strong performance for Melbourne City. Van Egmond scored a second half goal to give the team its eighth straight win.
Good 1⃣st touch, even better 2⃣nd. @Em_surf picks out the bottom corner.
🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL #MCYvNEW #WLeague pic.twitter.com/drdFY1dBdn
— Westfield W-League (@WLeague) January 18, 2020
Former Pride keeper Aubrey Bledsoe, also made the Team of the Week, saving seven of seven shots in Sydney FC’s win over the Brisbane Roar. That included this unbelievably understated save.
still thinking about how Aubrey Bledsoe accessed The Matrix here when all of Sydney’s defenders stopped running after thinking Allira Toby was offside. #SYDvBRI #WLeague pic.twitter.com/bVLOqfkFtm
— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) January 18, 2020
Free Kicks
- D.C. United is joining the San Jose Earthquakes, LAFC, Minnesota United, and Orlando City by going with a safe-standing section in its stadium.
- I can’t actually disagree with Luca Toni’s outrage regarding Brazilians eating pizza with ketchup.
- Lastly, I’ll leave you with this slice of beauty from a goalkeeper assist.
INCREDIBLE 😱@Alissonbecker's brilliant assist, @MoSalah's superb goal… and THAT celebration 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RHyu0ZwXsH
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 19, 2020
Enjoy the start of your week, everyone. Vamos Orlando!