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Lion Links: 2/18/20

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Happy Tuesday, everybody. Hopefully most of you were like me and had yesterday off from work. But, if not, you only have four more days until the weekend, so it could be worse. There’s some interesting things to discuss today, so let’s have at it while we wait for tonight’s Orlando City preseason match to arrive.

Three Pride Players Named to SheBelieves Cup Camp Roster

The SheBelieves Cup returns to Orlando this year and the United States Women’s National Team announced its training camp roster ahead of the tournament. Of particular note to Orlando fans, the Orlando Pride’s Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, and Emily Sonnett were all named to the roster.

Speaking of the USWNT, Backline Soccer believes the recent Olympic qualifying tournament saw Kreiger’s national team stock go up, with her attacking contributions from the fullback position playing a big part. On the other hand, they think Sonnett’s stock may not have changed for the better or worse after turning in performances that were fine, but not particularly inspiring.

Weah Suffers Another Injury Setback

Budding USMNT prospect Timothy Weah suffered a hamstring tear in his first game back for Lille since suffering a hamstring tear back in August. He entered the game as a second-half substitute in the team’s 2-1 loss to Marseilles. Unfortunately, he suffered another occurrence of the injury that’s kept him sidelined for the better part of six months. There’s no word yet on the severity of his latest injury, but hopefully it doesn’t keep him out as long as the previous injury did. Regardless, it’s a setback both for Weah and the United States Men’s National Team, which hasn’t been able to call on Weah for some time now.

Miami Signs Pizarro

Inter Miami CF completed the signing of Rodolfo Pizarro from Monterrey of Liga MX. His signing concludes a lengthy period of time in which the attacking midfielder was linked to MLS, with Miami as the frequent destination. His arrival gives the south Florida club its biggest name so far along with a reliable attacking force. In all likelihood, he’ll be ready to suit up in two weeks for the club’s first ever MLS game.

Mattocks Faces Felony Charges

FC Cincinnati forward Darren Mattocks is facing two felony charges in the state of Pennsylvania. Mattocks is charged with making a false, fraudulent, or incompetent insurance claim, as well as theft. While Mattocks trained with the club during the first part of its preseason in Arizona, the Cincinnati Enquirer has not seen Mattocks at the club’s recent preseason activities just down the road from Orlando in Bradenton. Mattocks is said to still be on the club’s roster and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 27 for a formal arraignment. Only time will tell if he remains on the club’s roster after that date, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Danny Acosta got some bad news that will keep him out of the lineup in LA for quite some time.


That’ll do it for me today. Don’t forget that Orlando City has its second and final preseason friendly open to the public tonight against KR Reykjavík. The game is set to kick off at 6 p.m. so make sure to grab tickets if you haven’t already. It will be your last chance to catch a glimpse of the team before the regular season starts. Stay safe out there.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/26/24

Pride celebrate NWSL title, previewing the MLS conference finals, Alyssa Naeher retires from USWNT, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, and what a Tuesday it is! The Orlando Pride are NWSL Champions and Orlando City will play in the Eastern Conference final for the very first time. If this isn’t the best weekend that Orlando soccer has ever had, then I sure as hell don’t know what is. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning though, so let’s get into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Celebrate NWSL Title

The Orlando Pride celebrated the team’s first ever NWSL Championship in style on Monday, with a victory parade down Orange Avenue followed by a celebration at City Hall.

Plenty of people came out and lined the parade route, Marta and the team were presented with a key to the city, and Nov. 25, 2024 was declared “Orlando Pride Day” by Orange County. Congratulations to the Pride!

Examining the MLS Conference Finals

Just three matches remain in the MLS Cup playoffs, so it’s time to turn our attention to the conference finals and what each team needs to do to advance. For Orlando City, it’ll be important to win second balls and for Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena to set the tone in the midfield. On the flip side of things, the New York Red Bulls need Emil Forsberg to show up and make his mark on the game. The Red Bulls haven’t had much of the ball in their last five games, so they need to make the most of their touches when they do have it. Out west, the LA Galaxy need to make sure Gabriel Pec gets on the ball in the final third, while the Seattle Sounders need to stay organized and compact in defense. That’ll be easier said than done against a Galaxy side with a stunning amount of firepower, but the Sounders are here for a reason.

Alyssa Naeher Announces International Retirement

Alyssa Naeher announced on Monday that she will be retiring from international play following the United States Women’s National Team’s upcoming matches. Naeher is one of the all-time great USWNT goalkeepers, and the only women’s soccer goalkeeper to ever keep a clean sheet in both an Olympic gold medal game and a World Cup final. She received her first national team cap almost 10 years ago on Dec. 18, 2014 and has gone on to make 113 appearances for the team. She’ll still play for the Chicago Red Stars during the 2025 season and possibly afterward, but her final game for the USWNT will come on Dec. 3 against the Netherlands in The Hague.

Vanni Sartini Out in Vancouver

After spending five years with the Vancouver Whitecaps in various roles, including a little over three as head coach, Vanni Sartini has left that position by mutual agreement with the club. The Italian led the Whitecaps to an improbable playoff berth in 2021 after taking over as head coach, and the team also qualified for the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, notching a 3-0 upset of top seed LAFC in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs this year. Despite that, Sporting Director and Chief Executive Officer Axel Schuster felt that the team needed someone different in charge, and the team has begun the search for its next head coach.

Free Kicks

  • Take in some of the scenes from the final whistle of Orlando City’s playoff win against Atlanta United.
  • Former Lion and U.S. Open Cup shootout hero Adam Grinwis has announced his retirement.

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/25/24

Orlando City advances to Eastern Conference final, Orlando Pride win NWSL Championship, MLS playoff roundup, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy this weekend at Under Armour, but I tried to catch some soccer when possible. Besides that, I’ll be working at Wrigley Field this Saturday for Northwestern’s college football game against Illinois. What an excellent weekend it was for Orlando’s soccer teams! We saw the Orlando Pride complete the double with an NWSL Championship title, and the Lions took out Atlanta United in the MLS playoffs. We have plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Advance to the Eastern Conference Final

Orlando City defeated Atlanta United 1-0 on Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Eastern Conference final of the MLS playoffs for the first time in club history. Ramiro Enrique was the only scorer in the match, with Orlando’s defense doing well to secure the shutout against Atlanta. The Lions will host the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a spot in the MLS Cup final on the line.

Orlando Pride Win First NWSL Championship Title

On Saturday, the Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit 1-0 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City to win their first NWSL Championship title. Barbra Banda scored the lone goal in the first half for the Pride. Orlando defended its lead throughout the second half, with the Spirit creating plenty of scoring opportunities but never breaking through. It was a stellar 2024 NWSL season for the Pride, as they became the first club since 2021 to complete the double by winning both the NWSL Championship and the NWSL Shield. Banda was named MVP of the game, while Marta finally got her first NWSL Championship title since joining the Pride in 2017. It was a historic season for the Pride and this match featured plenty of other milestones as well. Orlando will hold a parade for the Pride later today at 4:30 p.m. that will start on Orange Avenue and end at city hall for the celebration ceremony.

Insight Into the Prides Historic Title Run

Yahoo Sports shared an article on how the Orlando Pride went from missing the playoffs for several seasons to becoming the best team in the NWSL this year. It all started with a players meeting last winter to discuss the club’s values and goals for the 2024 season, with the team’s predictions for the season hung up in the locker room as a reminder. Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter spoke on the team’s past struggles. The club did not make the NWSL playoffs since 2017 until this season, which was the longest playoff drought in the league. The Pride broke plenty of records this season, going on a 23-match unbeaten streak and claiming both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. Many factors turned out to be the difference for Orlando’s success this season, including keeping many players from previous seasons like Marta, Kylie Strom, and Haley McCutcheon instead of completely overhauling the roster. That helped set the culture within the squad, with the club showing grit and resilience all season long to conclude a historic season for the Pride.

MLS Playoff Semifinal Round Recap

Over the weekend, three more teams punched their tickets to the conference finals in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. Let’s start with the Hudson River Derby, as the Red Bulls defeated New York City FC 2-0 at Citi Field to advance to the Eastern Conference final. The Seattle Sounders defeated LAFC 2-1 after extra time, with Jordan Morris scoring to seal the win at BMO Stadium and put Seattle into the Western Conference final. The LA Galaxy cruised past Minnesota United 6-2 as Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice. The Galaxy will take on the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in the Western Conference final.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride received a shoutout on their NWSL Championship victory by some notable people, including tennis legend Billie Jean King and President Joe Biden.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/22/24

Emily Sams wins Defender of the Year, Orlando City’s turnaround, Barbra Banda nominated for African Woman Player of the Year, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! Beyond working and catching some soccer here and there, I don’t have many plans for the weekend. I’m also hoping to find some time to trial some cranberry and brie bites I’m trying to perfect before Thanksgiving next week. For now though, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Emily Sams Awarded NWSL Defender of the Year

The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams was named 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year after a fantastic season. The Pride only conceded 20 goals in a record-breaking season, and Sams played in all 13 of the team’s shutouts. Sams was one of the most impactful players for the Pride this year and had 163 recoveries, 76 clearances, and 16 blocks. She’s the first Pride player to win the award and it’s great to see her receive some deserved recognition in her second year in Orlando.

Analyzing Orlando City’s Revitalization

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the Lions to say the least. There were serious concerns over whether or not the Lions would even make the playoffs back in June and now they find themselves as the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference this postseason. Facundo Torres’ excellent run of play is a major reason behind the club’s turnaround, but the buy-in from all of Orlando’s attackers has helped create a dynamic and unselfish offense. Although expectations are rising once more for the Lions, Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi spoke on how the team is focused on Sunday’s playoff match.

“There’s only one team that matters: Atlanta United,” Muzzi said. “The easiest way to lose a game is to look ahead. I’ll say we didn’t expect to be playing at home, but it’s welcomed. We’re focused on Atlanta, they’re playing great. They have a lot of confidence and momentum. It doesn’t matter they’re the No. 9 seed because they’re not playing like the No. 9 seed.”

Barbra Banda Up For African Woman Player of the Year

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was one of 10 players nominated for this year’s African Woman Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old has done well for both club and country this year. She scored 13 goals in her first regular season with the Pride and has three goals so far in the playoffs. Banda also had a hat trick for Zambia in the Summer Olympics. She’s joined by fellow NWSL players Temwa Chawinga and Racheal Kundananji on the list of nominees. Bay FC striker Asisat Oshoala, who has won the award in five of the past six years, was not nominated for the first time in a decade. The nomination list will be trimmed to a three-player shortlist before the winner is announced on Dec. 16 in Morocco.

Croix Bethune Named NWSL Midfielder of the Year

Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune won NWSL Midfielder of the Year after recording 10 assists and five goals in 17 matches this season. A knee injury cut her season short in September, but she still tied Tobin Heath’s record for the most assists in a season. Bethune gave plenty of NWSL teams headaches this year and also won Rookie of the Year earlier this week. She’s the first player to ever receive NWSL Midfielder of the Year and she beat out the Pride’s Marta, the North Carolina Courage’s Ashley Sanchez, and Kansas City Current duo Lo’eau LaBonta and Vanessa DiBernardo.

Eastern Conference Clubs Making Moves

FC Cincinnati officially signed striker Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge on a deal that will last through 2028. The 23-year-old joins as a Designated Player on a reported $16.2 million transfer, which would be a league record. He won the Golden Boot in Belgium last year after scoring 27 goals and should give Cincinnati some considerable firepower next year.

Elsewhere in the league, CF Montreal declined the option on Josef Martinez’s contract, meaning the Venezuelan forward will be a free agent once again. The 31-year-old led Montreal with 11 goals this season and we’ll see where he winds up next. Charlotte FC did not trigger the purchase option on Pep Biel’s loan, opening up a Designated Player spot. Former Lion Junior Urso’s contract option was also declined by Charlotte. The Philadelphia Union signed defender Olivier Mbaizo to a contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2026, with options for 2027 and 2028 as well.

Free Kicks

  • In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA named 26 new options across the country as “base camps” for participating teams to train and rest. Orlando was included, with OCSC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park pitched alongside the Lake Nona Wave Hotel.
  • ESPN‘s Jeff Kassouf dove into how the NWSL stacks up to the biggest sports leagues in the U.S. Saturday’s NWSL Championship between the Pride and Spirit should showcase just how entertaining the league is to plenty of viewers.
  • Pep Guardiola will stick around as Manchester City’s manager for a couple more years after signing a two-year contract extension with the club. His contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
  • Here’s a cool breakdown of the seven amateur teams that have qualified for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup so far. None are from Florida, but there are some great logos to check out if you’re looking for a team to root for in the early rounds next year. Debutants Southern Indiana FC and the Virginia Dream are my personal favorites of the bunch.
  • The draw for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place today. Zambia is in the second pot, meaning it will be put in a group of four that will include one of Nigeria, South Africa, or Morocco. The tournament itself will be in July of next year.
  • Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City all clinched a spot in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with two games still left to play.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!

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