Lion Links: 5/11/20

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! How are you holding up? If you weren’t an essential worker, have you returned to work? Starting today, I’m back on my regular work schedule. I’m not going to lie, I will miss all of the time off. Oh well, I was able to get quite a bit done around the house. Enough about me, let’s get to the Links!

Nani and FIFA Abe Lose

With a spot in the eMLS Tournament Special Championship up for grabs, Orlando City’s eMLS representative, FIFA Abe, teamed up with Nani to take on Paul Neto and Franco Escobar of Atlanta United. Unfortunately for Orlando City fans, Nani and Abe weren’t able to muster a goal in a 4-0 aggregate loss last night. First, Escobar downed Nani 2-0, and then Abe wasn’t able to fare any better in a 2-0 loss to Neto. Maybe we shouldn’t have one of the oldest guys on the team playing eSports?

Skinner Breaks Down Tape

Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner came out of the shadows to break down a play from a Pride match against Reign FC. The play Skinner picked starts with Orlando defending. Three Pride players team up to take the ball from the opposition. A quick outlet pass to Marissa Viggiano sends Orlando forward. At this point, Skinner pulls our attention off of the ball and to Claire Emslie on the right side. Emslie has to make a decision to either come to the middle or move out wide. At that same time, Rachel Hill is working up top, staying onside, and positioning herself for the attack. A one-touch pass from Emslie is perfectly weighted to Hill and she goes on to score. It’s quite interesting to get an idea of what watching film is like and you can check out Skinner’s insight below.

MLS’ Reopening Plans

Whether or not you agree with the plans to open parts of the country or how such plans are implemented, MLS is working on its own ideas. With each city and state dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in almost as many ways as there are clubs, it will be tough to get the entire league going. Step one has already begun in places like Orlando, with individual workouts at club facilities. Step two is having small groups together, and then the entire squad. Testing is a factor going forward as well. At the point when matches are to be played, certain locations may not allow it. As such, MLS is looking at venues including the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando to hold matches. The facility has 30 soccer fields and access to hotels nearby. Frankly, it’s a great location if MLS decides to go this direction.

USWNT’s First Baby

You should know by now that Pride and United States Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan and former Lion Servando Carrasco welcomed their new daughter, Charlie Elena Carrasco. While Morgan became a new mother right in time for Mother’s Day, let’s also remember the first USWNT player to have a baby and return to the team. Joy Fawcett, played for the U.S. from 1987 to 2004. In 1994, Fawcett gave birth to her first daughter, Katey. It’s never easy being the first, but Fawcett and her husband Walter made it work.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City defender Robin Jansson is getting back into the swing of things in training.

• Brighton now has three players who tested positive for the coronavirus and the club is opposed to the English Premier League’s plans to play matches at neutral sites to finish out the season.
• La Liga is also moving forward with its own plans for restarting the league by June 12 despite eight new positive tests for the coronavirus.
• Place your bets for who will be the new England Manager following Phil Neville’s departure.

• CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez is surprised by FIFA’s decision to allow five substitutions in competitions. Dominguez is putting together a panel to decide if CONMEBOL will adopt FIFA’s guidelines.
• How has the USMNT done under Gregg Berhalter in his first year? Sebastian Salazar, Herculez Gomez, and Alejandro Moreno give their takes.

• FIFA made Video Assistant Referee (VAR) optimal for the top leagues around the world once play resumes. Of course, if a league decides to utilize VAR then all standard rules regarding its use apply.

As always, stay safe and go City!