Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/26/20
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Happy Sunday, everyone. It’s a happier Sunday than usual because we’re celebrating (another) Orlando City victory in the MLS is Back Tournament. We’ll get to that in a bit, but it’s nice to know we can spend our Sunday relaxing and basking in the glow.
The Lions are off until Friday night, but there is soccer for you to watch today. The NWSL Challenge Cup comes to a conclusion with today’s final, and the EPL will determine its Champions League spots and relegated teams with today’s matches.
While we wait for those to start, let’s get to the news of the day.
Orlando City Knocks Out Impact
You might not know it if you only saw the 1-0 final score, but the Lions dominated the Montreal Impact. A little more sharpness in the final third and a goal incorrectly waved off for offside kept the final margin from embarrassing Thierry Henry’s Canadian side. Tesho Akindele, who was cheated out of an assist by the assistant referee, settled for scoring the game’s only goal in the 60th minute to lead the Lions to victory. Montreal managed only one shot on goal and only fashioned one truly threatening attacking moment all night. Nani’s heavy touches were a bit worrisome, but the team looked good. Orlando must improve if it is going to get past the winner of LAFC and Seattle. Here’s your match recap, complete with highlights and quotes from Oscar Pareja and Akindele.
Stay tuned for Dave Rohe’s five takeaways and Sean Rollins’ player grades and Man of the Match.
Lions Getting to Know One Another in the Bubble
One of the underrated benefits of Orlando City making a deep run in the MLS is Back Tournament is that it’s given the players time to bond and build chemistry. Guys are playing chess together in their down time, they’re eating together, training together, and gaming together. The team got a taste of that during the preseason trip to Cancun, Mexico, but that seems like it was years ago, rather than months.
“We’re just getting to know each other,” forward Chris Mueller said. “That chemistry off the pitch is kind of showing itself now on the field. In my opinion, I think that we’re a much stronger group. We’re very together in the sense that this has been a tough time and we stood by each other, we’ve had each other’s backs. I think that when you look at it from that standpoint it’s been great in here.”
NWSL Challenge Cup Final Set for Today
The Houston Dash and the Chicago Red Stars will decide who gets what could be the NWSL’s only trophy of 2020 when the teams meet today in Utah at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The Red Stars have been among the league’s best teams for several years so their inclusion is not a surprise, but the Dash have done very little since joining the NWSL and this could be their opportunity to finally grab some hardware.
- Houston’s Allysha Chapman says it’s about time for Houston to break through.
- Chicago’s Kayla Sharples is just enjoying herself.
- Your injury report today is a sad one, as these players — including Chicago’s Casey Short — will either not play or might not see the field.
Injury report for NWSL final Sunday: pic.twitter.com/9hTR8lXa42
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 25, 2020
Meanwhile, Orlando Pride and USWNT star Alex Morgan narrated the championship hype video.
Hi, it's me. This is the closest I could get to playing in Utah. Narrating the championship video. Enjoy. Watch tomorrow. @CBS https://t.co/3jMUvuPpbx
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 25, 2020
Zlatan Not Ready to Retire
I jokingly tweeted that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would look good in purple after he posted a message on social media that indicates he’s not ready for retirement. A couple of people responded that they’d pass on signing Zlatan — a guy who has proven he can give a team 25-30 goals a season in MLS. The mind boggles at what this team could do with a world-class finisher receiving nifty through balls from Nani and Mauricio Pereyra.
I'm just warming up pic.twitter.com/7GLlrCIG4a
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) July 25, 2020
Some contend that he’s too much drama and there have been some unflattering reports out of LA, but at the same time, former Manchester United teammate Luke Shaw spoke glowingly about the Swede, saying he was good for the locker room and simply demanded his teammates work as hard as him. But hey, you tell me what you think in the poll below.
Polling Closed
Player | Votes |
Yes! | 41 |
No! | 21 |
Free Kicks
- Chris Mueller and Nani made honorable mention in SBI’s MLS is Back Group Stage Best XI.
- Pareja called Mueller “a player for the national team.”
- Xavi Hernandez has tested positive for the coronavirus.
- This is how the Premier League would look right now without VAR.
- Former RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando has come back to soccer.
- Frank Lampard is mad about…something.
- Those born on this date include actor Jason Robards (1922), filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (1928), “Drift Away” singer Dobie Gray (1940), Mick Jagger (1943), actress Helen Mirren (1945), Queen drummer Roger Taylor (1949), figure skating’s Dorothy Hamill (1956), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Nana Visitor (1957), Sandra Bullock (1964), Jeremy Piven (1965), Jason Statham (1967), Kate Beckinsale (1973), and Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (1987).
That’s all my time for today. Enjoy today’s soccer action and don’t forget to get your pizza discount thanks to the Lions’ win over Montreal.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/21/25
Marco Pasalic’s soccer journey, MLS storylines to watch, USWNT shuts out Colombia, and much more.
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Welcome to the final day before the MLS season kicks off! I don’t know about you, but the off-season and preseason flew by for me. I’m ready to throw on some purple and cheer this weekend, even if I won’t have the pleasure of being there in person. Before we dive into today’s links though, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride forward Amanda Allen!
Marco Pasalic Prepares for First MLS Season
Many eyes will be on Orlando City winger Marco Pasalic this season after the club signed him as its latest Designated Player. The 24-year-old spoke on how a strong work ethic was instilled in him at a young age from his parents while growing up in Germany. He also talked about his injury while with Borussia Dortmund and the difficulties he faced both physically and mentally to overcome it. He’s now in the City Beautiful after playing for Rijeka in Croatia and the dual-national shared some insight about his decision to become a Lion.
“I think getting the chance to see a new league, to make the next step in my career, for me, it’s a better step to come here than to stay in Croatia. That’s my opinion,” he said. “I like it here a lot so far. It’s an honor when a club really wants you, and I wanted to come here, also. My decision didn’t take long, either. Maybe one day before I said yes. Now, I want to bring this league to another level, to bring this club joy and play good games.”
MLS Storylines Ahead of 2025 Season
The 2025 MLS season is finally upon us and there are already plenty of storylines to keep an eye on after an interesting off-season. For Orlando, it’s a simple inquiry into if the club’s new players can truly replace the players who won’t be on the field for the Lions this year. Facundo Torres is gone and Wilder Cartagena is out for the season, and only time will tell if Pasalic and Eduard Atuesta can fill those voids.
There are many questions all over the league I’m looking forward to getting answers to as well. How quickly can Bruce Arena turn things around with the San Jose Earthquakes? Will Atlanta United’s attack live up to the hype? What will the Philadelphia Union look like without Jim Curtin at the helm? Can the Chicago Fire reach the playoffs under Gregg Berhalter? I have the feeling it’s going to be a really great season for the league.
USWNT Wins Against Colombia
In its first game of this year’s SheBelieves Cup, the United States Women’s National Team beat Colombia 2-0 in Houston. The first goal for the USWNT was wonderfully crafted and sparked by a nice ball over the top by Lily Yohannes to Yazmeen Ryan, who found Catarina Macario in front of the net. It’s great to see Macario scoring again for the U.S. after she missed out on the Olympics due to injury. Ally Sentnor scored her first international goal by doubling the USWNT’s lead with a great strike from distance that you can check out below.
Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams didn’t come off the bench, but the defense still did well to shut out Colombia. The USWNT’s next match will come on Sunday against an Australian team that got beaten 4-0 by Japan.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
After a rough week that included many Americans getting eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, attention now turns to a weekend filled with soccer. Former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom will host Oxford United on Saturday, with Josh Sargent, Brenden Aaronson, and Ethan Horvath as other Americans to watch in the EFL Championship. In the English Premier League, Antonee Robinson and Fulham will take on Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace. The usual suspects like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are also set to take the field. If looking for a game off the beaten path, Damion Downs could score his 10th goal of the season when Cologne faces Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday in Germany’s second division.
Luis Rubiales Guilty of Sexual Assault
Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As a result, he was ordered to pay more than $10,400 in fines and is prohibited from being within 200 meters of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a year. The prosecution had asked for a prison sentence of a year for sexual assault and a year-and-a-half for coercion, the latter of which he was acquitted of. FIFPRO issued a statement standing in solidarity with Hermoso and other victims of sexual assault, while also stating that the courts must send a stronger message in regards to the level of punishment.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City and the Orlando Pride announced a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I’ve actually never tried Jameson, as I’m a bit more of a tropical cocktail kind of guy when it comes to libations.
- LAFC has a new Designated Player after signing Turkish winger Cengiz Under on loan from Fenerbahce through June 30, with an option to buy. He should add even more firepower to a potent LAFC attack that includes Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, and Jeremy Ebobisse.
- This year’s MLS Competition Guidelines include an interesting addition where only a team’s captain should approach the referee. If crowded by multiple players, the ref is to signal that to the players and only the captain can be within four meters of the referee, with intruding players being shown a yellow card.
- Former Orlando City B forward Ates Diouf is joining Detroit City FC on loan from Lexington SC for the USL Championship season.
- Former Orlando Pride midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard has signed with Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League.
- Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 in the Concacaf Champions Cup, thanks to a goal in stoppage time. Despite the loss, Vancouver’s away goal is valuable as the series heads to Canada for the second leg.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend. Go Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/20/25
Marco Pasalic named an MLS newcomer to watch, Houston Dynamo sign Nico Lodeiro, USWNT takes on Colombia today, and more.
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How’s it going, Mane Landers? We’re only a few days away from the start of Orlando City’s 2025 season and I can’t wait. There’s also plenty of women’s soccer to enjoy thanks to the SheBelieves Cup. It’s a great time to be a soccer fan here in the U.S. Let’s dive right into today’s links!
Marco Pasalic Noted as MLS Newcomer to Watch
Orlando City signed Marco Pasalic as a Designated Player this off-season to help fill the void left by Facundo Torres, and he was noted as one of the top newcomers in the league for 2025. While I don’t think he’s expected to fully replace the goal contributions Torres provided, I’m hoping he can unlock defenses and am looking forward to seeing some overlapping runs between him and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson on the right wing.
The rest of the list has multiple players on Eastern Conference teams who could have Orlando fans reaching for the liquor cabinet this season, including Charlotte FC’s Wilfried Zaha, FC Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey, and Atlanta United’s shiny new striker, Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Nico Lodeiro Signs With the Houston Dynamo
Midfielder Nico Lodeiro, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Orlando City earlier this week, has officially signed with the Houston Dynamo on a deal through 2025 with an option for 2026. This signing was reported leading up to his departure from Orlando, and he should be able to get some solid playing time with the Dynamo. Lodeiro had 11 assists with the Lions last season and is great from set piece situations, so he should be able to help a Houston team that made the playoffs last season but only scored 47 goals.
USWNT Takes On Colombia Today
The 2025 SheBelieves Cup kicks off today and the United States Women’s National Team will face off against Colombia at 8 p.m. in Houston. It will be the USWNT’s first match of the year and Head Coach Emma Hayes’ first time coaching the U.S. during the SheBelieves Cup. The team will be without star players like Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, and Sophia Wilson (née Smith) but still has plenty of talented players to get the job done. Colombia should present a solid challenge for the U.S., as it reached the quarterfinals of both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. After this match, the USWNT is set to take on Australia in Arizona on Sunday before closing out the tournament in San Diego on Wednesday against Japan.
MLS Clubs Begin Champions Cup Campaigns
The Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and there are many MLS sides aiming to start the tournament off on the right foot. The Seattle Sounders’ new signings from FC Dallas linked up for a goal just three minutes into their match with Guatemalan club Antigua GFC, with Jesus Ferreira teeing up Paul Arriola’s goal at the top of the box. Antigua equalized later in the first half, but the Sounders struck twice in the second half for a 3-1 victory. In Costa Rica, Real Salt Lake and Herediano battled to a scoreless draw. Lionel Messi scored the lone goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in a bitter cold game that exemplifies why MLS should not switch to a winter schedule.
UEFA Champions League Roundup
Only 16 teams remain in the UEFA Champions League after the latest round of matches. Most of Wednesday’s drama was in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 win over Juventus. American forward Tim Weah scored for Juventus, but PSV advanced thanks to a goal from defender Ryan Flamingo in extra time. In Spain, Kylian Mbappe had a hat trick in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Manchester City, eliminating the English club from the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain booked its spot in the round of 16 in convincing fashion as well, with seven different players finding the back of the net in a 7-0 home win over Brest. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, a scoreless draw at home against Sporting CP was enough for Borussia Dortmund to advance to the next round too.
The draw for the round of 16 is on Friday and should deliver on some fun matchups. Either Barcelona or Liverpool will face PSG, with the other getting Benfica. We may also get Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen.
Free Kicks
- The LA Galaxy added Brazilian striker Matheus Nascimento on loan from Botafogo through 2025. The 20-year-old will take up a U22 Initiative spot and the loan has an option to buy.
- Denver’s NWSL team is considering its options for a name and unveiled a poll for the community to weigh in. I obviously did not vote, but Colorado Summit FC is probably my favorite of the bunch. Denver FC is the clear loser.
- According to the U.S. Travel Association, the U.S.’s air travel system is not ready for the 2026 World Cup or 2028 Summer Olympics.
- Robin van Persie is reportedly close to becoming Feyenoord’s next head coach, with Rene Hake expected to join him as an assistant. Feyenoord recently took down AC Milan in the Champions League but is fourth in the Eredivisie.
- Here’s everything to keep an eye on in today’s Europa League games. The second leg between AS Roma and Porto after a 1-1 draw in Portugal is the premier matchup in my eyes.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/19/25
Halliday and Lodeiro are out, Cartagena’s season is over, the SheBelieves Cup starts tomorrow, and more.
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Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! Orlando City continues to see more departures than arrivals to the roster with the season opener looming this weekend. Sure would be cool if the Lions added an experienced MLS striker this week. Alas, I feel it’s not in the cards. I’m sure it’ll be fine.
In better news, it’s Marta’s 39th birthday! Happy nirthday to the captain from all of us here at The Mane Land. Let’s get to the links.
Lions Say Goodbye to Halliday, Lodeiro
Both Michael Halliday and Nico Lodeiro have departed Orlando City. Halliday was traded to the Houston Dynamo for a first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. With Dagur Dan Thorhallsson starting at right back and Alex Freeman moving into the number two spot behind him, it made sense for Halliday to try to get minutes elsewhere.
Nico Lodeiro mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club. Lodeiro’s departure will free up $800,000 salary for the club and allow Lodeiro to pursue more playing time at another club. According to Tom Bogert, that club may also be the Houston Dynamo. Given Lodeiro’s role off the bench for Orlando City, this is a move that makes sense for both the player and the club.
Cartagena Out for the Season
While the news was expected, Orlando City officially placed Wilder Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury list. The midfielder suffered the injury in the preseason match against Atletico Mineiro. The surgery on his left Achilles tendon was successful, but he will still be out for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, the Lions brought in Eduard Atuesta to shore up the midfield. While Orlando City may even be better with Atuesta on the pitch, losing Cartagena still hurts the team depth.
Orlando City in the Top 10?
The off-season was not as long as usual, thanks to Orlando City’s run to the Eastern Conference final. Despite the shorter time frame, I had forgotten how useless, dumb, and yet fun power rankings can be. I’d warn you against spoilers, but these rankings mean absolutely nothing — especially before a match has been played — so I’ll just tell you that the Lions came in at number nine. However, I won’t spoil why they made the top 10, nor which Ft. Lauderdale based club is in the top spot.
SheBelieves Cup Starts Thursday
The USWNT plays its first match of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup Thursday at 8 p.m. The match will take place at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Unless you plan on traveling to Texas, you’ll have to watch it on TV or streaming. The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams is on the squad and will hopefully see some minutes for Emma Hayes.
Free Kicks
- The Philadelphia Union signed striker Bruno Damiani from Uruguayan club Nacional. At least one team playing at Inter&Co Stadium this weekend signed a striker.
- Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah are out of the UEFA Champions League thanks to AC Milan’s 2-1 aggregate loss to Feyenoord.
- In the “I can’t relate to that level of money but I still feel sorry for the guy” category, LAFC striker Olivier Giroud had approximately $500,000 worth of jewelry stolen when his Los Angeles home was burglarized.
- U.S. Soccer has reached an agreement with Westwood One Sports for the network to serve as their new domestic English-language audio partner.
- In the “isn’t that mildly interesting” category, Pete Mangione will appear for FC Cincinnati.
- When Chase Adams scored 10 goals in the U-17 USMNT’s 22-0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 2025 Concacaf U-17 qualifiers, he broke Erling Haaland’s international goal-scoring record. That’s just icing on the top of the 22-goal cake.
That will do it for today. Check back everyday as we get you ready for the season opener on Saturday. Vamos Orlando!
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