Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/9/20
Good morning, Mane Landers! I hope the day finds you well. Let’s go ahead and jump right into the links.
Orlando Pride Signs Seven Players
With the NWSL Fall Series about to start and many of the Pride’s players out on loan, it comes as no real surprise that the club has signed seven players to short-term contracts. The Pride announced yesterday the signing of defenders Carrie Lawrence and Ally Haran, midfielders Zandy Soree, Deneisha Blackwood, Jordyn Listro, and Savanah Uveges, and forward Kate Howarth. They will all join the team for the upcoming series.
“We are very excited to add each of these players to the Orlando Pride,” Head Coach Marc Skinner said. “All seven represent the young, hungry talent we are hoping to identify and work with for the upcoming match period. We’ve been very happy with the progress each of these players have made since joining us and look forward to giving them the opportunity to play for the Pride in the Fall Series.”
MLS NEXT Unveiled
The new elite youth development platform created by MLS and top academies around the world, known as MLS NEXT was unveiled this week. The platform will include 489 teams across 113 clubs, while stretching over six age groups, all in an effort to advance players to first teams.
”MLS NEXT advances player development in North America, furthering Major League Soccer’s commitment to developing world-class players through an elite competitive pathway,” said Fred Lipka, VP and technical director of MLS Player Development, in a statement. “Major League Soccer is excited to begin MLS NEXT competition which will place player development at the forefront while giving players a safe and healthy environment to advance from academies to MLS first teams.”
Lee Nguyen Traded Back to New England Revolution
Orlando City is set to play Inter Miami again this weekend, and it was announced yesterday, that the New England Revolution have acquired Lee Nguyen from Miami. In exchange, Miami will receive a fourth-round selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft and up to $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). His best seasons were with the Revs from 2012-2017 when he scored 51 goals and added 49 assists, helping New England make it to the 2014 finals.
FIFA World Cup 2022 World Cup Update
Concacaf has had continued discussions with its members, FIFA, and other stakeholders as the confederation works toward returning to competition. Following those discussions, Concacaf and FIFA both agree that the Concacaf qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will not be played during the October/November FIFA match windows, but will instead begin with the first round in the FIFA match window of March 2021. New schedules will be released when finalized.
Free Kicks
- We all know Marta is the queen, now you can pre-order a shirt and let the world know.
- Don’t miss Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger on Instagram live later today.
What questions do you have for Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris? The Royal Couple join us LIVE tomorrow on Instagram Live to celebrate the return of @NWSL and the @ORLPride 5.30 PM ET 🇺🇸🍻💜 (Follow along on Insta https://t.co/vQV76hl9fr) pic.twitter.com/NlSvIUGxlc
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) September 8, 2020
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th international goal.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Cristiano Ronaldo scores international goal No. 100 in epic fashion 💫 pic.twitter.com/KJuFNj7ld8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 8, 2020
- Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has received the PFA Merit Award for his efforts in fighting childhood hunger during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Early reports suggest the NWSL Expansion Draft is coming in November.
Expansion draft timing for #NWSL, thanks to multiple sources:
Oct 17: #NWSLFallSeries ends
Nov 4: Deadline for teams to submit list of protected players
Nov 5: Final list distributed to the teamsNovember 12, 12 PM ET: Expansion draft
Trade window opens back up Nov 13.
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) September 8, 2020
- Carlos Bocanegra was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. As the lone inductee, it begs the question, how do others such as Hope Solo, Jaime Moreno, and Steven Cherundolo continue to be overlooked?
- Portland Timbers’ Sebastian Blanco will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
That’s going to do it for me today, everyone. Have a great day and stay safe!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/25/26
Lions fall to FC Cincinnati, Pride and OCB win, USMNT World Cup roster leaked, and more.
Happy Memorial Day, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work over the holiday weekend, covering high school lacrosse playoff games. The Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend, and the World Cup is less than three weeks away. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get into the links.
Lions Suffer Heavy Defeat at FC Cincinnati
Orlando City fell 6-2 to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium Saturday in another embarrassing road display. Martin Ojeda scored the opener for the Lions in the first half before Cincinnati scored twice to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Ojeda equalized for Orlando early in the second half. However, it was all Cincinnati from that point as Evander scored his second goal of the match and added three assists as Orlando suffered a heavy defeat on the road for the fourth time this season. The loss snapped the Lions’ three-match unbeaten streak. Orlando City will be off until late July due to the MLS World Cup break. The Lions’ next match will be on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on July 22.
Payne’s Goal Lifts Pride over San Diego Wave
The Orlando Pride defeated the San Diego Wave 1-0 at Snapdragon Stadium Sunday and snapped their two-match losing streak. Nicole Payne scored the lone goal in the match for Orlando, which moved above the Seattle Reign on goal difference to eighth in the NWSL table with 14 points. The Pride will return home Friday to take on Bay FC at Inter&Co Stadium.
OCB Beats Inter Miami II
Orlando City B defeated Inter Miami II 4-1 at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday. The Young Lions got off to a flying start in the first half as Ignacio Gomez scored the opening goal. Bernardo Rhein added another, and OCB got an own goal by Miami defender Daniel Sumalla to take a 3-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, Zakaria Taifi scored for OCB and Miami pulled one back, but the Young Lions had the match wrapped up by then. OCB will take on Chattanooga FC Sunday at Osceola County Stadium.
USMNT World Cup Roster Leaked
According to Jeff Rueter and Pablo Maurer at The Guardian, the full 26-man U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was leaked over the weekend, just days before the official announcement. Former Lion Alex Freeman, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Tim Weah were notable mentions, while other players reportedly making the cut include Alejandro Zendejas, Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter, Brenden Aaronson, Mark Mackenzie, and goalkeeper Matt Turner. Diego Luna, Tanner Tessmann, and Aidan Morris were left out of the squad. The U.S. Soccer Federation will officially announce the USMNT roster Tuesday, while the final deadline to submit the roster to FIFA for the World Cup is June 1.
Free Kicks
- Wilfried Zaha will reportedly depart from Charlotte FC this summer when his loan deal expires.
- Josef Martinez will reportedly become a free agent after reaching an agreement to part ways with Liga MX side Tijuana.
- Club America Femenil defeated the Washington Spirit 5-3 over the weekend to win the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
- FC Barcelona dominated OL Lyonnes 4-0 Saturday to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the fourth time.
- Harry Kane scored a hat trick for Bayern Munich in a 3-0 win against VfB Stuttgart over the weekend to win the DFB-Pokal Cup.
- Oli McBurnie scored the late winner as Hull City defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 in the EFL playoff final Saturday and earned promotion to the Premier League.
- Tottenham Hotspur avoided relegation from the Premier League with a 1-0 win against Everton Sunday on the final day of the season. West Ham United became the final team to be relegated from the Premier League despite beating Leeds United 3-0 Sunday.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/22/26
Orlando City prepares for FC Cincinnati, Angelina receives an additional suspension, Orlando City B signs Albright Chikamso, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! There’s a smorgasbord of Orlando soccer waiting for us this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. Along with enjoying the games, I plan on spending the weekend tearing my way through the rest of Kristen Perrin’s murder mystery series after devouring “How to Solve Your Own Murder.” I highly recommend it if you’re a fan of whodunits. Now, let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Prepares for FC Cincinnati
The Lions are back in action on Saturday with a road match against FC Cincinnati in the last match for both clubs before the World Cup break. Orlando enters this match with plenty of momentum after beating Atlanta United 4-1 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, but the team has struggled playing away this year and Cincinnati is a tough opponent. Both offenses are flying high as of late, and the only team in the league that has conceded more goals this season than Cincinnati is Orlando, so a high-scoring affair might be in the cards for us before the break.
Angelina Suspended for an Additional Game
The NWSL Disciplinary Committee handed Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina an additional one-game suspension for a violation of “Major Game Misconduct.” Angelina received a red card following video review in Orlando’s 3-1 loss to the Denver Summit after she pulled Delanie Sheehan’s hair. The Pride will now be without her for both Sunday’s game against the San Diego Wave and the game on May 29 against Bay FC, meaning she won’t be available for selection until after the summer break.
Orlando City B Signs Albright Chikamso
Defender Albright Chikamso has signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B that will last through 2028. The academy product has made four appearances with OCB already and scored in his first start with the team on Oct. 10 of last year. It’s nice to see the club’s youth program continue to develop players so that they can move up the pipeline. Hopefully Chikamso can continue to impress with the Young Lions this season.
Chris Richards Injury Update Before World Cup
American defender Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle according to Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who confirmed that he won’t be available for the team’s season finale on Sunday. There’s notably still a chance that he plays in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday. However, the World Cup is only a few weeks away and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce the team’s roster on Monday. Richards has been a critical part of the U.S. defense under Pochettino and we wish him a speedy and smooth recovery.
Free Kicks
- MLS players will wear personalized jerseys this weekend in recognition of the upcoming World Cup, with an auction to follow.
- New York City FC midfielder Maxi Moralez may miss the remainder of the MLS season after suffering an ACL injury last weekend.
- The Concacaf W Champions Cup final is set, with the Washington Spirit playing against Club America Saturday for the trophy.
- From key players to watch to Jonatan Giraldez coaching against his old team, here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and OL Lyonnes in Oslo.
- Harry Maguire confirmed that he will not be part of England’s World Cup roster, stating that he is “shocked and gutted” by the decision.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/21/26
Orlando City will face the Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup semis, USMNT roster predictions, Casemiro linked with Inter Miami, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high from Orlando City’s big win over Atlanta United and am hoping to keep carrying that momentum through these next couple of days before a busy weekend. It will be the last time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action during the same weekend for a while due to the World Cup, so savor every minute of it. For now though, let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Will Face Columbus Crew in U.S. Open Cup
We now know Orlando City’s opponent for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, with the Columbus Crew advancing after a 1-0 win over New York City FC. After a scoreless first half, Max Arfsten scored the game’s only goal and the Crew held on for a big win at home just a few days after Henrik Rydstrom was fired as head coach. The Lions will be on the road for the semifinal against the Crew in September. Should Orlando win, it will host the final no matter which team from the other side of the bracket advances.
Predicting the USMNT World Cup Roster
We’re less than a week away from United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announcing the 26-player roster for this year’s World Cup. Most of the team seems fairly locked in, but midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Aidan Morris, and Diego Luna are all on the bubble, with Tanner Tessmann possibly still in the mix despite an injury. SBI Soccer projects Aidan Morris making the cut, while former USMNT player Alejandro Bedoya has Luna and Jack McGlynn on his projected roster. As for the defense, we’ll see if the center back group is too crowded for Miles Robinson or Noahkai Banks to be included. I don’t expect any big surprises from Pochettino on May 26, but forwards Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall are young players who could bring a spark off the bench in a tournament setting.
Casemiro Linked With Inter Miami
Inter Miami is reportedly close to signing Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced he is leaving Manchester United once his contract expires this summer. One of the interesting wrinkles in this reported move is that the LA Galaxy hold Casemiro’s discovery rights and that issue is not yet resolved. Miami also does not have an open Designated Player slot, so I expect some more “creative” roster structuring to take place in order to fit him in if this comes to pass. The 34-year-old has scored nine goals for United this season and was named to Brazil’s World Cup roster.
Aston Villa Wins UEFA Europa League
Aston Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to win silverware for the first time since 1996. Emiliano Buendia had a goal and an assist in the match, with Villa scoring twice late in the first half and the defense doing its part for a shutout victory. This was Unai Emery’s fifth time winning the Europa League as a manager, lifting the trophy three years in a row with Sevilla and once with Villarreal before doing it again now with Villa. It’s wild that all three clubs have “villa” as part of their names.
Free Kicks
- ESPN ranked the top 50 American men’s soccer players and former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman placed 15th on the list.
- After playing in the USL Super League for two seasons, Spokane Zephyr FC announced that it will not be continuing operations.
- MLS has spoken with the International Football Association Board to trial stopping the clock during matches for injuries, substitutions, and set pieces. I already get annoyed when the broadcast shrinks the game on the screen to try selling me cars and beer, so I don’t know if I could handle an actual commercial break.
- Sporting Kansas City’s Stephen Afrifa won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his curling winner to lift his team to a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
- Wyland, the artist whose mural was painted over for a World Cup display in Dallas, is taking legal action over the act.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
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