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Lion Links: 11/6/20

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4 years ago

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding high after Orlando City’s huge win to secure a playoff game in Exploria Stadium. There’s plenty of soccer to look forward to this weekend as Major League Soccer closes out its regular season. But for now, let’s hop into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Lions Make MLS Team of the Week

Mauricio Pereyra’s performance in Orlando’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew landed him a starting spot in the MLS Team of the Week. The Uruguayan midfielder assisted on both of Orlando’s goals and is healthy at just the right time as the Lions eye a deep postseason run. Chris Mueller also found himself on the Team of the Week bench. He scored his 10th goal of the season to give Orlando a lead and influenced Orlando’s early dominance in the first half.

Benji Michel was the other Lion to find the back of the net. Although he didn’t earn a spot on the Team of the Week, he was nominated for Goal of the Week after his effort to beat defenders and put Orlando ahead while a man down.

Orlando City Will Appeal Nani’s Red Card

Not only did the referee’s decision to give Nani a red card drastically change the match, but it means he won’t be able to play in Orlando’s match against Nashville SC this Sunday. OCSC will appeal the decision and it will be reviewed by a panel to determine if the send-off punishment will be rescinded so Nani can play on Decision Day. The Lions will also be without Pereyra, who picked up a yellow card in the match and will miss the game due to accumulation.

As far as what’s at stake this Sunday, Orlando can’t finish any higher than its current third-place ranking and secures that standing if the club wins or draws. If the playoffs started now, Orlando would play the sixth-place New England Revolution in Exploria Stadium. But there are still scenarios where Orlando finishes fourth and could face the Crew again or New York City FC.

The Orlando Pride’s Protected Players

With the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League Expansion Draft right around the corner, the Pride announced the 11 players who will be protected from selection. Marta, Claire Emslie, and Sydney Leroux were predicted selections, but the Pride could only protect two of their USWNT-allocated players. Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner went with Alex Morgan and Emily Sonnett, leaving the married Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger unprotected. It’s a strategic move by Skinner as Racing Louisville FC can’t select both of them and is unlikely to split them apart.

“I look at Ash and Ali and, for me, they’re the most important people for the Orlando Pride,” Skinner said. “I love them to bits and they’re my captains for a reason. But if you look at where they’re at in their lives and where they’re at in their careers and what they still want to achieve and so on, then, you know, I’d hope that Louisville would look at that and go, ‘It’s not really a viable option for us to take those players.’”

It sounds as though Skinner will work with Louisville to ensure that Krieger and Harris will stay in the City Beautiful.

Skinner said he spoke with Louisville coach Christy Holly ahead of the submission deadline for protected lists in the hopes of understanding his process and potential needs in the draft. He also said he’ll create an “attractive offer” to further prevent Louisville from taking either Harris or Krieger away from Orlando.

The other unprotected players Louisville could snag from the Pride are Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, Shelina Zadorsky, Camila, Carson Pickett, Toni Pressley, Kristen Edmonds, Konya Plummer, Erin McLeod, Chelsee Washington, and Brittany Wilson. The expansion draft will take place on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

Josh Sargent Will Miss Out on USMNT Fun

Bundesliga club Werder Bremen declined releasing Sargent for a pair of United States Men’s National Team friendlies this month, citing quarantine restrictions in Germany. As a result, USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter called up LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget to replace the forward. Lletget will be the only MLS player on the 24-man roster, able to join now that the Galaxy are eliminated from playoff contention. He now becomes part of a USMNT packed with young talent. Sargent’s absence opens the door for inexperienced forwards and it will be interesting to see how it all comes together under Berhalter this month.

Free Kicks

  • Here’s an interesting stat for you to check out. I’m not sure what it is about the 84th minute that makes players want to score. Last weekend, four Eastern Conference teams all scored in the 84th minute and also won.

  • This should make you feel a bit better about Daryl Dike after he missed Wednesday’s game due to illness.

  • In the Extra Time podcast, there was some discussion about this year’s Best XI and both Mueller and Pereyra got a few mentions. But so did center back Antonio Carlos, who has quietly excelled in his first year as a Lion.
  • MLSsoccer.com’s Steve Zakuani had high praise for Pareja after Orlando’s win. There has certainly been a transformation in Orlando with Pareja at the helm and he is a frontrunner for MLS Coach of the Year.
  • UEFA reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request an adjustment in how handballs are handled. I’m not proud of that pun. But I am interested to see if anything comes of this, particularly after some questionable referee decisions regarding handballs in Orlando’s win.

That’s going to do it for me today. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and stay safe out there. Go Lions!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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15 minutes ago

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January 22, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

Free Kicks

https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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1 day ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

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Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

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

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