Lion Links: 3/8/21

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! What I’m really wondering is how many of you have pulled the trigger on getting the new ‘Thick N Thin’ jersey? I’m pretty close to ordering mine. Do you like the henley? What about the white accents on the sleeves? I really am curious what you think. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Daryl Dike is on Fire in England

Since Orlando City forward Daryl Dike went on loan to Barnsley FC, the club hasn’t dropped any points in an English Football League Championship match. Seven wins in a row has Barnsley pushing for promotion rather than trying to avoid relegation. While it took a few games for Dike to get going, he has earned plenty of praise for scoring three goals in the past four matches for the Reds, including this game-winning strike in the most recent victory against Birmingham this weekend.

Dike deservedly won Man of the Match honors for that performance. If he returns to Orlando as planned, the Lions will have a more confident Daryl Dike ready to play.

Jordyn Listro Focused on Continuing Her Success

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Orlando Pride midfielder Jordyn Listro. In less than a year, Listro went from an invitee to a contracted player with the Pride and started for Canada in the SheBelieves Cup. Listro saw limited action for the Pride last season, although that could also be said about the entire team due to the pandemic. She did impress during the Fall Series though, and is now looking to excel in her first full season with the Pride. Given her skill, tenacity, and attitude, Listro is the type of player that fits well in Marc Skinner’s plans for the squad.

CONMEBOL Suspends World Cup Qualifiers

CONMEBOL’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers were scheduled to take place later this month, but the South American federation suspended the matches given how difficult it would be to have players readily available together due to the pandemic. Some MLS players who would have been away for these qualifiers will now be available for the club’s preseason matches. For Orlando, this news may affect the availability of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Sebas Mendez as both could miss more time during the season depending on when the postponed matches are rescheduled to take place.

Americans Abroad This Weekend

Dike wasn’t the only American who did well in Europe this weekend. Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent scored in his second-straight match to help his club earn a 1-1 draw with FC Koln. Brenden Aaronson had a goal and an assist in Red Bull Salzburg’s 4-1 win over SKN St. Poelten, while Luca de la Torre scored his first goal with the Eredivisie’s Heracles Almelo.

American defenders also had a strong showing as center back Erik Palmer-Brown returned from injury in Austria Vienna’s scoreless draw with Rapid Vienna. Chris Richards, Sergino Dest, and Cameron Carter-Vickers also did well for their respective sides.

Free Kicks

• Check out the Lions heading to IMG Academy in Bradenton for their preseason camp.

• In just his third year as Rangers FC’s boss, former Liverpool great Steven Gerrard led the club back to the promised land. Rangers defeated St. Mirren 3-0 on Saturday, setting up the club’s first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years.
• FC Barcelona elected Joan Laporta as its new president. However, this is not the first time Laporta has held the position as he also served from 2003 to 2010.
• In the most unsurprising statement ever, Bayern Munich Head Coach Hansi Flick did not deny that the club would be interested in acquiring rival Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.

That will do it for today, folks. Have a wonderful Monday and rest of your week.