Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/5/21
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! You may not know this, but I received my second vaccine shot last week, and it did take me out for about a day and a half. It was like being sick without being sick, but I’m better now and excited for the upcoming Orlando City and Orlando Pride seasons. I do urge you to get vaccinated as soon as you can manage to get an appointment so we can all watch matches together in Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City Draft Pick On His Way
Orlando City selected two players from Georgetown University in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. You’re most likely familiar with striker Derek Dodson, but the Lions also selected defender Rio Hope-Gund in the first round. Hope-Gund is officially on his way to Orlando following his last match with the Hoyas in a 5-1 victory over Connecticut. Although he isn’t expected to start anytime soon, Hope-Gund will add depth to Orlando City’s center back position. The more time the 21-year-old has in Oscar Pareja’s system, the better prepared he’ll be if pressed into service.
U.S. Players In Action Abroad
Although he didn’t score this weekend, Daryl Dike came off the bench in the second half as Barnsley FC drew 1-1 with Reading FC. He will likely take the field again today when Barnsley faces off against Luton Town at 10 a.m.
As for other Americans abroad this weekend, Christian Pulisic found the back of the net for Chelsea for the first time in 2021 in a rather shocking 5-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion. However, the injury bug seemingly bit the young American once again as he tweaked his hamstring. Weston McKennie returned to Juventus’ lineup following a suspension for breaking national COVID-19 protocols.
Brenden Aaronson is already making a name for himself in Europe. His latest assist is one of the reasons the former Philadelphia Union player is getting attention from clubs like Liverpool FC, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Take a look.
Patson Daka DIVING HEADER GOAL on the terrific cross from Brenden Aaronson and @RedBullSalzburg are up 2-0 in under 5 minutes in the Austrian #Bundesliga Championship Round on FTF pic.twitter.com/s7mk0AUHrk
— FTF (@ForTheFansHQ) April 4, 2021
MLS Transfer News and Updates
Former Orlando City goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh signed with the Philadelphia Union. Ranjitsingh joins a crowded goalkeeping unit where he will compete for playing time with Matt Freese and fellow former Lion Joe Bendik when Andre Blake is gone on international duty.
Real Salt Lake signed American forward Bobby Wood through 2023. Wood has been playing in Germany since 2010 and will join the team in July when the contract begins. The Portland Timbers added defender Ismaila Jome and midfielder Jorge Gonzalez. Former Lion Aurélien Collin re-signed with the Philadelphia Union. Raul Ruidiaz received his green card and will join the Seattle Sounders preseason training camp.
Valencia Walks Off Pitch After Alleged Racial Abuse
I get so incredibly incensed every time racism is involved in the sport that I love. Sometimes it’s the supporters behaving badly, and other times it’s a player saying something repugnant to an opposing player. That was allegedly the case in Valencia CF’s match against Cadiz CF in La Liga. Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby reported that racial abuse was directed at him by Cadiz’s Juan Cala. Following the incident, Valencia captain Jose Luis Gaya led his team off the pitch in support of Diakhaby. Valencia was informed they had to finish the match or would lose the three points. After 20 minutes, Valencia returned to finish the match and Cadiz subbed Cala off at halftime. There’s no room for this discrimination in soccer or society.
Free Kicks
- In case you missed it, both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride played preseason matches over the weekend. The Lions managed a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire, but the Pride were not able to beat Florida State University, falling 2-1.
- NONA FC is the latest club to join USL League Two. Based in Lake Nona, the club will play in 2022 and bring even more soccer to the Central Florida area.
- Stars and Stripes FC detailed where the blame falls for the U-23 United States National Team’s failure to qualify for the Olympics.
- Former Orlando City B goalkeeper Mark Ridgers made his 150th start for Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC in the Scottish Championship league.
🔴 🔵 Congratulations to ICTFC Goalkeeper @MarkRidgers who makes his 150th appearance for the club this evening! pic.twitter.com/BDjDtdSY4c
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) April 2, 2021
- Later this month, the League Cup final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City will be attended by 8,000 spectators. The final is part of a pilot program geared towards the re-opening of events to the public.
- If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional soccer player relocated to a new club, here is a nice breakdown of the process.
- Sacramento FC is trying to pull the pieces back together for MLS expansion, but other locations will aim to take their spot.
That’s going to be it for today, folks. I hope you all have a great Monday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/6/24
Orlando City and Orlando Pride set for upcoming playoff games, Rafaelle out for the season, UEFA Champions League results, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s win or go home time for both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride this weekend. As if this week wasn’t stressful enough, we have that to occupy our collective minds. I know that I often prefer to concentrate on soccer, so let’s let to the links.
Do or Die Time for the Lions
Thanks to a lackluster performance by Orlando City in the second match against Charlotte FC away from home, the Lions need a victory to advance in the playoffs. Fortunately, the next match will be back at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions will need Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda to return to form if they are to win. Orlando City isn’t the only home squad looking to win this weekend.
The NWSL Playoffs Are Here
With the NWSL playoffs imminent, it is any club’s championship to win. Of course, we want the Orlando Pride to win a second trophy. Each club has a chance to win, though some are better positioned to do so than others. The argument against the Pride stems from the two road matches they recently lost, and the goals given up after winning the NWSL Shield. If the Pride can return to the defensive form from earlier in the season, their odds will be better.
Rafaelle’s Season is Over
Any hope we had of Rafaelle bolstering the Orlando Pride back line came to an end Tuesday, as did her season. The Brazilian has been placed on the Season Ending Injury list with a partial tear of her quadriceps tendon in her right leg. The club is working with Orlando Health on a recovery program for Rafaelle, in hopes she’ll be available for the 2025 season. We wish her a complete and speedy recovery.
Champions League Doesn’t Disappoint
It was quite a day in the UEFA Champions League Tuesday. Liverpool dispatched Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 on the back of a Luis Diaz hat trick, with all four goals coming after the 60th minute. Another high-scoring match saw Sporting CP down Manchester City 4-1 thanks to a hat trick from Victor Gyokeres.
Christian Pulisic helped AC Milan defeat Real Madrid 3-1 with the American providing an assist off a corner. It really was quite a beauty with a finish by Malick Thiaw.
The USMNT’s Malik Tillman scored a goal and added two assists in PSV’s 4-0 victory over Girona. Of course, Girona played a man down after Arnau Martinez received a second yellow card 10 minutes into the second half.
Free Kicks
- Atlanta United’s Brooks Lennon is expected to be out four to six months due to shoulder surgery. Lennon suffered a dislocated shoulder in Game 1 of the series with Inter Miami.
- Austin FC announced its roster decisions after missing out on the playoffs.
- In absolutely horrendous news, Jose de la Cruz, a defender for Familia Chocca was killed by a bolt of lightning as the players were exiting the pitch because of lightning in the area. Our thoughts are with his family, teammates, and friends.
- Evidently, a pig’s head was thrown onto the pitch during a match between Corinthians and Palmeiras in the Brazilian championship. Seriously, people. This is the type of thing that gives soccer supporters a bad name.
- Not going to lie. The quality of this tifo is exceptional.
- This Atalanta supporter will have a story to tell that few, if any, could ever dream of when talking about his club.
- If you were wondering what a day in the life of Felipe looks like, wonder no more.
- If you’re looking for something to do tonight perhaps you’d like to meet Simone Charley and Grace Chanda? The info is in the post below from Tuesday.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for both matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/5/24
Orlando City announces preseason match, how the Orlando Pride turned things around, Americans in midweek action, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. We have a massive week ahead of us, as the Orlando Pride take on the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL playoffs on Friday. That will be followed up by a pivotal Game 3 for Orlando City against Charlotte FC on Saturday. Both matches will be at home, so suffice it to say we have a lot going on around these parts. As usual, we have lots to talk through today, so let’s get into the links.
Orlando City Announces Friendly
Orlando City has announced that the club will play a preseason match against Inter Miami in Tampa on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The game will take place at Raymond James Stadium at 7:30 p.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public on Nov. 14. There will also be a pregame fan festival set up outside the stadium, which is free if you have a ticket. The decision to play Miami in a preseason game isn’t a surprising one, as it involves minimal travel for both clubs, and a chance to capitalize on the box office draw of Lionel Messi. It is a little surprising that the decision was made to host the game at Raymond James Stadium rather than Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, but it’s possible that the latter wasn’t available, or that there was a desire to capitalize on the additional gate money from the extra 15,000 seats at Raymond James.
How the Pride Escaped the Cellar
In a season that featured several teams who played outstanding campaigns, the Orlando Pride still managed to finish first in the National Women’s Soccer League. It’s a feat made even more impressive when considering how the club has historically struggled, but the change didn’t happen overnight. The rebuild really got underway in 2021, which was when a series of high profile exits and trades began to take place, which would eventually allow the Pride to do a lot of maneuvering in the transfer market. It was a long process though, and it took the arrival of Haley Carter in the front office and Seb Hines as the head coach for things to really start coming together. It’s been an all-around effort, but one that paid off with a first-place finish this season.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans playing this week, so make sure you’ve got everything marked down on your calendar. UEFA Champions League action returns tomorrow, as Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and Richie Ledezma will take on Girona with PSV Eindhoven. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan face Real Madrid, and Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Juventus hit the road to take on Weah’s former club, Lille. European action then continues on Thursday as Tanner Tessmann and Lyon face Hoffenheim on the road in the Europa League, and Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Celje in the Conference League.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
As always seems to be the case, there are a number of transfer rumors floating around. First up, Spanish outlet Marca says that if Vinicius Jr. becomes available then Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain would be interested in signing him. This comes amid reports that the Brazilian is considering a move to Saudi Arabia. Speaking of Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez could seek an exit from the Blues reportedly due to not being favored by boss Enzo Maresca, with Barcelona and Inter Milan as possible destinations. Finally, Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush is reportedly attracting interest from some of Europe’s big clubs, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both interested in signing him.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride slipped a spot to third in ESPN’s NWSL power rankings.
- Josh Sargent will be sidelined for at least two months after having surgery for a groin injury.
- Fellow United State’s Men’s National Team player Antonee Robinson assisted on Fulham’s late winner on Monday afternoon.
- Neymar went off injured in his second appearance for Al Hilal since suffering an ACL tear last October.
- Edu has resigned from his position as Arsenal’s sporting director.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/4/24
Orlando City falls to Charlotte FC in penalty shootout, Orlando Pride defeat the Seattle Reign, Megan Montefusco retires and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I covered high school cross country state semifinals over the weekend, and I’m getting ready to cover a high school soccer playoff match later this week. We have plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Lose Penalty Shootout to Charlotte FC
Orlando City fell 3-1 on penalties to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night after playing to a scoreless draw in Game 2 of the MLS Cup playoffs. Orlando’s offense struggled to create anything throughout the match in the attack. The best chance came late in the second half when Facundo Torres thought he had scored the game-winner for Orlando, but the assistant referee deemed him to be offside. In the penalty shootout, Luis Muriel was the only Lion to find the back of the net. Nico Lodeiro and Duncan McGuire had their penalty kicks saved by Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, while Robin Jansson’s kick sailed over the net. The Lions will host Charlotte FC in Game 3 at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday with a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the line.
Orlando Pride Defeat the Seattle Reign in Regular Season Finale
The Orlando Pride snapped their two-match losing streak and defeated the Seattle Reign 3-2 to close out the 2024 NWSL regular season. Ally Watt, Kerry Abello, and Marta all scored for the Pride. Even though the Reign fought back to keep it close, Orlando held on for the win. The Pride finished the regular season first in the NWSL standings with 60 points. The Pride will take on the Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NWSL playoffs on Friday in their first home playoff match ever. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.
Megan Montefusco Announces Retirement
Orlando Pride defender Megan Montefusco will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. She’s played in the NWSL since 2015 and joined the Pride prior to the 2022 season. In her time in Orlando, Montefusco made 45 appearances for Orlando and scored in a 2023 Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC. She did not play in any matches in the 2024 season after undergoing foot surgery during the off-season and was placed on the season-ending injury list. Montefusco finishes her career with 179 appearances, scoring three goals and adding four assists across all competitions.
MLS Playoff Roundup
The first round of the MLS Cup playoffs continued over the weekend, with a few teams booking their spot in the next round. The Columbus Crew’s title defense ended after they lost 5-4 on penalties to the New York Red Bulls after a 2-2 draw. The LA Galaxy dominated the Colorado Rapids 4-1 on the road to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. Minnesota United also moved on, defeating Real Salt Lake in a shootout after a 1-1 draw and the Loons will face the Galaxy. The Seattle Sounders edged past the Houston Dynamo 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to advance to the Western Conference semifinals as well.
New York City FC bounced back with a 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati, while Atlanta United did the same with a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami as both teams stayed alive to force a third game in their series. LAFC fell 3-0 on the road to the Vancouver Whitecaps in a match that included two own goals.
Free Kicks
- The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeated England 3-0 to claim third place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
- The MLS NEXT Pro Cup is set, as North Texas SC will host Philadelphia Union II on Saturday. Both clubs shut out their opponents over the weekend to advance.
- Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah posted a message on social media hinting at his future at the club after he scored the winning goal against Brighton on Saturday.
- Wrexham was eliminated from the FA Cup after a 1-0 defeat against Harrogate Town in the first round.
- In its first league match since firing former manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United drew 1-1 against Chelsea on Sunday.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
-
Podcasts2 weeks ago
PawedCast Episode 452: Atlanta Rewind, OCB at Chicago, Charlotte Playoff Preview, and More
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Orlando Pride6 days ago
Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign: Three Keys to Victory
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Five Takeaways
-
Podcasts2 weeks ago
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 66: Gotham Rewind, Orlando Pride News, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Three Keys to Victory
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 2-0 as Lions Open 2024 Playoff Run with Home Victory
-
Lion Links2 weeks ago
Lion Links: 10/24/24