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Lion Links: 6/21/21

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4 years ago

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! I love this time of the year. There is so much soccer between MLS, the NWSL, Euro 2020, and Copa America. You can practically turn on the television anytime of the day, and watch some soccer. Plus, we have an Orlando City match tomorrow night. What a time to be alive. Let’s get to the links.

The Orlando Pride Remain Undefeated

The Orlando Pride hosted NJ/NY Gotham FC in the friendly confines of Exploria Stadium and played to a 1-1 draw. Honestly, the Pride had plenty of missed chances throughout the match, including in the first half. That lack of finishing hurt the Pride when Caprice Dydasco scored for Gotham in the 45th minute to give the visitors the lead at the half. The Pride kept pressing, though it took almost the remainder of the match for the Pride to finally get an equalizer in the 90th minute off Courtney Petersen’s beautiful shot from the left side of the box. Despite Marta’s efforts to find the winning goal, Orlando had to be content with keeping its undefeated streak going with the draw at home.

Brandon Austin Discusses His First Start

The Lions’ win this weekend was the first time Orlando supporters saw goalkeeper Brandon Austin in action, but those in the Tottenham Hotspur organization are already familiar with his abilities. Despite the Lions conceding two goals against Toronto FC, it was a good performance from the backup keeper. On loan from Tottenham, Austin weighed in on his experience since joining the Lions.

“The team and everyone around the club have made me feel welcome since I’ve arrived here, so to now get this opportunity that I’ve worked hard for is really pleasing, especially again because we won the game and it was a really important three points.”

Austin will continue to get chances in goal while Pedro Gallese is with the Peruvian National Team at the Copa America.

El Pulpo Wins in the Copa America

Speaking of Gallese, he helped Peru win 2-1 over Colombia. Sergio Peña put Peru up in the 17th minute and Colombia scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute after Gallese fouled Miguel Borja in the box, earning a yellow card. On the subsequent penalty kick, Gallese chose the wrong direction and Colombia evened the score at 1-1. The craziness continued in the 64th minute when David Ospina couldn’t quite get to a ball in time to keep it off the line. The goal was determined to be an own goal from Colombian defender Yerry Mina and gave Peru the lead once more. Gallese redeemed himself later in the match with this save in the 69th minute to ensure Peru won and stayed alive in the tournament.

In the earlier match, Ecuador and Venezuela played to a 2-2 draw. Ecuador took the lead twice only for Venezuela to pull even each time. Ayrton Preciado scored the first of Ecuador’s goals in the 39th minute. In the second half, Edson Castillo put Venezuela on the board with his goal in the 51st minute, but Gonzalo Plata put Ecuador back on top 20 minutes later. It looked as though Ecuador would get the win, but Ronald Hernández slipped in behind the Venezuelan defense and deftly put a header into the back of the net in stoppage time. Orlando’s Sebas Mendez started in the midfield for Ecuador and played 67 minutes. Ecuador and Peru will square off in a crucial match Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Pride Players Stand Up For LGBTQ Youth

Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has led the team to support young transgender athletes. During the national anthem before Sunday’s match, players wore shirts stating “Protect Trans Children” over their jerseys in response to legislation earlier this month preventing transgender girls from participating in girls youth sports. Petersen spoke about the importance of the players using their platform to make a difference.

“Using our platform to create this voice is something that we focus on and that we have been focusing on,” Petersen said. “I think it’s really important that we continue to do that throughout the season because we have such a tremendous platform to bring awareness to these topics. It means so much to us.”

Euro 2020 Continues

Despite losing 1-0 to Italy, Wales advanced alongside its opponent thanks to a better goal differential than Switzerland. Italy won all three of its matches to top the group while Wales finished in second, Switzerland in third, and Turkey bringing up the rear. Switzerland had a dominant 3-1 win over Turkey, but its fate will depend on how the other third-place finishers in the tournament perform.

The competition continues today at noon with Ukraine taking on Austria in a fight for second place while the Netherlands play North Macedonia. At 3 p.m., Denmark will need a win against Russia if it wants a chance to advance while Finland will play Belgium.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando defender Rodrigo Schlegel’s father passed away last week and the defender has been with his family. The rest of Orlando City’s players and coaches dedicated the win over Toronto FC to Schlegel.
  • On the road against Atlanta United, the Philadelphia Union completed a huge comeback with two goals in the final 10 minutes for a 2-2 draw. The Union’s equalizer was a stunner from defender Jakob Glesnes at long range.
  • French striker Antoine Griezmann has his eyes set on joining MLS once his contract with FC Barcelona is up in 2024.
  • Only vaccinated fans will be able to attend the 2022 World Cup according to Qatar’s prime minister.
  • Ligue 1 may be in serious financial trouble due to issues involving its broadcast rights. The league worked out a deal for Amazon to become its primary broadcasting partner. However, that deal upset Canal Plus, which still has the rights to two matches per week. To be fair, Amazon received a better deal than Canal Plus, so it’s no surprise it is a little miffed. Canal Plus is threatening not to broadcast the matches, nor pay for them, which would be a huge financial liability for Ligue 1.

That will do it for me. Stay tuned for our coverage of the Lions’ match Tuesday night against the San Jose Earthquakes. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/24/24

MLS transfer roundup, Americans in midweek action, NWSL news galore, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

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December 24, 2024

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Tuesday and merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I hope you’re all having a good start to your week and have some fun stuff planned for the upcoming holidays.

Before we get started with today’s links, we here at The Mane Land want to give a special shout out to Joe (a.k.a. fldatadude) for signing up for a Homegrown Player-level membership on our Buy Me a Coffee page. By signing up at one of our three levels of support, our readers and podcast listeners can enjoy added benefits in addition to keeping our bills paid so we can continue doing what we do.

Now we do have plenty of items to get to today, so let’s get into today’s news.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

Several MLS teams have been busy at work in the transfer market, so let’s break down the recent moves. LAFC signed free agent forward Jeremy Ebobisse to a three-year deal with an additional option year, adding more firepower to an already strong squad. The Portland Timbers also got some business done via free agency, as they signed winger Ariel Lassiter. FC Dallas acquired forward Anderson Julio from Real Salt Lake, with defender Sam Junqua and up to $500,000 in General Allocation Money going to RSL in exchange. Finally, Lorenzo Insigne has teased on his Instagram that he will play another season for Toronto FC in 2025.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans playing this week, so get everything marked down and enjoy some festive footy. Thursday’s Boxing Day slate features Americans heavily, with Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace traveling to take on Tyler Adams and Bournemouth in Premier League play. Antonee Robinson and Fulham will play Chelsea that same day, while Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United face an unenviable trip to Stoke City to round things off on Thursday.

Keeping Up With NWSL Happenings

Let’s start our NWSL roundup with the San Diego Wave, which have reportedly hired Jonas Eidevall as their new head coach. The Swede most recently spent time coaching Arsenal and has reportedly been the Wave’s top choice for several weeks. We now move to the realm of fact, where Angel City FC has signed midfielder Macey Hodge to a two-year deal with an option for the 2027 season. Finally, expansion team BOS Nation FC agreed a lease with Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston that will allow the team to use White Stadium as its home ground starting in 2026.

European Transfer Rumor Mill

Europe’s club teams can’t do business quite yet, but rumors are flying thick and fast with January just around the corner. First up, Manchester United is said to be exploring a deal to sign Victor Osimhen in January, particularly with Marcus Rashford indicating that he wants out of the club. Staying in the Premier League, Christopher Nkunku’s agent has reportedly offered the forward’s services to Barcelona, as he hasn’t been starting for the Blues and wants a larger role. Finally, Bayern Munich is said to be closely monitoring Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, which would add him to a long list of Dortmund players snapped up by the Bundesliga giants.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas Eve!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/23/24

Orlando City sells Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Lions draft four players, a Premier League roundup, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

December 23, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. My weekend has been busy working at Under Armour, with Christmas just two days away. I also covered high school hockey and went to a Chicago Bulls game. Besides that, I finally got all my Christmas shopping done. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Announces Facundo Torres Transfer to Palmeiras

Orlando City announced Friday that the Lions have sold winger Facundo Torres to Palmeiras for a club-record fee. Torres leaves Orlando as the Lions’ all-time goal-scoring leader. He had 123 appearances across all competitions, scored 47 goals, and added 25 assists in three seasons in Orlando. Torres made a big impact as a Lion, helping the club reach the playoffs the last three years and leading Orlando City to the 2022 U.S. Open Cup title.

The Lions will have an open Designated Player spot to fill during the off-season. Their home opener against the Philadelphia Union is less than two months away.

Lions Select Four Players in 2025 MLS SuperDraft

The Lions made four selections during the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. With the 27th overall pick, they chose midfielder Joran Gerbet out of Clemson. Gerbet had a solid collegiate career, recording 12 goals and 15 assists, and he led Clemson to the 2023 national championship title as well. In the second round, the Lions added another Clemson Tiger by selecting center back Titus Sandy, Jr. with the 46th overall pick. Sandy played in 48 matches, logging 2,520 minutes and was also part of the 2023 national championship team. Later in the same round, the Lions picked forward Collins Oduro out of Indiana. Oduro made 44 appearances for the Hoosiers, scoring eight goals to go with seven assists. The Lions concluded their 2025 MLS SuperDraft by selecting Marshall defender Takahiro Fujita in the third round with the 87th overall pick. MLSSoccer.com unveiled its draft grades for each club, and Orlando City received an A- as its grade.

NJ/NY Gotham FC Trades Lynn Williams to the Seattle Reign

A big trade went down in the National Women’s Soccer League as NJ/NY Gotham FC sent forward Lynn Williams and goalkeeper Cassie Miller to the Seattle Reign. In exchange, Gotham acquired midfielder Jaelin Howell, an international roster slot, and $70,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Williams spent two seasons with Gotham FC, recording 17 goals and seven assists. She has been capped 75 times for the U.S. Women’s National Team and was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Miller began the 2024 NWSL season as the number one goalkeeper for Gotham but was moved to a backup role once the club acquired Ann-Katrin Berger. Howell made eight appearances for the Reign this season after being acquired from Racing Louisville FC in August.

Premier League Weekend Roundup

As usual, there was plenty of action in the Premier League over the weekend. Manchester City fell 2-1 to Aston Villa Saturday and has lost nine out of its last 12 matches across all competitions. Arsenal cruised past Crystal Palace 5-1, Newcastle United defeated Ipswich Town 4-0 with Alexander Isak getting a hat trick, and Nottingham Forest won 2-0 against Brentford. West Ham United and Brighton fought to a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 with Mohamed Salah scoring twice. Vitor Pereira won his first match as Wolverhampton’s manager, as his side beat Leicester City 3-0. The Everton and Chelsea and Fulham and Southampton matches ended in scoreless draws.

Free Kicks

  • In an interview with Fast Company, former Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan gave insight into her next chapter since retiring from pro soccer. Morgan discussed how she’s navigating through her post-playing career, investing in other sports, and continuing to support current and future generations of female athletes.
  • Atlanta United named Ronny Deila as its next head coach. Deila previously coached Standard Liege, New York City FC, Celtic, and Club Brugge.
  • FIFA and Netflix signed an agreement for exclusive broadcast rights in the United States for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
  • Weston McKennie scored a goal in the first half to help Juventus snap its run of four consecutive draws in league play with a 2-1 win against Monza on Sunday.
  • Jesus Navas played his final match for Sevilla as his side lost 4-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday. Navas will retire from professional soccer after his contract ends this month after a stellar 21-year career.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/20/24

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.

Published

5 days ago

on

December 20, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced

MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.

Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft

The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.

Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.

The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.

GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club

MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.

Free Kicks

  • The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
  • Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!

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