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Lion Links: 7/12/21

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4 years ago

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Happy Monday, everybody! I’m bringing you your links this morning and it’s been a great weekend with plenty of action in the world of soccer. The Orlando Pride played Racing Louisville FC to a 1-1 draw while Orlando City had the weekend off. There was even more soccer happening around the world, including the conclusions of two major tournaments and the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Let’s dive right in.

Sydney Leroux is Thriving With the Pride

After scoring in stoppage time to salvage a draw for the Pride against Louisville, Leroux now leads the Pride with five goals this season. With Alex Morgan and Marta both away from the team for the Tokyo Olympics, Leroux will need to continue leading the Pride’s offense. Her contributions in attack go beyond putting the ball in the net though as she makes the effort to force turnovers to then torch opponents in transition. But as more teams catch on to the Pride’s game plan, the Pride’s other players will need to step up and support Leroux so that she isn’t playing on an island up top. Forwards Taylor Kornieck and recent addition Jodie Taylor should help carry some of the load from Leroux as well over the next few weeks.

USMNT Starts Gold Cup With Win Over Haiti

Following its victory in the Concacaf Nations League, the United States Men’s National Team opened its Gold Cup campaign with a somewhat lackluster 1-0 victory against Haiti. The scoring opened early in the eighth minute when Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes flicked a deflected cross on for Colorado Rapids left back Sam Vines to coolly head it in for his first international goal. Paul Arriola was subbed off in the 14th minute due to an injury to his right hamstring in yet another setback for the D.C. United midfielder. The USMNT did create some opportunities, mostly through Shaq Moore on the righthand side, but couldn’t find a second goal. Despite the USMNT dominating possession and putting five of its 13 shots on target, Haiti created some chances as well and had 10 shots with three on target.

Orlando’s Daryl Dike made his competitive debut for the USMNT in the second half, coming on as a sub for Jonathan Lewis in the 62nd minute. The forward didn’t do too much with only seven touches, but he did get a shot on target. Sporting Kansas City’s Gianluca Busio made a real impression as a substitute, looking the part of a complete defensive midfielder. It wasn’t the best performance by the USMNT, but it got the job done and the U.S. will host Martinique on Thursday.

Italy Wins Euro 2020 After Penalty Shootout

After a month of games, a Euro 2020 winner was crowned. In a monumental final at Wembley Stadium in London, a resurgent Italy side outlasted England to win 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 deadlock. The match started in glorious fashion for England, with Manchester United fullback Luke Shaw scoring off of a Kieran Trippier cross in just the second minute of action. That was the highlight of the match for England, as the Three Lions played second fiddle to Italy for most of the game. Italy had 66% possession and out-shot England 19-6, putting six of those shots on target while England had two on target. Italy found its equalizer off of a corner kickin the 67th minute when center back Leonardo Bonucci buried the ball into the net after a header hit the post.

In the shootout, England took the early advantage, with Harry Kane and Harry Maguire scoring while Jordan Pickford made a big save on Andrea Belotti. But Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who were both subbed on specifically for the shootout, missed their penalty kicks and put England on the brink with penalty specialist Jorginho up next for Italy. Pickford made an excellent save on the Chelsea midfielder, breathing new life into England only for Bukayo Saka’s following penalty to be saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Italy the win. It was the sixth major trophy won by Italy and just the second Euro final decided by penalties.

Lionel Messi and Argentina Win Copa America

In the long and storied history of Lionel Messi, the greatest soccer player in history in my opinion, the one thing that has eluded him is a senior international trophy. But he and Argentina broke through and won the 2021 Copa America final after a 1-0 victory over Brazil. The lone goal in the match came in the 22nd minute when Rodrigo de Paul played a brilliant long ball in to Angel Di Maria, who then chipped Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson. The rest of the game saw Brazil hunt for an equalizer that never came in a physical match that featured a whopping 41 fouls. It was Argentina’s first major trophy since 1993 and the players celebrated the win with Messi in the best way possible.

Free Kicks

  • In case you missed it, Orlando SuperDraft pick Derek Dodson was loaned to Hartford Athletic. He made his professional debut with the USL Championship club and scored his first goal in a 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls II. He was also named Man of the Match.

  • Orlando Pride Executive Vice President Amanda Duffy discussed the growth of soccer in Louisville. Duffy played a major role in establishing professional soccer in Louisville and was club president for Louisville City FC in the past before making the jump to the NWSL.
  • New Zealand Head Coach Tom Sermanni criticized the Orlando Pride and North Carolina Courage for refusing to release New Zealand players before today’s deadline while allowing other players to join their respective national teams. Pride defender Ali Riley will now join the New Zealand squad for the Olympics, with the Ferns’ first game of the tournament set for July 21 against Australia.
  • With Chris Armas gone, Toronto FC and forward Jozy Altidore are reconciling and he may be available for selection in Toronto’s game against Orlando this Saturday.
  • Former Lions Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, and Kamal Miller all started for Canada in its 4-1 win over Martinique in the Gold Cup.
  • Before the Euro final, England fans displayed some shocking behavior outside of Wembley Stadium by trying to force their way inside.

That’s all for me this morning. Have a wonderful day and a fantastic week.

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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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1 hour 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

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

By

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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