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Lion Links: 7/23/21

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Welcome to Friday, Mane Landers! Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for as Ted Lasso is back in our living rooms for another season. On top of that, the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics is today and will be followed by plenty of events. Make sure to get as much rest as you can to reduce the strain on your eyes because the rest of July is going to spent watching plenty of sports. Now, let’s get this fantastic Friday started with some links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Beats the Philadelphia Union

The Lions returned to their winning ways after a huge 2-1 win against the Union at Exploria Stadium. Benji Michel got the scoring started early in the 10th minute with an assist from Mauricio Pereyra. In the 59th minute, Nani found Andres Perea’s head to double Orlando’s lead. But the game dramatically shifted after Union forward Kacper Przyblko scored in the 68th minute, with Orlando spending the rest of the match trying to hold on. Late defensive heroics, including a heart-stopping, goal-line save from Kyle Smith’s face, secured all three points and a return to second in the Eastern Conference.

Check back later today for your player grades and Man of the Match from Topher Adams and my five takeaways from the match.

Marc Skinner Edges Closer to Joining Manchester United

Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner and Manchester United have reportedly agreed to terms for him to take over as manager. Skinner is under contract with the Pride through 2021 so the two clubs will need to reach an agreement of their own before anything becomes official. The Women’s Super League begins on Sept. 3, so the clock is already ticking for United to get Skinner there as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Pride may need to rely on an interim manager unless they can find someone quickly. After a hot start to the season, the Pride haven’t won in their past four games as they hunt for a spot in the NWSL postseason.

Chris Mueller Will Join Hibernian FC

Scottish Premiership’s Hibernian announced that Orlando winger Chris Mueller will join the club starting in January. It’s a surprising move for Mueller, who will surely get playing time with Hibernian but it’s not exactly the high-profile move we were expecting. The Scottish Premiership is dominated by Celtic and Rangers, although Hibernian placed third on the table last season. Celtic had one of its worst seasons in recent history and still finished 14 points above Hibs and Rangers finished nearly 40 points ahead. Hibernian is currently in the qualifying stages for the new Europa Conference League, so Mueller may have a chance to make a splash during that tournament. If Mueller manages to manufacture enough goals to lift Hibernian over Celtic or Rangers for one of the coveted Champions League qualifying spots, then the rest of Europe will take notice. But that’s a tall task to say the least.

Former Lion Earns Praise From Atlanta United Players

After the firing of Gabriel Heinze, Atlanta United appointed Rob Valentino as interim head coach. Valentino was an assistant coach for Orlando City B in 2015 and played for Orlando City during its USL days, captaining the squad after an inaugural 2011 season in which he was named USL Defender of the Year. Since joining Atlanta in 2019, he’s survived two head coach firings and received praise from his players after his first game at the helm, a 1-1 draw at home against FC Cincinnati.

“He is a guy we really want to fight for,” said goalkeeper Alec Kann. “He is a good guy that has a lot of relationships with the guys in the locker room that are preexisting for a of couple years. He is a guy that we respect, and we know how he works, how hard he works, how much he cares about us.

“That is the kind of manager you want to go to war for.”

Valentino and the Five Stripes will face off against the Lions when they come to Exploria Stadium on July 30.

Free Kicks

  • In the Olympics, the Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan and the United States Women’s National Team will play Ali Riley and New Zealand tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. It’s a crucial game for both sides after they lost their opening matches.
  • Daryl Dike and the United States Men’s National Team will take on Jamaica in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals this Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Here’s a great breakdown of that match, as well a look at the other knockout stage match-ups in the tournament.
  • Speaking of the USMNT and Jamaica, the World Cup qualifying match between the two on Oct. 7 will be played at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
  • El Salvador’s request to play World Cup qualifying matches in the U.S. was denied by FIFA.

  • French midfielder Paul Pogba reportedly rejected an offer from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain is eager to add him to its arsenal.
  • Tottenham Hotspur may have gotten some inspiration from the Pride when designing its new space-themed jersey.


That’s going to be it for today. There’s plenty of soccer to look forward to this weekend so make sure to stay hydrated and all that jazz. Have a great Friday!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/3/23

The Orlando Pride hit the road, OCB players called up, USMNT U-20 squad can make history, and more.

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Merry match day morning, Mane Landers! I hope you have multiple screens ready as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are in action this evening. Hopefully, it will be a weekend of better results for the clubs, as both are coming off difficult results. It’s been a busy week for me already and it won’t slow down anytime soon, so enjoying matches is a nice break. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Start a Busy Stretch

The Orlando Pride are heading west to play the Houston Dash tonight, followed by an NWSL Challenge Cup match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Wednesday, and then back to Exploria Stadium to host the Portland Thorns next Sunday. Three games in nine days will test the club’s depth and it’s reasonable to expect a heavily rotated side in the Challenge Cup match. The Pride enter tonight looking for a second straight win over the Dash. To make that a reality the Pride will need to create and this time convert on the chances on goal.

OCB Venezuelan Call-ups

Goalkeeper Javier Otero and fullback/winger Moises Tablante have been called up to the Venezuelan National Football Team for a pair of friendlies this month (translate). Venezuela will face Honduras on June 15 in Washington, D.C. and Guatemala at Rentschler Field on June 18 in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Orlando City B may only be without them for one match, but the team will certainly miss the pair during the time they are on international duty. Otero has been very good in goal, and Tablante has been contributing to the attack. Of course, it is an honor for both to represent their national team and we wish them well.

Pride Month Kicks Off

Both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are celebrating Pride Month with logo changes for both squads. The Pride will be hosting the “Pride in our City” match against the Portland Thorns on June 11 in tribute to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy.

The Lions and the Pride are only two of many other sports teams to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ communities in June. Other teams include the Wilf-owned Minnesota Vikings and Florida-based Major League Baseball club, the Tampa Bay Rays.

USMNT U-20 Opportunities

When the U-20 USMNT squad meets Uruguay on Sunday there is the possibility that some of the players will also make an appearance for the senior squad in the 2026 World Cup. It’s also possible that this team can advance, possibly to the final. If so, they will make history. If the team makes it past Uruguay either Brazil or Israel will await in the semifinal. Of course, the U.S. is not the only team in Argentina with a path to the trophy.

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That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/2/23

Orlando City prepares for the Red Bulls, Pride focused on bouncing back, Inter Miami and Phil Neville part ways, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

I hope this Friday finds you well as we all get ready for another weekend of Orlando soccer. Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m looking forward to battling the eternal march of time with some watermelon mojitos and a cheeseburger. It should be a nice weekend. Hopefully the next few days go smoothly for you as well. Now, let’s get this Friday started with today’s links!

Orlando City Prepares for the New York Red Bulls

Orlando City is back in action tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in a road match against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions have not lost in their past four matches against the Red Bulls, including a 1-0 win at home in this year’s season opener. Plenty has changed for the Red Bulls since that match, with Troy Lesesne now at the helm after the dismissal of Gerhard Struber last month. The Lions catch the Red Bulls just a few days after they beat Inter Miami 1-0 on the road. Orlando is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak, but two of the draws were due to allowing late equalizers at home. Captain Mauricio Pereyra talked about the team’s need for consistency throughout a match.

“It’s the belief in the work that we are doing, because nothing is changed from this last game or even in Miami,” he said. “If we compare with the other games, I mean, it’s the same team with the same players and the same quality. The only thing that changed I think, is the mentality and the mindset that we had, that we believe that the work that we’re doing is correct. … Consistency is what we need during the tournament, we see more times during the game against Atlanta. But we have to do it in 90 minutes if you want to get results.”

Pereyra is in his fifth year with the Lions and would make his 100th start for Orlando should he do so tomorrow. Cesar Araujo has been a key part of Orlando’s success since joining the club and could make his 50th appearance in tomorrow’s match. Both midfielders could prove key for Orlando against Luquinhas and the rest of the Red Bulls.

Orlando Pride Aim to Bounce Back

Although they created plenty of chances and played well, the Orlando Pride’s four-game unbeaten run came to an end last weekend against the Chicago Red Stars. Capitalizing on those chances is a focal point for the Pride in training as they get ready for a road match against the Houston Dash tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. It’s the first of three games in seven days for the Pride as they look to maintain their hunger to win despite the recent loss. Midfielder Erika Tymrak spoke on how the team is cultivating a winning culture this year.

“I think it starts in training and [the coaching staff] have created such a good training environment that when we do not get the result we wanted, we are upset, we’re disappointed,” Tymrak said, “We had a few off days after the game, and we just want to get back and play and get better. So I think it’s an important mentality to have and it’ll take us through the season.”

Orlando City B Heads North to Face Toronto FC II

After a May of mixed results, Orlando City B hits the road to take on Toronto FC II this Sunday at 8 p.m. It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Young Lions winning 3-2 at Osceola Heritage Park on April 30. The offense is trending in the right direction, with Jack Lynn scoring his fourth goal in three games and Alex Freeman tallying his fifth goal contribution of the season in OCB’s 3-2 win over New York Red Bulls II on Monday. Shak Mohammed, Orlando City’s 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, also scored his first goal of the season in that match, so hopefully he can build on that moving forward. OCB will face a Toronto side that has lost its past two matches, both on the road.

Phil Neville Fired By Inter Miami

Following its 10th loss in15 games this season, Phil Neville is no longer the head coach of Inter Miami. Neville was named head coach in January of 2021, and led the team to the playoffs last year. However, there’s been a lack of consistency for Miami during his tenure and no club has lost more games this season than the Herons. Miami also parted ways with former Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis, who was named as an assistant coach in March of 2021. Javier Morales will serve as interim head coach, with other coaches remaining in their existing roles, including former Orlando City academy director Darren Powell as an assistant coach.

USMNT Roster Announced for Concacaf Nations League

B.J. Callaghan, who became the interim head coach of the United States Men’s National Team earlier this week, called up 24 players for the training camp roster in preparation of the Concacaf Nations League later this month. Four goalkeepers made this roster before it gets trimmed down to 23 players, including Matt Turner and Maccabi Haifa’s Josh Cohen. Folarin Balogun committed to the U.S. just last month and will be on the team alongside fellow forwards Ricardo Pepi and Alex Zendejas. Tyler Adams is out due to injury, but the midfield is still filled with notable names such as Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Giovanni Reyna. The U.S. will clash with Mexico on June 15 in Las Vegas, with the championship match taking place against either Canada or Panama on June 18.

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  • American goalkeeper Zack Steffen underwent knee surgery and will reportedly be out for three to four months as a result.

That’s all for now, Mane Landers. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/1/23

MLS All-Star voting is underway, midweek MLS results, Sevilla wins Europa League, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to June, Mane Landers! I hope May treated you well as we get ready for another month filled to the brim with soccer. The Florida summer is heating up, so make sure to stay hydrated out there as we break out the beach umbrellas and dust off the grills. But for now, let’s jump into today’s links!

MLS All-Star Voting Begins

Voting is underway for the 26 players who will be selected for the MLS All-Star Team this summer. Of those 26 players, 12 will be chosen from a combined vote from fans, media, and current players. Orlando City defensive midfielder Cesar Araujo was noted as a candidate who could make this year’s team. Personally, I think goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, center back Robin Jansson, and forward Ercan Kara have a real shot at playing in the All-Star Game if they keep up their form. This year’s MLS All-Star Game will take place against Arsenal in the nation’s capital, with D.C. United Head Coach Wayne Rooney at the helm.

MLS Midweek Action Brings Plenty of Goals

The Lions weren’t in action for this midweek round of games, but there was still plenty of soccer to enjoy from the other MLS teams. Atlanta United and the New England Revolution battled to a 3-3 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Carles Gil and Bobby Wood gave the Revs a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. Atlanta then scored three times in the second half, only for Gil to find an equalizer in stoppage time. It wasn’t the only high-scoring game of the evening either, as the Columbus Crew won 3-2 over the Colorado Rapids thanks to a goal and two assists from midfielder Lucas Zelarayan. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, FC Cincinnati beat New York City FC 3-1 and D.C. United and CF Montreal played to a 2-2 draw. Orlando City’s next opponents, the New York Red Bulls, won 1-0 at Inter Miami.

Sevilla Wins Seventh Europa League Title

It took a penalty shootout to decide the winner of this year’s Europa League final, with Sevilla beating AS Roma in Budapest. It was the Spanish club’s seventh time lifting the Europa League trophy. This win salvaged a rough La Liga season for Sevilla and it will play in the Champions League next year. Paulo Dybala gave Roma the lead in the first half, but an own goal levelled things in the 55th minute. Chris Smalling nearly gave Roma the win in extra time, but his header hit the crossbar. It was Jose Mourinho’s first defeat in six European finals and Roma will aim to qualify for the Europa League again when it takes on Spezia in its final Serie A game of the season on Sunday.

More Teams Claim Spots in U-20 World Cup Quarterfinals

Host Argentina was bounced from the U-20 World Cup after a 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the U-20 World Cup. After a scoreless first half, Nigeria struck twice and will face either Ecuador or South Korea in the next round. The other South American nations in action fared a bit better than Argentina, with Brazil cruising past Tunisia, 4-1, in a match that included three goals in stoppage time, and Colombia beating Slovakia, 5-1. In a clash between European sides, Italy won 2-1 over England after Cesare Casadei scored from the spot in the 87th minute. In the quarterfinals, the U.S. will face the winner of today’s match between Gambia and Uruguay.

Free Kicks

  • St. Louis City midfielder Eduard Löwen won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

That’s all I have for today. I hope you all have a wonderful start to June!

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