Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/28/21
Good morning, friends. I hope you’re doing well. We’re firmly in the mad dash to the playoffs in Major League Soccer all while the NWSL season comes to a close and seemingly everything else is happening. It’s a busy time and we’ve got linkables to share with you this morning. But before we get to that, let’s wish Pride defender Courtney Petersen a happy birthday!
Orlando City Falls 3-2 to the Columbus Crew
Orlando City went on the road to face the reigning MLS Cup champions the Columbus Crew in a crucial midweek clash. Orlando is on the brink of clinching a playoff spot, and could’ve even clinched yesterday, but stumbled and lost to a struggling Crew team who are all but eliminated from the postseason.
It was a pretty even and slow start, but the home side opened the scoring when a poor Kyle Smith clearance lead to a Columbus goal off a recycled set piece. The Crew doubled their advantage off another set piece in the 31st minute. Less than a half in, the Lions found themselves in a big hole. After halftime, Orlando earned a penalty after a handball, and after Columbus goalkeeper Eloy Room was off his line early on the first attempt, Daryl Dike slammed home the spot kick. Unfortunately, Lucas Zelarayan, who had both assists in the first half, scored a scorcher from outside the box to give the Crew a 3-1 edge. Robin Jansson got one back in stoppage time for Orlando City, but it proved too little too late, and Orlando walked away with a 3-2 loss. Huge blow as the playoff race gets even tighter.
Orlando Pride Announce Bucky Burleigh Won’t Return Next Season
The Orlando Pride made it official yesterday, announcing Wednesday that interim head coach Bucky Burleigh wouldn’t be coming back for 2022.
“We are grateful to Coach Burleigh for stepping into this role and for guiding the Pride with the utmost professionalism,” said Orlando Pride Chairman Mark Wilf. “We appreciate Becky’s leadership over the past three months and we wish her the best in the future.”
So far, Burleigh has led the Pride to a 3-5-3 record, amassing only 12 points in her 11 games at the helm. It’d be hard to pin on the blame of a disappointing campaign on the interim manager, but at the same time, the club has lost four straight to crash out of the playoff race and there was little to suggest Burleigh was anything but a stop-gap. The club will embark on a coaching search, hoping to find someone who can bring consistent success to such a troubled franchise.
Nani boasts 11th-Highest-Selling MLS Jersey
MLSSoccer.com released a list of the 25 highest-selling jerseys Wednesday. Orlando City had one representative in the top 25, with club captain Nani just missing out on the top 10, finishing at 11.
The list was dominated by the usual suspects, with Josef Martinez at the top and both Carlos Vela and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the top five. The Seattle Soudners finished with a league-high four players in the top 25, all of whom finished in the top 10. The Galaxy and Austin FC finished joint second with three players each.
Wednesday Night MLS Results
Unfortunately, the rest of the Eastern Conference didn’t shake out favorably for Orlando City either. Nashville SC rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 over FC Cincinnati. Atlanta United pulled out a 2-1 win over Inter Miami. D.C. United beat the Red Bulls 1-0, while New York City FC escaped with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. The Philadelphia Union trailed in the second half but escaped with a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC. New England also broke the single-season points record with a 1-0 win over Colorado.
In the west, RSL beat FC Dallas 2-1, Sporting Kansas City won 2-0 over the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Portland Timbers beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 and the Vancouver Whitecaps won 2-1 over Minnesota United.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City’s U-23 squad beat the Columbus Crew U-23s 4-0 in an exhibition match before the MLS sides faced off.
#OrlandoCity and #Crew96 played an exhibition match earlier today at the Historic Crew Stadium that involved a hybrid U23 squad (reserves & academy)
The Lions won 4-0 with goals from Moises Tablante, Ethan Subachan, Alex Freeman and Majed Abdullah.
— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) October 27, 2021
- MLS suspended and fined Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia for his body slam of Cristian Roldan on the weekend.
- Carli Lloyd wrote a goodbye in The Players Tribune after her final USWNT appearance.
- FC Barcelona fired manager Ronald Koeman after a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano.
FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2021
- The five substitutes rule could be made permanent very soon.
EXCL: Five substitutions in football set to become permanent – proposed at International FA Board panel meeting today and strongly supported. Will put renewed pressure on Premier League to follow the rest of football from next season. Story on @TimesSport shortly.
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) October 27, 2021
That’s all from me today. Thanks for reading. Have a good Thursday.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/21/25
Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.
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.
- Toronto FC has signed goalkeeper Luka Gavran to a contract extension that runs through 2027, with an option for 2028.
- Australia Men’s National Team Head Coach Tony Popovic praised MLS as a destination for Australian players, noting the league’s resources and professionalism.
That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/20/25
Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.
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
- Orlando City and the Pride announced a partnership with the YMCA of Central Florida to launch the Lions Pride Jr. soccer program.
- Angel City FC forward Christen Press has reached an agreement with the club on a new one-year contract for the 2025 NWSL season.
- GiveMeSport ranked which MLS club has made the best winter transfer moves so far this off-season. Atlanta United, the San Jose Earthquakes, and FC Cincinnati were the top three ranked clubs.
- The LA Galaxy have re-signed defender and captain Maya Yoshida to a two-year contract through the 2026 MLS season.
- Brazilian side Santos is reportedly in talks to sign Neymar on a loan deal from Al-Hilal.
- 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.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/17/25
Orlando Pride loan out Mariana Larroquette, USMNT gets ready for Venezuela, MLS transfer news, and much more.
Happy Friday! Maybe it’s just because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan when it comes to hockey, but I sure do miss being able to watch Orlando City and the Orlando Pride win games. Thankfully it won’t be much longer until Orlando’s soccer teams are back in action, although I wish the Lions would make some moves to get us excited for 2025. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Mariana Larroquette Heads to Argentina on Loan
The Pride have loaned forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women in Argentina. The loan lasts through July 1, so Larroquette may still provide some attacking depth for the Pride later in the season. This should be a good opportunity for her to get some minutes in her home country after only making four appearances for the Pride last season. Larroquette joined the Pride back in July of 2023 on a contract through 2025, so this is a solid chance for her to get some consistent playing time to showcase her talent before her current contract ends.
USMNT Prepares for Friendly Against Venezuela
The United States Men’s National Team will play its first game of 2025 when it takes on Venezuela Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. This is just the seventh meeting between the two nations, with Venezuela winning the most recent match 3-0 back in 2019. Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez started for Venezuela in that shutout and is expected to get the nod in goal again, with Orlando City’s Javier Otero backing him up. The Yanks will be without multiple players who were called up, as Jesus Ferreira, John Tolkin, Jalen Neal, and Drake Callender will no longer be available. The USMNT will be back in action on Wednesday for a friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium.
Catching Up On MLS Transfer News
Every MLS team apart from Orlando City seems to be making major moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Austin FC is reportedly signing Albanian forward Myrto Uzuni as a Designated Player, which would trigger a $12.3 million release clause in his contract with Granada. Uzuni has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for the Spanish club this season. Austin also added midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky from Instituto in Argentina’s top flight. He will be a U22 Initiative Player and signed a five-year contract with the club.
New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin was officially transferred to Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga for a reported $3 million transfer fee. The New England Revolution continued to strengthen their attack, signing veteran forward Maxi Urruti to a one-year deal with an option for 2026. Atlanta United and Middlesbrough have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a deal for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, although Atlanta still has to finalize personal terms with him.
Chelsea Reportedly Leads Race for Naomi Girma
One of the biggest questions this NWSL off-season is whether or not San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma will remain with the club. The 24-year-old is under contract through 2026, but European teams are reportedly willing to pay up to secure her talents. Chelsea is the reported frontrunner, with Arsenal and Lyon also in the mix to sign her. Girma is one of the best defenders in the world and was a major reason behind the United States Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold last year. Speaking of Girma, she will not be in attendance for the USWNT training camp in Florida due to a minor injury.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter followed through on her promise to dye her hair after a historic season.
- In news that impacts Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Jorge Fossati is no longer Peru’s head coach. Peru only won one of its six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Fossati at the helm and is last in the standings.
- Former Lion Chris Mueller spoke on the importance of mental health and the resources available to help.
- You’ll need to use a translation tool for the full details, but Brazilian forward Kerolin is reportedly set to join Manchester City.
- Amad Diallo scored a hat trick to help Manchester United come back and win against Southampton.
That’s all I have for you this Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and rest of your weekend!
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