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Lion Links: 11/26/21

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? Hopefully you all had a great Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, and food. I have enough leftovers to last the next few days, which should help save some money as I finish up my holiday shopping. Now, let’s get to today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City SC Celebrates Thanksgiving

Orlando City players Daryl Dike, Tesho Akindele, Silvester van der Water, Joey DeZart, Derek Dodson, and Raul Aguilera all came together to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. It’s always nice to see the Lions link up off the field and I love the dad energy radiating off of Akindele with his kid and some of Orlando’s youngsters.

The Orlando City Foundation also held its annual turkey giveaway at Exploria Stadium to provide the local community with turkeys and groceries for the holiday.

Portland Timbers Advance on Thanksgiving

In the first MLS game ever played on Thanksgiving, the Portland Timbers went on the road and beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 to book their ticket to the Western Conference final. Portland defender Larrys Mabiala found the back of the net in the 90th minute, following a corner kick, to eliminate the Rapids from the playoffs. However, the win came with some costs for the Timbers as Sebastian Blanco left the game due to an injury in the first half and Dairon Asprilla was shown a red card in stoppage time. The Timbers will take on the winner of Sunday’s game between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake. Sunday’s action will also include an Eastern Conference showdown between the Philadelphia Union and Nashville SC, while the New England Revolution’s playoff campaign won’t begin until Tuesday against New York City FC.

USWNT Plays Against Australia Tonight

In the first of two friendlies, the United States Women’s National Team will take on Australia late tonight at 11 p.m. in Sydney. The two sides met twice earlier this year in the Tokyo Olympics, playing to a scoreless draw in the group stage before the USWNT beat Australia 4-3 to claim the bronze medal. The USWNT’s roster for this pair of friendlies in Australia includes just 10 players from that Olympic squad as Vlatko Andonovski opted for a younger team. While no Orlando Pride players will be in action for the USWNT, midfielder Emily van Egmond should play for the Matildas. Van Egmond and other notable players, such as Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, should test a USWNT defense that didn’t concede any goals in friendlies against Paraguay and South Korea since the Olympics. The two will play again at 4 a.m. on Tuesday in the final game of 2021 for the USWNT.

Ralf Rangnick Reportedly Set Join Manchester United

Manchester United will reportedly name Lokomotiv Moscow Head of Soccer and Development Ralf Rangnick as its interim manager for the next six months while the club continues its search for a permanent manager. The 63-year-old has decades of experience managing German clubs such as RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim, and Hannover. Rangnick will also reportedly be a consultant for United for two years following the six-month contract at the helm. Michael Carrick will still be at the helm for United’s English Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

Europa League Action Heats Up

West Ham traveled to Austria and clinched its spot in the Europa League’s round of 16 after a 2-0 win against Rapid Vienna. Fellow EPL club Leicester City also came up with a win after a 3-1 result against Legia Warsaw. Leicester now sits atop its group ahead of its match with Napoli, which lost 2-1 to Spartak Moscow FC. There were a number of Americans in action as Timothy Chandler had an assist for Eintracht Frankfurt in a 2-2 draw with Sam Vines and Royal Antwerp. Deandre Yedlin and Galatasaray won 4-2 to eliminate Konrad de la Fuente and Marseille. Cameron Carter-Vickers’ Celtic lost 3-2 to Bayer Leverkusen and will drop down to the Europa Conference League’s preliminary stage.

In the Europa Conference League, Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 to Slovenian club NS Mura. After a red card reduced Tottenham to 10 men in the first half, Harry Kane scored an equalizer but Mura found a winner in stoppage time. Meanwhile, AS Roma cruised to an important 4-0 win against FC Zorya Luhansk as Tammy Abraham completed his brace in style.

Free Kicks

  • Pride midfielder Gunnhildur “Gunny” Jonsdottir started in Iceland’s impressive 2-0 win over Japan in a friendly.
  • MLSsoccer.com‘s Sam Jones had a lighthearted take on what each MLS club would bring to Thanksgiving. It was determined that Orlando City would bring a Publix sub, but make sure to check out the full article as there are some friendly jabs at Orlando’s rivals and other MLS teams.
  • The United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup qualifying match against Canada on Jan. 30 will be played in Hamilton, Ontario.
  • Christian Pulisic, Sergino Dest, and Weston McKennie are just a few of the Americans to keep an eye out for during this weekend’s action across Europe.
  • The temporary rule that allows teams to use five substitutions in a match is expected to become permanent in the International Football Association Board’s annual meeting in March.

That’s going to be all for today. I wish you the best of luck during your Black Friday shopping, but don’t forget about your favorite local shops and during this weekend. Have a wonderful Friday and rest of your weekend!

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.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

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.

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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: 11/1/24

Orlando City plays Charlotte FC tonight, Orlando Pride get ready for the Seattle Reign, NWSL playoff scenarios, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to November, Mane Landers! It’s kind of crazy that there are only two months left of 2024, and I’m not looking forward to the holiday shopping frenzy. I checked on how my resolutions are doing for this year and am going to have to pick up the pace if I want to reach my reading goals. Let’s get this November started with today’s links!

Lions Takes On Charlotte FC Tonight

Orlando City has a chance to book its spot in the next round of the playoffs tonight when it faces off against Charlotte FC at 7:30 p.m. This will be Charlotte’s first playoff game at home since joining the league and it will likely be a loud environment for the Lions to deal with. Charlotte is without Designated Player Pep Biel due to his red card, but midfielders Kerwin Vargas and Patrick Agyemang are more than capable of making an impact. The Lions will have to remain at the top of their game to avoid the series being sent back to Orlando for Game 3 on Nov. 9.

Orlando Pride Prepare for Regular Season Finale

The Orlando Pride will aim to get back on track Saturday night when they take on the Seattle Reign at home in their final game of the regular season. After a pair of losses, a match against the Reign presents a good chance for the team to return to its winning ways after securing its first NWSL Shield. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the international break gives the team a decent chance to reset, as well as how playing at home should give the team a boost.

NWSL Playoff Race Nears Its End

While the Pride secured the top spot in the standings weeks ago, a majority of the league has plenty on the line this weekend. There are three teams in contention for the final two playoff spots, and there’s a three-team race for the second seed in the playoffs. The Portland Thorns can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a result tonight against Angel City FC, while Bay FC can clinch with a result tomorrow night against the Houston Dash. If either team loses, it opens the door for Racing Louisville to snatch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday against the San Diego Wave. After last year’s drama that included the Pride narrowly missing out on the playoffs, I’m glad things are already locked up for Orlando this year.

USWNT’s New Era Off to Strong Start

One of the biggest takeaways from the United States Women’s National Team’s trio of victories in the recent international window was how many new players took the field and impressed. Head Coach Emma Hayes utilized plenty of rotation across the three matches, and Pride defender Emily Sams was one of seven players who made their debut. Sams received a rating of 7 coming off the bench in the team’s win over Argentina, a match that showcased just how deep the U.S. player pool is. It’s been a fantastic past few months for Hayes, who leaned on innovation and experimentation with Chelsea and has the U.S. rebuilding while still staying on top.

Free Kicks

  • Forward Diana Ordonez won’t play in the Dash’s final game of the season after undergoing successful surgery earlier this week.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and a relaxing weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/31/24

Orlando City focused on Game 2, USWNT beats Argentina, U.S. loses in U-17 World Cup, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Halloween! I don’t have any plans for the holiday beyond annoying my cat by dressing him up like a wizard for some photos. Scary movies aren’t exactly my thing either, but I hope you all have a fun time celebrating regardless. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira!

Lions Stay Focused Ahead of Playoff Match

Orlando City will aim to close out its playoff series with Charlotte FC on Friday when the two sides square off in North Carolina. The Lions may be riding high after a solid 2-0 win at home to start its playoff campaign, but Head Coach Oscar Pareja has the team focused on finishing the job to advance to the next round. Pareja spoke about how Orlando’s ability to react and solve problems is a strength and helped the Lions win the first game of the series.

As for Charlotte, MLSsoccer.com‘s Joseph Lowery has it as one of the more likely clubs to turn things around and force a Game 3. Charlotte will have to keep Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda from running rampant if it wants that to happen. Orlando also won’t have to deal with Charlotte midfielder Pep Biel in Friday’s match, as the appeal for the Designated Player’s red card was rejected.

USWNT Shuts Out Argentina

The United States Women’s National Team closed out the international window with a 3-0 win over Argentina in Louisville. Naomi Girma got the scoring started in the 37th minute, nodding in an easy goal after some poor defending from Argentina for her first international goal. An own goal doubled the USWNT’s lead right before halftime, and then Girma secured her brace with another header in the second half. Goalkeeper Mandy Haught made her USWNT debut, making one save in the shutout. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams did not start this time around, with Head Coach Emma Hayes choosing Eva Gaetino to start alongside Girma in the center of the U.S. defense. However, Sams did enter the game in the second half, coming on in the 70th minute. The USWNT will play its final games of the year when it travels to take on England on Nov. 30 and the Netherlands on Dec. 3 in a pair of tough friendlies.

U.S. Falls in U-17 World Cup Semifinal

The U-17 USWNT lost 1-0 to North Korea in the U-17 World Cup semifinals. After a scoreless first half, Ro Un-hyang scored a great goal to give North Korea the win. The U.S. struggled to get much going on offense and didn’t get a single shot on target in the match. There’s still a chance the U.S. can leave the Dominican Republic with silverware, as it will play for third place against either England or Spain on Sunday.

UEFA Invests in Women’s Soccer

In an effort to grow women’s soccer in Europe, UEFA has pledged $1.08 billion towards all levels of the sport over the next six years. Part of the organization’s goals is to double the number of fully professional national leagues and increase the number of professional players. The plan also includes developing more ways for girls and women to play, coach, and referee, starting at the grassroots level. Although this is a hefty amount of money devoted towards women’s soccer, there’s still plenty of work to do in regards to ensuring women can make a living from soccer.

Free Kicks

  • The City Beautiful is looking good in celebration of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride being in the postseason this year.
  • MLS Save of the Year went to FC Dallas’s Maarten Paes for his double save to deny Gabriel Pec from the penalty spot. I still prefer Pedro Gallese’s acrobatic double save that was nominated, but this was still nice work from Paes.
  • FC Cincinnati’s Luca Orellano won MLS Goal of the Year for his strike from 79.81 yards out to beat CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois on Aug. 31.
  • Weston McKennie scored his first goal of the Serie A season by getting his head on the end of a nice cross from fellow American Tim Weah, who later scored the equalizer in Juventus’ 2-2 draw with Parma.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a happy Halloween and rest of your week!

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