Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/21/22
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! It’s match week and I hope you are as excited as I am. The off-season has seemed incredibly short and all too long at the same time. I’m still debating whether or not to get the new jersey. I’ve never been a white jersey type of person, but I’m curious on your thoughts. What do you think of it, and are you getting one? Let’s get to the links.
Orlando City’s Season Begins This Week
With the MLS season set to get started this weekend, it’s a good time to take a look at where Orlando City stands and how it got here. The departures of Nani, Chris Mueller, and Daryl Dike, as well as the arrivals of Ercan Kara, Facundo Torres, and César Araújo, means there are questions about how the Lions might do in 2022. The club is heading into its third season of the Óscar Pareja era. While the club has made the playoffs the past two years, the Lions are looking to make a longer run in the postseason.
Ranking the Best Kits in MLS
I’m certain you’ve seen Orlando City’s new Sunshine Kit, and the general consensus is positive for the Lions’ new away jersey. As our own Michael Citro put it, this jersey “will appeal to fans who are tired of the ‘plain, white t-shirt’ look of some of the past away jerseys.” The club did a great job with the reveal, dropping plenty of glimpses in the lead up to the unveiling, and pairing it with purple shorts completes the look. Orlando City supporters aren’t the only ones that think it’s a winner.
Think all the 2022 MLS kits have now been released. These are my top 3️⃣…
1. Orlando City
2. LAFC
3. Austin FC pic.twitter.com/ERvoGcmsCL— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) February 20, 2022
You can submit your own rankings for all the new MLS kits to reward the bold and punish the bland.
USWNT Defeats New Zealand
New Zealand defender Meikayla Moore gave up three own goals in a 5-0 loss to the United States Women’s National Team in the SheBelieves Cup. A distraught Moore came off in the 40th minute shortly after the third own goal. Ashley Hatch gave the U.S. a goal in the 51st minute and Mallory Pugh added the fifth goal of the match in stoppage time. The U.S. will finish up the SheBelieves Cup this Wednesday at 9 p.m. against Iceland. Orlando Pride midfielder Gunny Jonsdottir came off the bench in Iceland’s 2-1 win against the Czech Republic. The USWNT must beat Iceland to win the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, while Iceland needs only a draw to secure the trophy.
Reyna Injured in Return to Action
After five months of recovery for a hamstring injury, Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna suffered yet another leg injury in his first match back. The injury means Reyna may also miss the next round of World Cup qualifiers for the USMNT.
Meanwhile, fellow American Jordan Pefok scored in his third straight match for Young Boys in the Swiss Super League, reaching the 20-goal mark on the season. The American striker converted a penalty in the 53rd minute to give Young Boys a lead. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson scored in his second consecutive match as RB Salzburg won 2-0 against Wolfsberger AC. Tyler Adams came on as a substitute and had an assist in RB Leipzig’s 6-1 win over Hertha Berlin.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City B lost 5-2 to Miami FC in a preseason friendly. The Young Lions managed to score their goals in the 40th and 89th minutes.
FINAL | Miami FC defeats @OrlandoCityB 5-2 in preseason friendly. The goals came from @King_Nijah (2), Lamar Walker (2) and @Joshua_Perez26. pic.twitter.com/jzSeKfupXX
— Miami FC (@TheMiamiFC) February 20, 2022
- Former Lion Santiago Patino scored a brace for San Antonio FC as it defeated Houston Dynamo 2 by a score of 2-1.
- Houston Dynamo 2 signed Orlando City 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick Andrew Pannenberg and five other players to MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts.
- The Houston Dynamo are reportedly making a play for Atletico Madrid midfielder Hector Herrera. An offer has been made for the Mexican International though there’s been no decision.
BREAKING: Houston Dynamo have made an offer to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder and Mexico in'l Hector Herrera, per sources. Offer is on the table, no decision either way yet 🇲🇽
Herrera, 31, has 93 caps with El Tri and has been with Atletico since 2019, winning La Liga last year. pic.twitter.com/kHD5BtsLUK
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) February 20, 2022
- The European leagues were full of drama this past weekend, with the biggest story being Manchester City’s loss to Tottenham. The result opened the door for Liverpool to close the gap at the top of the English Premier League standings Unfortunately, midfielder Phil Foden and his family were attacked after the loss. There is no excuse for such behavior.
That will do it for today. Keep checking back for coverage of the upcoming match against CF Montreal this Sunday.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/12/24
Orlando Pride plan for the Kansas City Current, Americans return to their clubs, MLS coaches on the hot seat, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been another hectic week for me, but I’m a few pages into Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne and it’s helped me unwind a bit. I’m looking forward to plenty of soccer and hanging out with friends at a sangria festival this weekend. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando Pride Prepare for Kansas City
The Orlando Pride remain unbeaten this season and face a tough test on Friday at home against the Kansas City Current. It’ll be another duel between the Pride’s formidable defense and the Current’s potent offense. The Pride have only allowed 12 goals all season and have secured a clean sheet in each of their three wins since the Olympic break. The Current may not be lighting up scoreboards as of late, but Temwa Chawinga continues to find the back of the net. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on what the team will need to do to limit Chawinga and the rest of Kansas City’s attack, as well as how the Pride are focused on building momentum to create more separation in the standings.
Americans Abroad This Weekend
With the international break over, Americans will return to their clubs after an underwhelming pair of friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. Haji Wright, Aidan Morris, and Brenden Aaronson are just a few of the Yanks expected to play in the EFL Championship on Saturday. Left back Antonee Robinson wasn’t called up for the recent friendlies so that he could rest, and he may play when Fulham hosts West Ham United on Saturday. In Serie A, AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah will take on Gianluca Busio and Venezia. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing Giovanni Reyna for a while, as he will be out for a few weeks according to Borussia Dortmund Head Coach Nuri Sahin.
Getting to Know Mauricio Pochettino
A new era has officially begun for the United States Men’s National Team, with Mauricio Pochettino becoming the 40th head coach in the program’s history. In his 15 years of managing at the club level, he’s had a penchant for turning teams around, doing so with Espanyol, Southampton, and Tottenham. The 52-year-old also has a track record for giving opportunities to young players and that bodes well for a USMNT that is fairly young compared to other teams on the global stage. Although it’s his first time coaching an international team, he does have experience playing for Argentina. Only time will tell how well his skillset translates to coaching the USMNT, but I have high hopes.
MLS Coaches On the Hot Seat
While the MLS playoff race heats up, coaches across the league may be starting to feel the pressure to finish strongly. Braden Chalker of Sports Illustrated named four coaches who are on the hot seat, including the Philadelphia Union’s Jim Curtin. The 45-year-old has been with the Union since the summer of 2014, but a fresh start could be coming for the club if it misses out on the postseason. A similar clean slate could be coming for Sporting Kansas City, which has been coached by Peter Vermes since 2009. His team would need a miraculous rally to close out the season just to make the playoffs this year. Austin FC’s Josh Wolff and the Chicago Fire’s Frank Klopas may also be looking for work once the season is over.
Free Kicks
- There are going to be open tryouts at Sylvan Lake Park for Orlando youth players, so be sure to let the eligible youngsters in your life know. Best of luck!
- St. Louis City forward Simon Becher won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his equalizer against the New England Revolution.
- LAFC signed Brazilian center back Marlon as a free agent, giving the team some defensive depth for the rest of the season.
- MLS has terminated Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernandez’s contract following an investigation into him violating the league’s gambling policies for a second time.
- San Diego Wave FC and Sofia Jakobsson have agreed to mutually terminate her contract, allowing her to play abroad.
- A record 114 amateur teams will take part in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup’s qualifying rounds, which kick off next month.
- Manchester United reported a hefty net loss of over £113 million for the past year, but is not expected to have breached the English Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
- Here’s a nice breakdown on where things stand in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Brazil has been struggling more than it probably should, while Bolivia may have a path forward through its home-field advantage.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/11/24
Orlando Pride playoff ticket information, USMNT draws New Zealand on awful late goal on the day it formally announces Mauricio Pochettino, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We have a full weekend of fun ahead with all three teams in action. The Orlando Pride start things off on Friday, with Orlando City playing Saturday, and Orlando City B finishing things up on Sunday. Hopefully, we can have a nine-point weekend.
Of course, today is a day of remembrance of those who lost their lives both on that tragic day in 2001 and from the effects that followed. Take a moment today to let those you love know that you love them. Let’s get to the links.
Pride Power into Playoffs
We know the Orlando Pride have already made the 2024 NWSL Playoffs, but now you can let the club know if you are interested in potential playoff tickets before things get crazy. It’s nice knowing that we don’t have to wait until decision day to find out if the Pride are in. They are. Decisively. In the least surprising news ever, the Pride topped both the ESPN NWSL Power Rankings, and the Goal.com NWSL Power Rankings once again.
Pochettino Hiring Official
The hiring that everyone knew was coming was made official Tuesday as Mauricio Pochettino was named as the new head coach of the USMNT. Pochettino is the type of big name hire that U.S. fans have been waiting for following the double stint of Gregg Berhalter. Pochettino will be expected to get the best out of what some consider the greatest generation of American soccer players when he leads them to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
USMNT Draws New Zealand
The same night that Pochettino was announced as the new USMNT head coach, his new team played New Zealand to an uninspiring 1-1 draw. Christian Pulisic put the Yanks ahead in the 69th minute, but the U.S. was unable to see the match out, allowing an 89th-minute equalizer on a completely awful goal that was misplayed by both Caleb Wiley and Mark McKenzie, with the latter providing the finish with a clearance attempt off of New Zealand’s Ben Waine, over Matt Turner, and into his own net. The match was only a friendly, but it illustrates the need for the new coach.
The Growth of the NWSL
The NWSL is in a good place. The league is growing both in the number of member clubs and in the attendance at matches across the league. There are many reasons for it, including the Olympics and big name stars like Marta and the recently retired Alex Morgan, but most importantly, the growing fanbase for the women’s game. ESPN spoke to general managers at every club in the league to get an idea of the challenges in the ever-changing landscape that is the NWSL. All the answers were anonymous, but it’s still very insightful information.
Free Kicks
- Jarrod Dillon, the president of business operations for Orlando City, the Orlando Pride, and Inter&Co Stadium, has been named as a board member of the Heart of Florida United Way.
- Marta deservedly won the NWSL Goal of the Week for her rocket shot against the Chicago Red Stars.
- In the ongoing series from the Orlando Pride, it’s now time for you to get to know Carrie Lawrence.
- Let’s keep the clean sheets coming, Anna Moorhouse.
- The New England Revolution will be without Head Coach Caleb Porter for the match against Orlando City after he was suspended and fined for public criticism.
- According to Tom Bogert, Reggie Cannon has signed with the Colorado Rapids.
- Declan Rice was a bit petty in Arsenal’s match against Brighton last weekend, nudging the ball away from his opponent on a free kick. The action earned him a second yellow and a sending off. Now, the board that reviews referee decisions has stated it was the correct call.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for this weekend’s matches.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/10/24
Marta nominated for NWSL Goal of the Week, Orlando Pride happy to clinch playoff spot, Lions on international duty, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was another good weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B combined to pick up all six points on offer. Hopefully that trend can continue and get even better once Orlando City resumes play this Saturday. We’ve got a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s get after it.
Marta Nominated for Goal of the Week
The Pride took down the Chicago Red Stars 1-0 on Sunday, with Marta singlehandedly winning the game for the Pride courtesy of an absolutely outstanding strike from outside the box. Unsurprisingly, that effort has earned her a nomination for NWSL Goal of the Week. While she’s facing some stiff competition, I think it’s safe to say that her goal is comfortably the best of the bunch. Go make sure everyone else knows it, and vote for her to win this week’s award!
Pride Speak On Clinched Playoff Spot
The Pride discussed the team’s mentality after clinching a playoff spot following this weekend’s results. Head Coach Seb Hines highlighted the heartbreak of narrowly missing the postseason in 2023 and how that was a motivator this season. That sentiment was echoed by both Marta and Haley McCutcheon, with both players speaking on making the postseason and the team’s bigger goals this year.
Lions on International Duty
David Brekalo is on international duty with Slovenia, and was part of his team’s victory in UEFA Nations League play on Monday. Brekalo started at right back and spent 87 minutes on the field, as Slovenia beat Kazakhstan 3-0 courtesy of a hat trick by star man Benjamin Sesko. The result leaves Slovenia atop League B Group 3 with four points after a 1-1 draw with Austria on Friday as well. Meanwhile, Facundo Torres and Uruguay face Venezuela at 6 p.m. tonight in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Torres came on as a sub with 10 minutes to go in Uruguay’s 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Friday, so we’ll see if he’s involved two matches in a row. Best of luck, Facu!
USMNT Takes On New Zealand Tonight
The United States Men’s National Team will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Canada when it takes on New Zealand today at 7 p.m. in Cincinnati. The All Whites are ranked 94th in the world and have won four of their last five games. The USMNT midfield will need to have a much better showing than it did against the Canadians, as Johnny Cardoso, Yunus Musah, and Malik Tillman were collectively outgunned by the opposition. It’ll also be worth keeping an eye on the goalkeeper situation, as Patrick Schulte played well in the 2-1 loss, and has probably earned another start. There’s plenty to watch for, so make sure you tune in and see if the team can get back on the right track.
International Break Roundup
With the international break still in full swing, there were a number of big games yesterday that we need to catch up on. In the marquee match of the day, France rebounded from a 3-1 loss to Italy in UEFA Nations League play by comfortably dispatching Belgium 2-0, courtesy of goals from Randal Kolo-Muania and Ousmane Dembele. Italy made it two wins in two attempts by knocking off Israel 2-1, with a 90th minute goal from Mohammad Abu Fani not enough to get Israel its first point in the competition. In the Concacaf Nations League, Curacao posted an eye-popping score by beating St. Martin 4-0, only for Haiti to better that result by hammering Sint Maarten 6-0.
Free Kicks
- In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Pride have been outstanding this year.
- Fenerbahce is reportedly interested in signing Antony, but the winger is said to be intent on staying at Manchester United.
- Martin Odegaard went off injured in Norway’s match against Austria on Monday, and he’s set to have an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.
That does it for me this morning. Vamos Orlando!
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