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Lion Links: 3/30/22

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3 years ago

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Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. Let’s wish Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse a happy birthday today! There is plenty to cover today so let’s get to the links.

Lions Get Ready for LAFC

Orlando City will welcome the top team in the Western Conference to Exploria Stadium this Saturday as LAFC comes to town for the first time since the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020. The Lions and LAFC faced off in the quarterfinals of that competition, with Joao Moutinho scoring a late equalizer and Orlando winning the penalty shootout. LAFC has undergone plenty of change since then, as Bob Bradley now coaches in Toronto. Steve Cherundolo is at the helm now and American midfielder Kellyn Acosta is a player to keep an eye on after joining LAFC this off-season. LAFC is undefeated this season after four matches, with its last win coming on March 20 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Miguel Gallardo and Evan Weston analyzed this week’s match-up and the players who can make an impact.

Orlando Pride Take on NJ/NY Gotham FC Tonight

The Orlando Pride will host NJ/NY Gotham FC tonight at Exploria Stadium in the NWSL Challenge Cup. The Pride enter tonight’s match sitting in third place in the East division while Gotham FC sits below them in fourth. Both clubs have one point from two matches. The Pride will be without their captain, Marta, after she was injured in the Pride’s 1-0 loss to the North Carolina Courage this past weekend. She will undergo surgery and the Brazilian national team stated it was an ACL injury.

It’s not great news for a Pride team that has yet to score in the tournament. The offense will lean on Sydney Leroux and Darian Jenkins to create scoring opportunities and Head Coach Amanda Cromwell spoke about the team’s struggles to score.

“We’ve just got to be better on the ball,” Cromwell told reporters this week. “We’re trying to help them with breaking the lines, building out of the back, and just being a little more composed in possession. Knocking a few [goals] in would be helpful.”

Tonight’s match will see former Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defender Ali Krieger return to Exploria Stadium. Harris was crucial for Gotham FC as she made nine saves in its last match against the Washington Spirit to secure a 1-1 draw. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod has produced seven saves over the course of two matches. Though the Pride have yet to score in the Challenge Cup, the defense has been a bright spot for the club as the only conceded goal came from a penalty kick.

USMNT Looks to Clinch a World Cup Spot

The U.S. Men’s National Team will wrap up its World Cup qualifying campaign tonight when it travels to face Costa Rica. As long as the U.S. doesn’t lose to Costa Rica by six or more goals, it will qualify directly to the World Cup in Qatar later this year. SBNation’s Stars and Stripes FC discussed some keys to watch for in tonight’s finale. One thing to keep an eye on is Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s tactics as he may try to set up the Yanks defensively to avoid leaking goals. Berhalter will likely manage the mileage using squad rotation as the USMNT will have some heavy legs with this being its third match in seven days. It will also be interesting to see who will start as the team’s striker. We’ve seen both Ricardo Pepi and Jesus Ferreira up top in this window so either of them could get another shot down in Costa Rica or Berhalter may elect to go with someone else with fresher legs.

More Nations Qualify for World Cup

Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and Peru took care of business at home in a 2-0 win against Paraguay to qualify for the intercontinental playoff in June. Gianluca Lapadula scored early on and former Lion Yoshimar Yotun doubled Peru’s lead in the 42nd minute. The win eliminated Chile and Colombia from contention and Peru will face the winner between the United Arab Emirates and Australia with a spot in the World Cup on the line.

In Europe, Portugal punched its ticket to Qatar after beating North Macedonia 2-0 thanks to a brace from Bruno Fernandes. Poland scored twice in the second half to secure its spot in the World Cup as it shut out Sweden 2-0.

There was plenty of drama in a penalty shootout between Egypt and Senegal as Mohamed Salah missed his penalty kick while fellow Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane converted his to send Senegal to the World Cup. Ghana also qualified as it edged out Nigeria on away goals after Thomas Partey scored early in the match. Despite Nigeria getting an equalizer from William Troost-Ekong’s penalty kick, Ghana was able to hang on for the 1-1 draw and qualify after missing out on the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Cameroon mounted a comeback in extra time to beat Algeria, Morocco cruised past the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 4-1 win, and a scoreless draw was enough for Tunisia to get past Mali.

USWNT Announces Roster for Friendlies

United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski named his 23-player roster for the upcoming friendlies on April 9 and 12 against Uzbekistan. Olympique Lyonnais midfielders Catarina Macario and Lindsey Horan are the only players on the roster who don’t play in the NWSL. A few other notable players on the roster are Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch, and Samantha Mewis. Unfortunately, Kansas City Current forward Lynn Williams won’t be joining the team as she suffered a season-ending leg injury and Chicago Red Stars defender Tierna Davidson tore her ACL. The team will first play Uzbekistan on April 9 in Columbus and then the two teams will face off again in Chester, PA on April 12.

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That will do it for me, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.

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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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18 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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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

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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: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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2 days 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.

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  • 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: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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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.

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  • 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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