Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/4/22
Good morning, Mane Landers. With the international break still underway, we will not be seeing the Orlando City first team in action this weekend. And unfortunately, we did watch the Orlando Pride lose 5-0 last night. Do not worry though. There is still plenty of soccer to watch this weekend as the Young Lions take on NYCFC II at 7 p.m. tonight. The USMNT has another match as well against Uruguay tomorrow at 5 p.m. as they continue to gear up for this year’s World Cup. But no matter where this weekend takes you, I hope it is a relaxing and enjoyable one. Don’t go anywhere, it’s time for the links!
Pride Crushed by the Houston Dash
The Houston Dash put on a scoring clinic, defeating the Orlando Pride by five goals at PNC Stadium on Friday night. The scoring kicked off in the 27th minute and that was just the beginning of a long night on the road for the Pride. Shortly after, the goals began to pile on and Orlando never found an answer. While the Pride did finish the match with more possession, it was never a game that they seemed they might be able to work back into. Hopefully, the team can learn from this and put it behind them as they head to Chicago to take on the Red Stars next Sunday, June 12.
U.S. Soccer Federation CEO Stepping Down
The USSF has announced that CEO Will Wilson will step down on Oct. 31 “to pursue new professional ventures and opportunities.” He will continue as acting CEO and secretary general until that date while the federation searches for his replacement.
“It has been an honor to work with the U.S. Soccer board and the dedicated executives and staff at the Federation, and especially with Cindy Parlow Cone, during this pivotal time in sports and for the organization,” Wilson said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer. “My goal has always been to make sure the Federation was in a better place than when I started, and I’m stepping away knowing that the organization is positioned for continued long-term global success.”
Over the past two years, Wilson was heavily involved in transforming the federation. U.S. Soccer ended its partnership with the Development Academy system, resolved a number of lawsuits, announced the decision to market its own broadcasting rights, and signed a joint collective bargaining agreement between the USMNT and USWNT that equalizes both pay and World Cup bonuses.
It should be noted that Wilson will formally leave the federation just three weeks before the start of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. While some might think this is leaving at a pivotal time, the recent announcement of the joint CBA means he has left the federation in the strongest position it’s been in for years.
USMNT World Cup Roster Tryouts
This month’s slew of matches for the USMNT will be the longest stint together this year for the players. With two friendlies (vs. Morocco and Uruguay) and two Concacaf Nations League matches (vs. Grenada and El Salvador), there will be a lot of time in camp for USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter to evaluate his talent. Additionally, there will be one more short camp in September with two to-be-announced friendlies in Europe during that international window.
Shortly after, probably in early November, Berhalter and his staff will finalize which 23 or 26 (depending on FIFA’s final decision regarding roster sizes) players will board the plane to Qatar ahead of the USMNT Group B opener on Nov. 21. The players in the current camp all know now is the time to make their mark. Friendly competition among the squad during trainings, performances during matches, and overall chemistry and camaraderie all play into the decision.
“Sometimes when a new player comes into the group, it’s very difficult for them to break in. But what I hear time and time again, when new players come into our environment, is that they’re welcomed and they feel really comfortable, and they’re in a good position to perform. And that’s the most important thing,” said the coach.
“And I’m proud of that, because I know now is a competitive time, right? People are jockeying for positions on the World Cup team, potentially, but you don’t see it from these guys. You see they work extremely hard, and they’re extremely close together as a group, which is fun.”
Some athletes might shy away or fold under the pressure. But for the USMNT, the battle for minutes and spots coexists with respect, camaraderie and shared purpose. It represents an “iron sharpens iron” approach that has brought each of these players this far in their careers.
USMNT World Cup Opponent to be Decided
The USMNT is just a day away from learning its third Group B opponent at the 2022 World Cup. Wales and Ukraine meet in Europe’s last qualifying playoff final at Cardiff City Stadium. You can catch the match at 12 p.m. on ESPN.
Wales should have a full strength roster after resting a handful of top players in Wednesday’s 2-1 Nations League defeat at Poland. Wales is currently on an 18-game unbeaten streak on home soil, but has not qualified for a World Cup since 1958. The country has made two straight Euros appearances though. Gareth Bale, who is the country’s top goal scorer with 38 in 102 senior caps, defender Ben Davies, and midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen will likely all find their names on the marquee for the starting XI.
For Ukraine, this match is more than just soccer. The players see it as a way they can offer their fellow Ukrainians a morale boost amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of their country. Last Wednesday, they pulled off an epic 3-1 playoff semifinal victory over Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Emotions are surely still running high, but Ukraine will look to keep those in check as the side is now only one win away from returning to the World Cup. Ukraine last made the World Cup in 2006, though it logged a quarterfinal run at the 2020 Euros just last summer.
Free Kicks
- Talking Sports Law interviewed Caesar Lopez, the general counsel for Orlando City and Orlando Pride.
- Former Orlando City forward Cyle Larin is reportedly on the move. Well, he is shopping around at least.
Cyle Larin is leaving Besiktas. He is open to possible offers from Turkey but will reportedly prioritize the highest bidder and move ASAP. #CanMNThttps://t.co/QG9oMEgXwp
— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) June 2, 2022
- Here is how to watch the USMNT vs Uruguay match and a preview ahead of the match tomorrow.
- Real Salt Lake’s captain, Damir Kreilach, has undergone surgery for a back issue that had kept him off the field since April 17, likely ending his 2022 campaign.
- Real Salt Lake has signed U.S. youth international midfielder Diego Luna from USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC via permanent transfer.
- At 15 years and 252 days old, highly-rated U.S. youth international midfielder Cruz Medina has become the third-youngest player in club history for the San Jose Earthquakes by signing as a Homegrown Player through the 2026 season.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is committed to staying at Manchester United next season and confident the club will win trophies under new manager Erik ten Hag.
- Manchester City has signed Deyna Castellanos to a three-year deal from Atletico Madrid.
Well, that’s all folks. I hope you enjoyed the links and are off on an adventurous weekend. Stay safe, make someone smile, text an old friend or loved one, and be a good human. Vamos Orlando!
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.
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.
Free Kicks
- The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeated England 3-0 to claim third place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
- The MLS NEXT Pro Cup is set, as North Texas SC will host Philadelphia Union II on Saturday. Both clubs shut out their opponents over the weekend to advance.
- Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah posted a message on social media hinting at his future at the club after he scored the winning goal against Brighton on Saturday.
- Wrexham was eliminated from the FA Cup after a 1-0 defeat against Harrogate Town in the first round.
- In its first league match since firing former manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United drew 1-1 against Chelsea on Sunday.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
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.
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.
- St. Louis City’s home stadium has been named Energizer Park as part of the club’s partnership with the battery manufacturer.
- The NWSL announced the schedule of events leading into the NWSL Championship on Nov. 23. The NWSL Skills Challenge will take place the night prior and the winner of the Lauren Holiday Impact Award will be announced on the day of the match.
- Chicago Fire FC II midfielder David Poreba was named 2024 MLS NEXT Pro MVP after leading the league with 18 goals this season.
- Ruben Amorim stated that there will be clarification on his reported move to Manchester United after Sporting CP’s match today.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and a relaxing weekend!
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.
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.
- Diego Chara will return for a 15th season with the Portland Timbers after signing a contract extension with the club through 2025, with an option for 2026 as well.
- Concacaf announced that next year’s Gold Cup final will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston on July 6.
- In its first game since Erik ten Hag’s firing, Manchester United scored four goals in the first half of a 5-2 win over Leicester City. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes both bagged braces in the dominant display at home.
- Jamal Musiala had a hat trick in the first half of Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win against Mainz in the German Cup.
- Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have become co-owners of Wrexham Lager, the brewery that is also one of the team’s sponsors and was founded in 1882.
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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