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Lion Links: 7/11/22

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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! It was a pretty good weekend for the club, though not perfect. Orlando City’s last-minute win and the Orlando Pride’s first win at home this year felt pretty good. I needed the good news considering our air conditioning unit is on the fritz and we’re dealing with some portable units to keep cool. Nothing reminds you it’s summer in Florida better than having the A/C go out. Fortunately, I have these links to keep me cool.

Orlando City B Suffers Loss to Inter Miami II

The Young Lions were unable to make it three for three for the club this weekend after falling 3-1 to Inter Miami II. Surprisingly, it was not Jack Lynn who scored the club’s only goal. OCB didn’t catch any breaks in the Subtropic Thunder rivalry match. Our Sean Rollins has your match recap. The Young Lions now sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with 14 points from 14 matches. OCB’s next match will take place this Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL against Chicago Fire II.

USWNT Closes Out Group Play Tonight

The United States Women’s National Team plays Mexico in its final group stage match of the Concacaf W Championship tonight. The U.S. has already qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, but only the winner of the tournament will directly qualify for the Olympics in 2024. Obviously, beating Mexico is always a priority, but that’s not the only reason for the USWNT to play to win. Our friends at Stars and Stripes FC have all the details to prepare you for the match tonight.

Wayne Rooney Reportedly Set to Coach D.C. United

According to the Washington Post, Wayne Rooney has agreed to terms to become D.C. United’s next head coach. This would be Rooney’s second coaching job since retiring as a player in 2021. D.C. United is coming off of a lopsided 7-0 loss to Philadelphia Union and sits at the bottom of the MLS standings. If the reported move comes to fruition, Rooney’s star power could bring in some talented players from Europe to fill the club’s open Designated Player spots and help turn things around. The 36-year-old is already in the U.S., although the visa process may mean it will take a few weeks before he’s on the sidelines coaching his former club.

Women’s Soccer Roundup

If you weren’t watching women’s soccer this Sunday, you missed some great matches. France’s 5-1 victory over Italy in the UEFA Women’s Euro featured five first-half goals from the French, including a record hat-trick by Grace Geyoro.

The Pride’s Gunny Jónsdóttir started for Iceland in a 1-1 draw against Belgium. It was an interesting match with a pair of penalty kicks and another that was called back due to an offside call. All four teams will be in action again on Thursday, with Iceland playing Italy and Belgium playing France.

The NWSL rolled on with three matches on Sunday. The North Carolina Courage and the Chicago Red Stars played to a 2-2 draw in Chicago. OL Reign hosted the Portland Thorns with a 2-2 result as well, and the Kansas City Current defeated the Washington Spirit, 1-0.

Keeping Up With Americans Abroad

Sergino Dest might be on the way out of Barcelona as the club looks to sell several players to help with its financial woes. The La Liga giants have debts totaling €1.35 billion. Barcelona is asking €20 million for the American defender to help deal with the financial crisis. Giovanni Reyna returned to training with Borussia Dortmund following an injury-plagued season. The midfielder missed the start of preseason, but will work his way back into the starting lineup. Supporters of the club and the USMNT are hoping his injury problems are in the past.

Sebastian Soto doesn’t seem to be in Dean Smith’s plans at Norwich City. As such, the striker was on trial with Barnsley over the weekend. Soto played 30 minutes in the match against Crewe Alexandra. Soto had been on loan with Livingston from Norwich since January.

Free Kicks

  • D.C. United’s Brad Smith tore his ACL during the match against the Philadelphia Union. The Australian defender will miss the rest of the season, the World Cup, and potentially part of next season.
  • Josef Martinez called out Atlanta United’s front office and his teammates following the club’s 3-0 loss to Austin FC in Atlanta.
  • Here is a list of the 14 teams that have qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, including the United States.
  • There is a long list of reasons why Qatar is not my destination of choice, despite the World Cup later this year. One of those reasons is that I like beer, and Qatar is a relatively dry country. FIFA is still working on a solution with Qatar to make an exception for the World Cup, though it will be regulated.
  • Valour FC’s William Akio became the textbook example of why players shouldn’t celebrate too soon. At least his side went on to win the match.


That will do it for today. Go USWNT!

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.

Free Kicks


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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