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Lion Links: 10/1/22

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Welcome to Spooky Season, Mane Landers! If you are anything like me, you were counting down the days until FIFA 23 released yesterday. Luckily, I had the day off from work and was able to spend it relaxing and playing the latest edition. For this year, I decided to take on the Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney challenge of putting Wrexham AFC into English Football League Two and attempting to continue winning leagues and promotions until I finally lift the Premier League trophy. Don’t fear though as I have not fully abandoned Orlando City! For my Ultimate Team online mode side hustle, I am working towards acquiring all the purple cosmetic items, club jerseys and badge, and of course making Ted Lasso Orlando City’s newest manager. But enough of my FIFA goals, enjoy these links from around the soccer world.

Orlando Pride Close Season Tonight

The Orlando Pride end their 2022 campaign tonight with a match at Lumen Field at 10 p.m. In the first match-up with OL Reign, the Pride dropped points by giving away a 92nd-minute goal to fall 2-1.

“It’ll be a competitive game. We know what to expect with the way that the Reign play, we experienced it not long ago at our own stadium,” Interim Head Coach Seb Hines said. “It’ll be a tough game, another challenge for us and something that we can build from from our last game with San Diego. We want to continue to play the way that we want to play and there’s no better way to do it than at Seattle.”

The loss to OL Reign also snapped a seven-match unbeaten streak, which finished tied for the second longest in club history. The Pride have found themselves in a poor run of form since the loss but were able to at least halt their losing streak Sunday against the San Diego Wave with a draw. While tonight’s game will conclude the 2022 season for the Pride, the Reign will surely be firing on all cylinders to secure all three points with the potential for the NWSL Shield still within reach.

Orlando City Hunts For Home Playoff Game

The Lions of Orlando City travel to Red Bull Arena to take on New York City FC Sunday at 1 p.m. While both teams are playing away from “home,” NYCFC will still feel as if it has the home field advantage, being local and not needing to travel far despite statistics begging to differ.

The silver lining for the Lions, however, will be a full-sized pitch compared to that of Yankee Stadium, where the Pigeons usually play matches. With a win, Orlando City threatens to knock NYCFC out of the top four in the Eastern Conference and make a run at hosting a home playoff match. FC Cincinnati is also only three points behind NYCFC at the time of this writing and banging on the door. Sunday’s stakes are high, as an NYCFC win solidifies a first-round playoff bye for New York side, while Orlando City could either greatly strengthen or jeopardize its postseason position.

MLS Players Locked in for Qatar

The United States Men’s National Team just wrapped up the final tune-up camp before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With the final stretch run of the MLS season soon coming to a close, many domestic players are wondering if they will get a ticket to be on the plane to Qatar. ESPNFC’s Jeff Carlisle gives his take on which MLS-based USMNT players will be guaranteed to make the trip.

Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman has done well to claim a place on the back line. FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira continues to make his case to be Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s No. 9 in the attack. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta of LAFC has show his own versatility as a depth player and can fill in as a holding midfielder or at one of the No. 8 spots. The real question marks at this point are for NYCFC’s Sean Johnson as a third-string goalkeeper, FC Dallas winger Paul Arriola, and Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan.

With matches still to be played in the MLS season and playoffs to come, many factors are still in play. A player could take a knock, fall out of form, find incredible form, or even work his way out of his club’s good graces. It still might be too far to know for sure, but let us know in the comments which MLS players you think are locked in for the World Cup.

Jesse Marsch Loves Leeds United

Leeds United Head Coach Jesse Marsch is an American soccer legend currently leading his club in the Premier League. Prior to his coaching days, Marsch played 14 seasons as a midfielder in MLS with D.C. United, the Chicago Fire, and Chivas USA, while collecting three league titles and four U.S. Open Cup trophies along the way. Since then, he has written quite the resume as a coach and USMNT fans have taken notice.

In 2010, Marsch retired from his playing career and became an assistant coach for the USMNT under Bob Bradley, reaching the Round of 16 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He then became the inaugural head coach of the Montreal Impact upon their entry to MLS in 2012. And in 2015, Marsch was hired as head coach of the New York Red Bulls and stayed in the role through the first half of the 2018 MLS season. In his first year coaching the Red Bulls, the club won the Supporters Shield and he was named MLS Coach of the Year.

Despite his success at the club level, Marsch claims he would not leave Leeds now if he was offered a position at the helm of the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup cycle.

“I don’t want to leave. If I got an offer to go anywhere in the world right now to coach football I wouldn’t leave this spot,” Marsch, who coaches USMNT stars Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams at Leeds, said on Friday.

“I’m more happy in my career than I’ve ever been and I’m very thankful to be here, and my total focus and our total focus is just trying to maximize what we’re achieving every day.”

If Berhalter does not get out of the group stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there will be plenty of vocal fans calling for his dismissal. Jesse Marsch is sure to be on the short list of coaches to take over the position. Let us know in the comments who you think should be Berhalter’s successor. Or, do you think Berhalter should be the coach all the way through the 2026 cycle?

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  • Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja updated player injuries and storm experiences in his Friday press conference.


That’s all I have for you today. After that opening paragraph, I’m sure you know where to find me this weekend. I will be kicked back and couch-coaching my virtual teams to victory. Of course, I will take a break to catch the Lions and Pride play, though. Vamos Orlando!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/29/24

Lions brace for the Red Bulls, Pride take on Chicago, OCB will play Inter Miami II in Bradenton, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! Today marks one year since we here at The Mane Land published our first story here at our new independent home. It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s already been a year. Thank you all for sticking with us or checking us out since our move. That kind of support goes farther than you might think. I joined the team back in October of 2016 as an editor and it’s only just now hitting me that I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of my entire life. Here’s hoping for another great year of independence and Orlando soccer!

Orlando City Set to Host New York Red Bulls

Orlando City’s match at home Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls was noted as one of the top matches in the league this weekend. The Lions earned their first win of the MLS season last weekend and will look to build on that momentum heading into tomorrow. The Lions will also get a boost from players returning from international duty, with Duncan McGuire, Facundo Torres, David Brekalo, and Peruvian duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena back. They’ll have their hands full against a New York team that’s coming off of a 4-0 win over Inter Miami. Lewis Morgan had a hat trick in that match and Orlando’s defense will have to find a way to keep him and the rest of the Red Bulls from running rampant.

Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Tonight

The Orlando Pride’s third match of the NWSL season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride enter this match following a gritty 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, with Brazilians Angelina and Marta linking up on a corner kick for a late equalizer. One thing to keep an eye on in tonight’s match will be how the Pride’s shorthanded defense can limit Chicago’s attack. The Pride have targeted versatile players while rebuilding, and that proved to be worth it last week as multiple players stepped up to fortify the back line. The last time these two sides squared off in Orlando was in August of last year, with the Pride coming up with a big 5-0 win. Hopefully we get to see a similar result tonight.

OCB Match Will Be Part of Generation Adidas Cup

Tuesday’s MLS NEXT Pro match between Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton and will be part of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup. The participating teams of the tournament were invited to attend the match, along with their families, and fans can watch the match for free on the league website. The match will be broadcast in English, but a new AI dubbing platform will be used to instantly translate it into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. It will supposedly maintain voice and tone, so I’m morbidly curious to hear just how artificial it will sound.

Generations Adidas Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow

Speaking of the Generation Adidas Cup, the youth tournament kicks off tomorrow. All MLS academy teams will compete alongside some of the top youth teams from around the world in both the U-15 and U-17 age groups. Orlando City’s U-15 side was noted as one to watch after a strong run of form this year. Caleb Trombino has been solid defensively and Jakob Garcia has the attacking talent to light it up in this tournament. The team can make a statement when it takes on Arsenal’s U-15 squad at 10 a.m. this Sunday. That match, along with 27 others, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass.

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  • The Lions received some special visitors for their training.
  • Somehow, the Seattle Reign’s Ji So-Yun beat Marta to win NWSL Goal of the Week.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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

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