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Lion Links: 10/27/22

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this Thursday finds you well as we make our way through the work week. I haven’t had much time to get any reading or binge watching done, although my roommate has been singing the praises of Andor. If you have any show or book recommendations, feel free to let me know in the comments as I’m always on the hunt. Now, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world.

Haley Hanson Re-Signs With the Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride re-signed defender Haley Hanson to a two-year contract that will keep her in Orlando through the 2024 season. The 26-year-old joined the Pride after a trade with the Houston Dash this past August and she made six appearances for the Pride, starting in four games. Able to play at fullback or in the midfield, Hanson’s versatility and five years of experience in the league are important factors for a Pride side undergoing a rebuild.

Orlando City’s Future is Bright

Although the pandemic stalled things at the start, Orlando City’s youth system is making considerable progress. The club’s training ground, where academy players can train under the same roof as the first team, has been a fundamental part of developing young players. Orlando City U-17 Head Coach Javier Carrillo has also been critical to development, especially after receiving his Elite Formation Coaching License in France. Favian Loyola, who was named MVP of the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, credited Carrillo for helping him take his game to the next level. Carrillo guided the U-17 team to an MLS Cup championship in 2021 and the semifinals this past summer. Although this success hasn’t reached Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro just yet, Academy Director Marcelo Neveleff has high expectations.

“We want to grab our players’ hands, and take them through [this journey],” said Neveleff. “At the same time, if I take a player and walk them through it, at some point they’re going to have to walk and run on their own. By 2025 or 2026, the idea is that 50-60% of the First Team of Orlando City is composed of Academy players.”

San Diego Wave FC Head Coach and Goalkeeper Win NWSL Awards

The San Diego Wave certainly made a splash in their first year in the NWSL, finishing third in the league standings and reaching the semifinals of the playoffs. As a result of leading an expansion team to the playoffs for the first time in league history, Wave Head Coach Casey Stoney was named NWSL Coach of the Year. Although the club had many players unfamiliar with one another, Stoney helped the team get off to a strong start to the season with four wins in the first five matches. She becomes the second woman to receive the honor, joining OL Reign’s Laura Harvey.

The Wave’s Kailen Sheridan was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year as well. Joining the team from NJ/NY Gotham FC via a trade, Sheridan helped the Wave allow just 21 goals this past season. Sheridan had a 75% save percentage and stopped three of the four penalty kicks she faced. Her distribution was also stellar as she led all goalkeepers in successful long balls and even contributed an assist.

FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid Ousted From Champions League

Barcelona is headed to the Europa League for a second straight year after Inter Milan beat Viktoria Plzen 4-0. Its fate already sealed, Barcelona then went out and lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich. Atletico Madrid’s Champions League campaign also came to a close after a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. That match had a dramatic finish as Atletico was awarded a penalty after a handball on the final play of the game, but Yannick Carrasco’s penalty was saved. With Sevilla also headed to the Europa League, Real Madrid will be La Liga’s lone representative in the knockout stage.

In Group A, Napoli and Liverpool cruised to 3-0 wins over Rangers and Ajax, respectively. FC Porto advanced to the next round after a convincing 4-0 win against Club Brugge. Tottenham could have claimed its spot in the knockout stage as well, but it drew 1-1 with Sporting CP. It looked as if Harry Kane gave Tottenham a winner in stoppage time, but he was determined to be offside by the finest of margins.

Free Kicks

  • Charlotte FC removed Christian Lattanzio’s interim tag to make him head coach moving forward. Lattanzio’s contract was extended through the 2024 season, with an option for 2025 as well.
  • Sporting Kansas City signed defensive midfielder Nemanja Radoja to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old has 181 appearances in La Liga and will give Kansas City some strength in the center of the field.
  • The Portland Timbers signed Giovanni Savarese to a contract extension that will keep him in Portland through at least 2025, with an additional year as an option.
  • American forward Mia Fishel became the first foreign-born player to win the Liga MX Femenil’s Golden Boot, scoring 17 goals in her first year. Fishel was drafted by the Pride earlier this year, but chose to join Tigres in Mexico instead.
  • A USL League Two team is coming to Sarasota and will begin play next year. The team will host games at Sarasota High School and joins the Southeast Division with Tampa Bay United and The Villages SC.

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

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

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: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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