Connect with us

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/26/22

Published

on

Happy Saturday, Mane Landers. I hope you all enjoyed a delicious meal or two with friends and family over Thanksgiving. Maybe, you even found a great Black Friday deal on a new Orlando City jersey. Personally, I had to cut my festivities short after finding out I have the flu. Let this serve as your friendly reminder to go get your flu shot if you haven’t already! I seem to be on the mend though and feeling a little bit better each day.

Before we drop down into the links, let’s all wish Orlando City B midfielder Erick Gunera-Calix a happy 21st birthday. Now, let’s get to today’s links!

USMNT Lacks Finishing Prowess in 0-0 Draw Versus England

The United States Men’s National Team fought to a scoreless draw Friday against England to earn a point against one of the tournament favorites. While the USMNT had the lion’s share of shots, the closest the Yanks ever came to burying one was a Christian Pulisic’s doink off the bar.

Throughout the match, the Yanks were able to slow down a potent England attack after the Three Lions won their last match with six goals. The back line pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream did enough to limit the dangerous Harry Kane’s opportunities. For England, Harry Maguire seemed to be the thorn in the USMNT side as he was clinical in aerial duels, clearing away any chance that came into his box. Later in the second half, Gio Reyna came on the pitch for the first time in a World Cup match 16 years after his father played his last for the Americans. The draw also kept the unbeaten streak alive for both the USMNT and USWNT in World Cup matches against England.

The result sets up the USMNT needing a victory in its final group match against Iran on Tuesday to advance to the knockout stages. England will qualify as long as it avoids a three-goal defeat in its match against Wales.

Friday’s World Cup Roundup

Around the World Cup in Qatar, other teams were starting to solidify their fates in the tournament. Senegal defeated host nation Qatar 3-1 and by doing so eliminated Qatar from Round of 16 contention. Iran kept its hopes of qualification for the World Cup round of 16 alive by scoring twice in the final 11 minutes of stoppage time to defeat 10-man Wales, 2-0, and throw Group B wide open. Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off in the 86th minute for a clattering foul on Mehdi Taremi outside the box.

Enner Valencia has his eyes set on the Golden Boot after scoring his third goal in two games for Ecuador. The match finished 1-1 against the Netherlands. In two of the last four World Cups, five goals has been good enough to win the Golden Boot. Elsewhere on the pitch, former Orlando City and current LAFC midfielder Sebas Mendez earned his second yellow card of the tournament and will miss the country’s third group stage match against Senegal due to accumulation.

Neymar Seeking Treatment For Return

Brazil could be without Neymar for the remainder of the World Cup group stage after he suffered an ankle injury in their opening win against Serbia on Thursday. The Brazilian football association has now confirmed both Neymar and right back Danilo will miss Brazil’s next match against Switzerland on Monday.

“Neymar and Danilo started treatment yesterday immediately after the game,” Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said in a video published on Friday. “This morning they were reevaluated. The tests showed a lateral ligament injury on Neymar’s right ankle, along with a small bone edema and a medial ligament injury on Danilo’s left ankle. The players are still undergoing treatment.”

For Neymar, it is the latest World Cup injury disappointment, having also missed the 2014 semifinal loss to Germany after picking up an injury in the quarterfinal against Colombia. Brazil currently leads Group G along with Switzerland, which opened with a win against Cameroon.

Diego Maradona Remembered

Former teammates of Argentina legend Diego Maradona gathered at the World Cup on Friday to pay tribute to the icon on the second anniversary of his death. Maradona has long been considered one of the greatest players in history. Unfortunately, Maradona passed away at the age of 60 on Nov. 25, 2020 after battling drug and alcohol abuse for years. Maradona remains very much present in the minds of Argentina fans. Many supporters still wear his jersey, they sing about his “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, and continuously debate whether comparisons to Lionel Messi are appropriate.

“We cannot compare them. We cannot say whether one is better than the other,” Giusti said. “They are different. They are both geniuses. And Argentinian. We have to enjoy it.”

Argentina is set to clash with Mexico today at 2 p.m. This will be Messi’s latest chance to try to set himself apart from the icon.

Free Kicks


Well, that’s all I have for you today, folks. Stay safe during your holiday travels, use plenty of hand sanitizer, and cherish the moments with your loved ones. Vamos Orlando!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/2/24

Orlando City’s playoff run ends, Barbra Banda nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player, USWNT draws against England, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving weekend spent with your family and loved ones. Under Armour kept me busy all weekend, along with working at Wrigley Field for the Northwestern and Illinois college football game. Let’s all wish Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar a happy birthday! It was frustrating to see Orlando City’s season end over the weekend, but let’s get to the links to catch up on all of the action.

Lions Fall to the New York Red Bulls in MLS Playoffs

Orlando City’s 2024 MLS playoff run ended on Saturday after a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference final. Andres Reyes scored the lone goal to seal the win for the Red Bulls to advance to the MLS Cup final for the second time in club history. It’s the second time this postseason that the Lions have been shut out. Orlando didn’t beat the Red Bulls at all this year, drawing 1-1 at home and falling 1-0 on the road during the regular season prior to this playoff match. Orlando’s 2024 season ends just one round before reaching what would have been its first MLS Cup final appearance. Considering how Orlando’s season started, turning things around to finish as one of the final four teams in the playoffs gives the Lions something to build on next year.

Barbra Banda Nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player Award

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2024 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. Banda is coming off a stellar season in her first year with the Pride, leading the club with 17 goals and scoring the winning goal against the Washington Spirit to seal Orlando’s first NWSL Championship title. She scored a hat trick for Zambia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris against Australia as well. USWNT players Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman are also in contention for the award. Other notable players nominated are last year’s winner, Aitana Bonmati, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, and Jamaican forward Khadija Shaw.

LA Galaxy Beat Seattle Sounders to Reach MLS Cup Final

In the Western Conference final, the LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Dejan Joveljic scored a late goal in the second half to seal the win for the Galaxy and clinch a spot in the MLS Cup final. Joveljic has scored five goals in the postseason and the Galaxy return to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2014. Riqui Puig added the assist on Joveljic’s goal and has three assists and four goals this postseason. Unfortunately, Puig suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the match and will miss the final when the Galaxy host the Red Bulls on Saturday.

USWNT and England Play to Scoreless Draw in Friendly

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team fought to a scoreless draw against England in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium. The USWNT thought it had scored a goal in the second half courtesy of Lindsey Horan, but the goal was waived off due to offside. The USWNT was also given a penalty kick after it appeared defender Alex Greenwood handled the ball, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. The USWNT will travel to The Hague to take on the Netherlands tomorrow at ADO Den Haag Stadium at 2:45 p.m. for its final match to close out the year.

Scouting Report on the Netherlands

Stars and Stripes FC unveiled its scouting report on the Netherlands. The USWNT will face the Netherlands for the 11th time, winning eight of the past matches. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage. Some notable names on the Dutch roster include forward Chasity Grant, goalkeeper Lize Kop, and defender Dominique Janssen. Kop is known for her quickness to get to the ground and possesses the physical strength to absorb contact from her opponents when going after aerial balls. Veteran defender Danielle van de Donk is another player to keep an eye out for, as she can still provide a spark and identify gaps in the opposition’s defense. Even though this is a friendly, this match will provide another test for Head Coach Emma Hayes to give opportunities to the younger players while building chemistry for the squad.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were both in action for Brazil in a friendly on Sunday. Brazil won 2-1 over Australia.

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

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/29/24

Orlando City’s deepest playoff run so far, USWNT prepares for England, Europa League roundup, and more.

Published

on

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Welcome to Friday, Mane Landers. Hopefully your Thanksgiving was a joyous one filled with great food and greater company. If not, at least you can revel in the fact that the weekend is right around the corner (many of you may already be in yours because of the holiday) and is packed with plenty of soccer to enjoy. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Enters the Unknown

Despite a slow start to the season, Orlando City finds itself further in the playoffs than ever before and will host the New York Red Bulls Saturday night in the Eastern Conference final. The Lions may be in uncharted territory, but they have plenty of experience in knockout tournaments to draw upon. Taylor Twellman broke down how the Lions reached this point and became one of the top teams in the league. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese helped solidify Orlando’s defense, and attackers Facundo Torres, Ramiro Enrique, and Martin Ojeda all found their groove at the right time.

Along with recognizing the many weapons in Orlando’s dynamic offense, Bradley Wright-Phillips gave deserved praise to midfield duo Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena, who have made life difficult for opponents. As for the key Red Bulls players to watch for tomorrow, Emil Forsberg has the team firing on all cylinders and Lewis Morgan may be due for a big game. He has a history of success against Orlando.

USWNT Prepares for Friendly Against England

The United States Women’s National Team will take on England at Wembley Stadium Saturday in the first of two friendlies to close out the year. It will be the 20th match between the two nations, with England winning the most recent meeting on Oct. 7, 2022. England boasts plenty of talent all over its roster, including forward Beth Mead and defender Lucy Bronze. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse is a part of England’s roster. It should be a great match between the two highest ranked teams in the world and also an interesting chess match between coaches Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman.

USMNT Moves Up in FIFA Rankings

The latest men’s FIFA rankings were unveiled and the U.S. jumped up two spots to 16th following its pair of wins over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The Yanks are the highest-ranked Concacaf team, with Mexico falling three spots to 19th and Canada climbing four spots to 31st. There was also some movement in the top 10 of the rankings, with Germany moving up to 10th while Colombia fell to 12th. Argentina remains at the top of the rankings despite a loss to Paraguay and a narrow win over Peru.

Keeping Up With the Europa League

The UEFA Europa League rolled on and Manchester United came up with a crucial win in manager Ruben Amorim’s first home game at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho scored early and Rasmus Højlund had a brace to help the team rally and beat Bodø/Glimt 3-2. Elsewhere in England, Mats Hummels scored an equalizer in stoppage time for AS Roma to draw 2-2 against Tottenham. Lazio’s perfect run in the tournament came to an end after a scoreless draw against Ludogorets. Rangers, Fenerbahce, and Eintracht Frankfurt came up with solid wins in this latest round of matches as well.

Free Kicks


That’s all I have for you all this time around. If you plan on going out and shopping today, I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be staying in and knocking out some gift buying online. Have a great Friday!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/28/24

Orlando City prepares for Eastern Conference final, details revealed on Osceola Heritage Park changes, MLS roster changes, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Thanksgiving, Mane Landers! I don’t have too much preparation today beyond putting together some cranberry and brie bites for my family. The baking trials over the past week were more…trialing than expected, but I think I’ve figured out how to make them without giving myself too much stress today. My muffin tin was also a bit bigger than is probably optimal, so they come out more like muffins than anything. Before we dive into today’s links, here’s a picture of an imperfect batch before I realized they need a drizzle that I’ll make today.

Orlando City Prepares for the New York Red Bulls

For the first time in club history, Orlando City will take part in an Eastern Conference final when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. It will be the third game between the two teams this year, and the Lions did not win either of the previous two meetings. The past hardly matters now though, as both teams are now just a game away from playing in the MLS Cup final. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on the importance of Saturday’s game and how the Lions are preparing for their last home game of 2024.

Changes Planned For Osceola Heritage Park

Public documents revealed some of the major changes planned for Osceola Heritage Park following the Wilf family’s submitted proposal for parts of the land. The project is estimated to cost close to $1.3 billion and would include expansions for the team’s headquarters, academy, and 18 training fields. There are also plans for apartments, hotels, and restaurants and construction could begin next year. Orlando’s letter of interest in the land was the only one submitted and Osceola County Manager Don Fisher will reportedly recommend that county commissioners proceed with negotiations with the Wilf family.

Eliminated MLS Clubs Make Roster Moves

With only four contenders left in the MLS playoffs, the eliminated teams have turned their attention to getting their rosters ready for 2025. LAFC exercised the options on the contracts for goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and David Ochoa. It declined the option on MLS veteran Kei Kamara’s contract and is in discussions with forward Carlos Vela and defender Aaron Long as well. Former Lion Benji Michel’s contract option with Real Salt Lake was one of many declined by the club. Rubio Rubin, Maikel Chang, and Marcelo Silva won’t be in Salt Lake City next year either. Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Dayne St. Clair predictably had their contract options exercised by Minnesota United, while former Lion Derek Dodson had his declined.

The Columbus Crew will roll into 2025 without Yaw Yeboah or Alexandru Matan, but is keeping a decent amount of players around like Christian Ramirez, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and Patrick Schulte. Luis Suarez and Inter Miami have also agreed to a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through 2025.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The most exciting match from the latest round of Champions League matches was in the Netherlands, with PSV Eindhoven coming back to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2. The Americans shined, as Malik Tillman scored twice to tie things up, and then Ricardo Pepi provided the winner in stoppage time as a substitute. Benfica also had a thrilling 3-2 win thanks to a pair of late assists from Angel Di Maria to beat Monaco.

Real Madrid’s rough tournament continued with a 2-0 loss to Liverpool that included Kylian Mbappe having a penalty kick saved and an injury to Eduardo Camavinga. Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa and Juventus battled to a scoreless draw in England, and Ngal’ayel Mukau had a brace in Lille’s 2-1 victory against Bologna. Cameron Carter-Vickers had a rough day after an own goal in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Club Brugge.

Free Kicks

  • Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner may have revealed that not every MLS team will take part in Leagues Cup next year, which would be a change from its past iterations.
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy will reportedly become Leicester City’s next manager. This news comes after his solid and brief stint as Manchester United’s interim head coach.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and enjoy plenty of great food and time with friends and family.

Continue Reading

Trending