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Lion Links: 12/8/22

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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ll confess that I’ve been able to get so much more done each morning during this brief break in World Cup action. This has also been nice for the needed holiday shopping I need to get done as we sprint through December. I still miss the daily dose of soccer though, so it’s a good thing the quarterfinals start tomorrow. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Re-Sign Viviana Villacorta

Viviana Villacorta will be back with the Orlando Pride next season after re-signing a new two-year contract. This move keeps a talented, young player with the team while it continues to rebuild. Villacorta was drafted by the Pride with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, but the pandemic and a torn ACL resulted in her not making her Pride debut until this past season. The 23-year-old didn’t have a goal or an assist in her 15 appearances with the Pride, but she passed the ball well and was solid on the defensive side of things in the midfield.

MLS College Showcase Invites 44 College Players

The third-ever MLS College Showcase will begin tomorrow in Raleigh and run through Monday as 44 invitees will aim to impress MLS technical staffs through training sessions, interviews, and more. It is a closed-door event and will give MLS clubs a chance to scout players ahead of the MLS SuperDraft on Dec. 21. Three University of Central Florida players were invited — senior winger Gino Vivi, junior forward Lucca Dourado, and sophomore left back Anderson Rosa. Orlando City has two picks in the first round of this year’s draft, including the sixth overall pick courtesy of the Chicago Fire.

Discussions Reportedly Begin Over Gregg Berhalter’s Contract

Preliminary talks are reportedly set to begin between Gregg Berhalter and the U.S. Soccer Federation in regards to a new contract as his existing deal expires at the end of the year. Berhalter led the United States Men’s National Team to the Round of 16 in the World Cup before falling 3-1 to the Netherlands. Although the road to qualifying for this World Cup included some bumps along the way, Berhalter’s time at the helm included wins over Mexico to win the 2021 Gold Cup and the Concacaf Nations League. Berhalter is reportedly interested in coaching opportunities in Europe, and these discussions should help both sides find a satisfying solution as the U.S. starts preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

Looking Ahead to the World Cup Quarterfinals

The World Cup quarterfinals kick off tomorrow and every remaining team has a decent case for winning the whole thing. This tournament has featured plenty of upsets, but the favorites still loom large over the knockout stage. Brazil was unstoppable in its 4-1 win over South Korea, but faces a Croatian team that knows how to manage a game and advance. Those two nations will square off tomorrow at 10 a.m., with Argentina taking on the Netherlands later at 2 p.m. in what should also be a great match. On Saturday, Portugal’s explosive offense will battle against a formidable Moroccan defense that’s only allowed one goal so far. But the match I’m most looking forward to is Saturday’s heavyweight clash between England and France at 2 p.m. to close out the quarterfinals.

Free Kicks

  • Following a strong showing at the World Cup, American midfielder Yunus Musah is reportedly garnering interest from a trio of English Premier League teams. A bidding war could break out between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea over the 20-year-old, whose contract with Valencia doesn’t expire until 2026.
  • D.C. United signed left back Mohanad Jeahze to a three-year deal through 2025, with an option for 2026. Jeahze joins D.C. after three seasons with Hammarby IF, contributing five goals and 19 assists in 89 appearances with the Swedish club.
  • Rumors are swirling about the United States participating in the 2024 Copa America, but the U.S. may end up hosting the tournament as well.

  • The Kansas City Current signed veteran midfielders Morgan Gautrat and Vanessa DiBernardo to two-year contracts. Both players join the Current as free agents after years of playing together with the Chicago Red Stars.
  • The Houston Dynamo signed former Toronto FC forward Ifunanyachi Achara for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024 as well. Achara was selected by the Dynamo in the second stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft and could give the team a needed boost on offense.
  • Here’s a list of remaining MLS free agents who can make an impact next season. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing veteran forward Kei Kamara or midfielder Memo Rodriguez in purple next year. Goalkeepers Sean Johnson and James Pantemis are other free agents to keep an eye on depending on how talks shake out with Pedro Gallese.
  • Eden Hazard has played his last game for Belgium. The 31-year-old retired from the international team after Belgium’s exit from the World Cup in the group stage.
  • Despite Germany’s exit from the World Cup, Hansi Flick will stick around as head coach to lead the team through the 2024 European Championship, which Germany will host.
  • You’ll be able to watch more Wrexham games now that an agreement was made allowing National League matches to be streamed. Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has been pushing for this to happen, and it’s nice that the streaming deal will benefit all 72 teams involved.

That’s all I have for you today. 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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