Lion Links: 6/23/23

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you well as we gear up for another weekend filled with Orlando soccer. Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are in action tomorrow night, but we have the celebrity match tonight at Exploria Stadium to enjoy as well. It should be a nice couple of days, even if I’ll be on the road traveling to celebrate my brother’s birthday. But before we can get to all of that, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Extends Ivan Angulo’s Loan

Ivan Angulo will be a Lion for the rest of the year, with Orlando City exercising the option to extend the winger’s loan from Palmeiras for another six months. The 24-year-old joined Orlando on a one-year loan last July and has appeared in 27 matches, starting in 21 of them. Although he could be more consistent and improve his finishing, Angulo has often been electric for Orlando. He’s one of the fastest players on the team, skilled on the ball, and has contributed three goals and three assists this season.

Duncan McGuire Makes Team of the Matchday Bench

Rookie forward Duncan McGuire was named to the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday after scoring a goal and playing a part in the other in Orlando’s 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union. He had a great performance on both sides of the ball and showed plenty of hustle. Forwards Thorleifur Ulfarsson, Damir Kreilach, and Alan Pulido all made the starting Team of the Matchday after scoring braces and earning nominations for Player of the Matchday, which Kreilach won. It’s strange that Designated Player Martin Ojeda didn’t even land on the bench considering he had a great assist and a goal of his own in the match. But all that matters is that Orlando’s offense keeps clicking in Seattle this weekend.

Analyzing Jamaica Ahead of USMNT Match

The Concacaf Gold Cup gets started tomorrow night at 9:30 p.m. when the United States Men’s National Team takes on Jamaica in Chicago. Jamaica is riding a 10-game unbeaten streak dating back to last June and is coached by Heimir Hallgrímsson, the dentist who helped his home country of Iceland qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Jamaica may prove to be a tough nut to crack due to a pair of Philadelphia Union players in goalkeeper Andre Blake and center back Damion Lowe. Jamaica tends to throw numbers forward into the attack, with West Ham’s Michail Antonio and Shamar Nicholson of Spartak Moscow as two of the possible options up top. Everton’s Demarai Gray, who just switched from England to Jamaica earlier this week to play at the Gold Cup, could also prove to be a difference-maker for Jamaica this tournament.

NWSL Announces Increases in Player Compensation

Inspired by the record-breaking increase in the NWSL Challenge Cup’s prize money, the NWSL decided to increase the payouts for the NWSL Championship and NWSL Shield. Each player on the team with the best record at the end of the season will receive $15,000 instead of $10,000 now. As for the playoffs, the players will earn $3,750 for reaching the quarterfinals, $7,500 for the semifinals, $11,250 for the final, and $15,000 for winning the NWSL Championship. Players will also be eligible for a bonus for each match they play in the NWSL Challenge Cup.

Free Kicks

• Charlotte FC officially signed 34-year-old midfielder Scott Arfield, who has spent the past five seasons with Rangers FC.
• American winger Timothy Weah has reportedly agreed to join Juventus, although a transfer fee will still need to be worked out between the Italian club and Lille.
• The U.S. sits at the top of the CBS Women’s World Cup power rankings, with four other European nations rounding out the top five.
• American midfielder Lindsey Horan will remain in France with Olympique Lyonnais rather than return to the Portland Thorns.
• Chelsea’s owners have bought a majority stake in Strasbourg of Ligue 1. The French club finished 15th in the league this past season, avoiding relegation.
• Barcelona will reportedly sign Ilkay Gundogan as a free agent once his contract with Manchester City expires at the end of this month.

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