Lion Links: 7/19/23

Happy Wednesday, Mane Landers! I don’t know why, but I still think of that old camel commercial every so often on hump day. Aside from being a camel’s favorite day of the week, it is also one of our favorite days of the season as we’re in the MLS All-Star break. Tonight, you can tune in to watch the MLS All-Stars take on Arsenal at 8:30 p.m. While there won’t be any Orlando City players in the match, that is fine by me, as they can rest up for Friday’s bout with the Houston Dynamo in Leagues Cup action. Who doesn’t love a little midseason cup run? Let’s take a look at it all in today’s links!

Orlando Prepares for Leagues Cup

Orlando City hosts the Houston Dynamo on Friday night at Exploria Stadium in the midseason tournament. This will be Houston’s second visit in as many years to Orlando, having lost 2-1 to the Lions last summer. In MLS action, the Dynamo head into the Leagues Cup just above the playoff line in ninth place in the Western Conference. Orlando City center back Antonio Carlos is nearing a personal milestone, as he is only two appearances away from 100 across all competitions for the club.

OCB’s Alejandro Granados Reportedly on the Move

The Belgian Pro League is the top league in Belgium, and Club Brugge is looking to bring the blossoming talents of Orlando City B midfielder Alejandro Granados across the ocean to it. Having played just one single minute for the senior Lions, a $2 million price tag would be extremely high for just an Orlando City academy prospect. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert ($) has sources claiming that could very well be the transfer fee though. The 17-year-old made his MLS debut in June following five appearances for Spain at the U-17 European Championships in May.

Rivalry Win Boosts Confidence for Lions

The 2-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday night has pushed Orlando City’s defensive confidence another level higher. For Lions Head Coach Oscar Pareja, he knows that he made two prior mistakes earlier this season when not bringing on an extra defender early.

“I’m still carrying a little bit of pain from the two games at home against Atlanta and New York City where I could have helped the team by adding a third defender in a moment that we needed it. Today, in the last 15 minutes, I said well, we’re coming from a hard game in Salt Lake, so it’s normal that they were feeling the pressure. So we said okay, we’re going to defend with an extra center back, because crosses are going to come and we’re going to make sure that we control that part.”

In the dying moments of this recent win, when five minutes of stoppage slowly became 10, Orlando City was able to weather the storm and walk out with all three points from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Wilfredo Rivera Nominated for Goal of the Matchday

The Young Lions are up to eighth in the latest MLS NEXT Pro Power Rankings following two wins out of their last three matches. With a strike in the 76th minute from way downtown, Wilfredo Rivera launched himself into MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchday contention in a 3-2 comeback victory with only 10-men over Atlanta United 2. Orlando City B is back in action on Sunday when it takes on Chicago Fire II.

USWNT’s World Cup Squad Makeup

The United States Women’s National Team roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup features players from ages of 18 to 38. With all of the veteran experience among the squad, it helps to create strength and camaraderie in the squad for those getting their first call-ups to the biggest tournament in the women’s game.

“I think the veterans have been so incredible about telling us what we’re getting into,” said midfielder Andi Sullivan. “They’ve just shared and given examples of [World Cup] craziness in the past. They’ve reiterated to lean on them if there’s something we’re struggling with, which I think is such an incredible thing to do. They want to perform their best but they’re still looking out for us newbies. I think it’s been incredible and has given the whole team this sense of confidence.”

On top of having a range of ages in the team, this will also be a squad that boasts nine women of color. However, the team’s diversity extends beyond race, with several players being openly gay as well. The players hope to be the women they wished they’d seen play when they were younger, ensuring children of color, queer kids, and others will always feel they have a home in the game. 

“I think it’s just awesome that the national team is starting to look like the nation,” forward Lynn Williams said. “We have gay people. We have straight people. We have Black people. We have Mexican people. It looks like the United States, and I think that’s exactly what it should look like … so hopefully the younger generations can look to us and say, ‘You know what? Soccer is a space for me, and we want to play as well.’”

Free Kicks

• Did Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines just witness a bird carry away another bird? Don’t worry, Seb, I think we would all be as dumbfounded.

• The Philadelphia Union acquired their first-ever U22 Initiative player in 19-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya from Stellenbosch FC.
• Left back Ethan Bristow is set to join Minnesota United from English Football League Two side Tranmere Rovers FC.
• Trinity Rodman is geared up and ready to represent the USWNT at the World Cup.
• Here is a look at every team taking part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and what to watch for.
• USWNT defender Naomi Girma is dedicating her World Cup campaign to friend and fellow Stanford athlete Katie Meyer, who died by suicide on March 1, 2022.
• NWSL expansion team Bay FC announced Jen Millet as its first chief operating officer.
• Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed he expects Romelu Lukaku to leave Chelsea this summer.
• When you’re one of the biggest clubs in the world, sometimes you just feel the need to stomp on the little guys. Bayern Munich did just that with a 27-0 victory over ninth-tier German side FC Rottach-Egern.

That’s all for today folks. Vamos Orlando!