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Lion Links: 7/20/23

Junior Urso returns to Orlando City, Bryan Reynolds linked with the Lions, Orlando Pride get ready for NJ/NY Gotham FC, and much more.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? If you’re a fan of soccer tournaments, it’s an exciting time to be alive. The Women’s World Cup is underway, the Leagues Cup kicks off this weekend, and the NWSL Challenge Cup gives us even more to enjoy over the next few weeks. Even though the time zones may destroy my sleep schedule, I’m really looking forward to the next month. Now, let’s dive right into today’s links with some of the best news of the year!

The Bear is Back

Less than a year since he left for personal reasons, midfielder Junior Urso has returned to Orlando City on a deal through the rest of this season, with an option for 2024 as well. The 34-year-old will become available once his paperwork clears and should be a great addition to the team as he won’t need much time to get up to speed in Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s system. On the field, Urso will provide versatility, depth, and a needed scoring threat to Orlando’s midfield. It’s also just great to have him back, as he’s been a fan favorite since joining the team in 2020 and brings a fun energy to the Lions. He’ll wear No. 21 this time around and the video announcing his return is definitely worth the watch.

Bryan Reynolds Linked With Orlando City

According to Will Forbes, Orlando City is interested in bringing American right back Bryan Reynolds to the City Beautiful on loan. Reynolds joined AS Roma from FC Dallas back in February of 2021, but has not received much playing time with the Italian club and spent time with Westerlo and Kortrijk in Belgium on loan. Orlando could use the 22-year-old, considering Michael Halliday’s injuries and Kyle Smith’s inconsistency at the right back position. Of course, this is just a rumor and it would be somewhat odd for Reynolds to return to MLS and not play in Dallas. Still, it will be interesting to keep an eye on him as this transfer window progresses.

Orlando Pride Prepare For NWSL Challenge Cup Match

In the first of the club’s four consecutive upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup matches, the Orlando Pride will take on NJ/NY Gotham FC at Exploria Stadium this Sunday. The Pride have not played in the Challenge Cup since a 4-2 defeat to the Washington Spirit and sit last in the group with just one point. However, a victory over Gotham on Sunday will get the Pride in the conversation to win the group. This match was originally scheduled for June 28, but had to be postponed due to weather. Both teams will be without some of their best attackers due to the World Cup, so it will be interesting to see which players step up. Pride forward Messiah Bright spoke on how the Pride is preparing to bring the intensity for Sunday’s match.

Tahir Reid-Brown Features in MLS NEXT All-Star Game

Orlando City B defender Tahir Reid-Brown played in the second half of the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, which was won by the West in a penalty shootout. Reid-Brown was the lone OCB representative and nearly scored a late winner if not for a good save by Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Mo Shour, who was named the game’s MVP. Nashville’s Adem Sipic bagged a brace in the first half, but the lineups changed for the second half and the West clawed back into the match with goals from the LA Galaxy’s Paulo Rudisill and LAFC’s Adrian Wibowo.

MLS All-Stars Wrecked By Arsenal

Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars were level for just five minutes in this year’s MLS All-Star Game in the nation’s capital, as the English Premier League club won, 5-0. Gabriel Jesus banked his shot off the post and in to give Arsenal an early lead, which Leandro Trossard then doubled in the 23rd minute with a nice strike from outside the box. Jorginho converted a penalty shortly after halftime, and late goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put the game to bed. Maybe it was a good thing no Lions were selected for this game, although I’d like to think Pedro Gallese would’ve kept the score from getting out of hand.

Learning About Vietnam Ahead of USWNT’s World Cup Opener

The United States Women’s National Team will kick off its 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign against Vietnam tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Not only will it be the first match between these two nations, but it will also be Vietnam’s World Cup debut. The Asian nation qualified for the tournament by beating Chinese Taipei and Thailand in a playoff following an exit in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup. Of the 23 players Vietnam Head Coach Mai Duc Chung called up for the tournament, Huynh Nhu is the only one who doesn’t play for a Vietnamese club, as she joined Portuguese side Länk Vilaverdense last year. Nhu is the star of Vietnam’s attack, scoring 71 times for her country.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja was honored for becoming just the sixth head coach to win 150 MLS regular season games. He reached that mark in the team’s dominant 4-0 win over Toronto FC on the Fourth of July.
  • Charlotte FC transferred Nuno Santos to Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal’s top flight for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder joined Charlotte from Benfica less than a year ago, scoring once in just nine appearances.
  • Inter Miami signed Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez as a U22 Initiative player. The 20-year-old joins Miami from Club Libertad, where he scored six goals in 51 appearances. I’m surprised Miami was aware there are soccer players who aren’t in their mid-30s.
  • Here is a list of 10 Liga MX players who could make an impact in the Leagues Cup. Santos Laguna center back Doria was featured, so he will be a player to watch when the Lions face the Mexican side on July 29 at Exploria Stadium.
  • Office hours are shifting in Brazil to accommodate the Women’s World Cup matches taking place in the morning.

Enjoy the gauntlet of soccer that’s upon us! I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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21 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/17/25

Orlando Pride loan out Mariana Larroquette, USMNT gets ready for Venezuela, MLS transfer news, and much more.

Published

5 days ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Maybe it’s just because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan when it comes to hockey, but I sure do miss being able to watch Orlando City and the Orlando Pride win games. Thankfully it won’t be much longer until Orlando’s soccer teams are back in action, although I wish the Lions would make some moves to get us excited for 2025. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Mariana Larroquette Heads to Argentina on Loan

The Pride have loaned forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women in Argentina. The loan lasts through July 1, so Larroquette may still provide some attacking depth for the Pride later in the season. This should be a good opportunity for her to get some minutes in her home country after only making four appearances for the Pride last season. Larroquette joined the Pride back in July of 2023 on a contract through 2025, so this is a solid chance for her to get some consistent playing time to showcase her talent before her current contract ends.

USMNT Prepares for Friendly Against Venezuela

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first game of 2025 when it takes on Venezuela Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. This is just the seventh meeting between the two nations, with Venezuela winning the most recent match 3-0 back in 2019. Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez started for Venezuela in that shutout and is expected to get the nod in goal again, with Orlando City’s Javier Otero backing him up. The Yanks will be without multiple players who were called up, as Jesus Ferreira, John Tolkin, Jalen Neal, and Drake Callender will no longer be available. The USMNT will be back in action on Wednesday for a friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium.

Catching Up On MLS Transfer News

Every MLS team apart from Orlando City seems to be making major moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Austin FC is reportedly signing Albanian forward Myrto Uzuni as a Designated Player, which would trigger a $12.3 million release clause in his contract with Granada. Uzuni has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for the Spanish club this season. Austin also added midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky from Instituto in Argentina’s top flight. He will be a U22 Initiative Player and signed a five-year contract with the club.

New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin was officially transferred to Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga for a reported $3 million transfer fee. The New England Revolution continued to strengthen their attack, signing veteran forward Maxi Urruti to a one-year deal with an option for 2026. Atlanta United and Middlesbrough have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a deal for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, although Atlanta still has to finalize personal terms with him.

Chelsea Reportedly Leads Race for Naomi Girma

One of the biggest questions this NWSL off-season is whether or not San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma will remain with the club. The 24-year-old is under contract through 2026, but European teams are reportedly willing to pay up to secure her talents. Chelsea is the reported frontrunner, with Arsenal and Lyon also in the mix to sign her. Girma is one of the best defenders in the world and was a major reason behind the United States Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold last year. Speaking of Girma, she will not be in attendance for the USWNT training camp in Florida due to a minor injury.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter followed through on her promise to dye her hair after a historic season.
  • In news that impacts Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Jorge Fossati is no longer Peru’s head coach. Peru only won one of its six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Fossati at the helm and is last in the standings.
  • Former Lion Chris Mueller spoke on the importance of mental health and the resources available to help.

That’s all I have for you this Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and rest of your weekend!

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