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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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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.

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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/11/24

Orlando City and Orlando Pride advance in the playoffs, MLS and NWSL playoff roundups, USMNT roster announced, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Alex Corrie

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you in Florida. Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who have served or are currently serving in the military. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour during the holiday weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals

Orlando City defeated Charlotte FC 4-1 in penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight year. The Lions were down 1-0 late in the match, with their run in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs about to end. However, Duncan McGuire was pulled down in the box and Orlando was awarded a penalty kick deep in stoppage time. Facundo Torres had his penalty kick saved but scored on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1. In the penalty shootout, Pedro Gallese came up with big saves, and every Lion converted their kick to book Orlando’s ticket into the next round. It took three matches, but the Lions are through and will face Atlanta United at home Nov. 24.

Pride Secure First Playoff Win Against the Chicago Red Stars

The Orlando Pride defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-1 on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium to secure their first-ever NWSL playoff win. Barbra Banda scored twice, and Haley McCutcheon and Marta each added one for Orlando. The Red Stars pulled one back with a goal from Jameese Joseph, but the Pride dominated the match from start to finish and advanced to the semifinals. The Pride will face the Kansas City Current at home Sunday with a spot in the NWSL Championship on the line.

First Round of MLS Playoffs Wraps Up

It was a wild weekend to conclude the first round of the 2024 MLS playoffs, with plenty of Game 3 drama. Let’s start with a big upset in South Florida, as Atlanta United got two goals from Jamal Thiare and won 3-2 win against Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami. New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 6-5 in penalties after a scoreless draw and will move on to face the New York Red Bulls in a playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby in the next round. Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati were the three highest seeds in the Eastern Conference and all three were eliminated after the first round. Out west, LAFC secured a 1-0 over the Vancouver Whitecaps with Mateusz Bogusz scoring the lone goal to advance. LAFC will take on the Seattle Sounders, while the LA Galaxy will face Minnesota United in the Western Conference semifinals.

NWSL Playoff Quarterfinals Roundup

The first round of the 2024 NWSL playoffs is also in the books. The Kansas City Current defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 Saturday. Temwa Chawinga scored for the Current and extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches. There were two more matches on Sunday, and the Washington Spirit fought back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Bay FC 2-1 to advance. NJ/NY Gotham FC edged the Portland Thorns 2-1 with Rose Lavelle scoring the winning goal late in stoppage time. Gotham and the Spirit will square off on Saturday at Audi Field.

USMNT Roster Announced for Nations League

United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced the 25-man roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Jamaica. Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, and Chris Richards are a few of the defenders called up, while the midfield includes Brenden Aaronson, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah. Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Tim Weah, and Brandon Vazquez are some of the attackers to keep an eye on. Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Zack Steffen were called up alongside Patrick Schulte and Diego Kochen. Orlando City’s Duncan McGuire was not called up, and Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna is another notable player who wasn’t selected. The USMNT will face Jamaica in a two-legged series this week, with the first match in Kingston Thursday followed by the second leg Monday at City Park in St. Louis.

Free Kicks

  • In case you missed it, check out this video of Facundo Torres’ equalizer on Orlando City’s social media page to secure his 20th goal of the year.
  • The Orlando Pride honored Brazilian midfielder Luana before their playoff win on Friday.

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

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