Lion Links: 7/27/23

Welcome to today’s links, Mane Landers! Having soccer to watch pretty much all week long has taken some of the sting out of what’s been a pretty grueling work week for me. I’m definitely looking forward to a weekend filled with more matches and a tiki drink or two. Hopefully, some rest and relaxation is right around the corner for you all as well. Now, let’s get to the links!

Sights and Sounds From Orlando’s Shootout Win

Orlando City released a video to relive the excitement from the team’s 1-1 draw and subsequent shootout win against the Houston Dynamo in the Leagues Cup. It also includes some looks behind the scenes, such as Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s pep talk before kickoff and forward Duncan McGuire’s celebration after the match. The Lions did well to bounce back after Houston took the lead thanks to a soft penalty, with McGuire equalizing and all five Lions converting their penalty kicks in the shootout. Orlando is back in action on Saturday against Santos Laguna at 7:30 p.m.

Aston Villa Defeats Fulham at Exploria Stadium

Two English Premier League teams battled it out in the City Beautiful as part of the Premier League Summer Series, with Aston Villa beating Fulham 2-0 after a weather delay that gave both teams a taste of what playing in Florida can be like. Aston Villa took the lead in the 40th minute thanks to a goal from Jaden Philogene, and Moussa Diaby gave Villa another in the second half. The defense was able to hold on for the shutout against a Fulham side that needed some time to find its rhythm. Regardless of the result, Fulham’s manager, Marco Silva, praised Exploria Stadium’s atmosphere for the friendly.

USWNT Draws Against the Netherlands

The United States Women’s National Team drew 1-1 with the Netherlands on a windy day in Wellington, New Zealand. The Netherlands struck first, with Jill Roord’s shot at the top of the box making its way through traffic and past Alyssa Naeher in the 17th minute. The USWNT found its equalizer, courtesy of Lindsey Horan’s head, in the second half off of a corner kick. There were multiple times when the U.S. looked sure to score a winner, but the Netherlands held on for the draw. The offense still isn’t firing on all cylinders for the Americans, but salvaging a point will pay dividends in deciding which teams advance from the group. The USWNT will finish up its group play in a crucial game against Portugal at 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

Women’s World Cup Results

Japan and Spain became the first two teams to claim their spot in the World Cup’s knockout stage, eliminating Costa Rica and Zambia in the process. Japan scored twice within a two-minute span to beat Costa Rica 2-0, while Spain beat Zambia 5-0. Those five goals were important for Spain, as it leads Japan on goal difference and can win the group with a win or draw when the two sides meet on Monday. Ireland was also eliminated from the tournament after a 2-1 loss to Canada, despite Katie McCabe scoring an impressive Olimpico goal in the opening minutes.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City B is seventh in the latest MLS NEXT Pro power rankings after its wild 3-2 win over Chicago Fire FC II.
• Austin FC waived former Lion Amro Tarek, whose only appearance was in the 3-0 loss to Haitian club Violette FC in the Concacaf Champions League. Austin didn’t waste time filling the gap on its roster, sending up to $475,000 in General Allocation Money to Toronto FC in exchange for center back Matt Hedges.
• There were a fair amount of blowouts in the latest Leagues Cup matches. The Philadelphia Union beat Queretaro 5-1, while Giacomo Vrioni had a hat trick in the New England Revolution’s 5-1 win against San Luis. Monterrery then shut out Real Salt Lake 3-0 to get some pride back for Liga MX.
• LAFC added Bulgarian midfielder Filip Krastev on loan from Lommel SK in Belgium’s second division, with an option to make the move permanent. The club also re-signed defender Eddie Segura through 2024, with an option for 2025.
• Enjoy this article that dives into how former Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan has made an impact on women’s soccer both on and off the field.
• American forward Alyssa Thompson shared her journey from playing in the backyard as a kid to playing at the World Cup for the USWNT at just 18.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!