Lion Links: 8/5/23

Welcome to the weekend, Mane Landers! With no first-team matches to be had today, my wife and I are taking it as a chance to get out and do some volunteer work today. If you’ve never given it a shot, I highly recommend it. Not only does it boost personal morale to help out those who need it, the world could just generally use more people doing awesome things for others. After that, we should be home in time to tune into the Young Lions at 6 p.m. playing at DRV PNK Stadium. Let’s get to the links!

Pride Stunned by Speckmaier Stoppage Strike

The Orlando Pride played their final home game of the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit. The match played to a late 1-0 loss as Mariana Speckmaier broke the deadlock in the eighth minute of stoppage time catching Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorehouse off her line. Speckmaier’s strike was her first career shot on goal.

The match came just a few days early for Orlando’s international players to be cleared to play upon returning from the World Cup. Marta, Adriana, Mariana Larroquette, and Rafaelle will all be welcome additions for the back stretch of the regular season as the Pride struggled to hit the back of the net and gave up yet another late goal.

Orlando City B Heads to Fort Lauderdale

The Young Lions of OCB have made their way south to take on the Pink Chicks of Inter Miami II. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. in the latest installment of the reserve rivalry. The last meeting that took place in Fort Lauderdale was on May 25, when Orlando forward Jack Lynn finished off a pass from Alex Freeman for the sole goal in the match. Now up to 12 goals this season, Lynn currently sits tied atop the league in the Golden Boot race — level with Atlanta United 2’s Nick Firmino. This match will be Inter Miami’s ninth home game of the season, with the club looking to rebound following its loss on the road against Toronto FC II in its most recent match. With an Orlando City victory, the Lions would sweep the regular-season series against Inter Miami II.

Orlando City U-15s Called Upon For Concacaf Championship

The City Beautiful’s soccer future is bright as six Orlando City Development Academy players have received the call from their international teams to participate in the Concacaf Under-15 Championship. This is the fourth edition of the Concacaf Boys’ U-15 Championship and boasts 41 participating teams from 39 Concacaf member associations and two guest nations from the Asian Football Confederation. The competition will be played in a three-League format (A, B, and C), starting with group stage play, followed by a knockout stage.

If you are looking to catch any of the League A action tomorrow, Jarell Bonilla and El Salvador are set to kick off at 2 p.m. in Group A, Dylan Judelson will be representing Canada in Group C at 4 p.m, and our four Puerto Rican representatives begin at 6 p.m in Group D. Fans can follow all the action through Concacaf Go. 

USWNT Enters the Knockouts

After a nervy ending to the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the United States Women’s National Team will begin its knockout run in the Round of 16 tomorrow against Sweden. The USWNT and Jamaica were the only two Concacaf teams to advance to the knockout round. For those of us watching locally, it will be a very early morning, as we will need to be up and tuned in by 5 a.m. Sweden advanced to the knockout rounds as the winners of Group G, defeating South Africa, Italy, and Argentina along the way. This will be Sweden’s fourth consecutive Women’s World Cup in which it advanced out of the group, and its eighth overall among its nine tournament appearances. However, the United States has now advanced out of the group in all nine of its own trips to the Women’s World Cup.

Free Kicks

• 2022 Orlando Pride draft pick Mia Fishel, who signed instead with Tigres UANL, will be joining Chelsea.

• Toronto FC has added free agent forward Prince Owusu through the 2024 MLS season with an option for 2025.
• FC Dallas has acquired Canadian international midfielder Liam Fraser from Belgian second-division side KMSK Deinze.
• Should the USWNT win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it would claim $4.3 million for the federation from FIFA.
• The semifinals and final of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup will be broadcast by more than 20 international broadcasters, reaching over 100 countries on five continents.
• USMNT midfield Yunas Musah has signed a five-year contract with AC Milan after the Italian club agreed to a €20 million transfer fee with Valencia. Musah will now be joining fellow USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic.
• Coventry City has agreed to a deal with USMNT forward Haji Wright’s current club, Antalyaspor, for a €9 million move to England.
• Pachuca president Jesus Martinez claims that the joint MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup tournament lacks financial benefits that Mexican clubs once enjoyed as participants in the Copa Libertadores.

That’s all I have for you folks. I hope you enjoy your weekend. And if you get the chance, make a stranger’s day and be the change you want to see in the world. Vamos Orlando!