Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/17/23
Orlando City and Orlando Pride prepare for regular-season games, Vlatko Andonovski reportedly resigns, England beats Australia, and more.
Welcome to today’s links! I hope you all are doing well as we get ready for a weekend filled with plenty of soccer. It’s been a pretty rough week on my end, with my wallet still on vacation in Baltimore and my car in the shop. At least it’s given me time to finally watch the second season of The Bear and start The Afterparty. Let’s dive into today’s links.
Orlando City Prepares for the Chicago Fire
After being eliminated from the Leagues Cup, the Lions are fully focused on Sunday’s match against the Chicago Fire as their regular season resumes. While Orlando’s exit was bitter, the break it gave the team has helped the players get some needed rest ahead of the last stretch of the season. The Lions are fifth in the Eastern Conference and could climb further up the table with a strong surge for the playoffs. Oscar Pareja and Facundo Torres spoke on how the team is dialed into this weekend’s match.
Orlando Pride Get Ready for the Chicago Red Stars
The Pride are also returning to regular season action this Sunday, as they host the Chicago Red Stars. After a disappointing NWSL Challenge Cup campaign, the Pride will aim to right the ship against a Chicago team that is 11th in the league standings. However, the Red Stars have won their past five games against the Pride. It will be the Pride’s first league game since a 1-0 win over OL Reign on July 7. Hopefully they can put together another winning performance and build momentum for a playoff push.
Vlatko Andonovski is Reportedly Stepping Down
United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski has reportedly resigned, with an announcement expected today. This comes after a rough World Cup by the USWNT, which only won one game and exited in the round of 16. Andonovski joined the USWNT in 2019 and struggled in major tournaments while at the helm. Twila Kilgore will reportedly serve as interim coach. It will be interesting to see where Andonovski goes from here, with the Kansas City Current as a potential landing spot.
Women’s World Cup Final is Set
Australia won’t be getting its fairy tale ending after a 3-1 loss to England in the Women’s World Cup. In Sydney, Sam Kerr’s first goal of the tournament leveled things, but England scored twice later in the second half to reach Sunday’s final against Spain. It’s Sarina Wiegman’s second straight trip to a World Cup final, as she led the Netherlands to the final in 2019. Sunday’s final should be a decent matchup between two of the top European nations and will take place at 6 a.m.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Daryl Dike and other West Brom players stopped by the club’s summer camp for children.
- Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson will be out for four to six weeks after suffering a hand fracture. It’s a tough blow for Toronto, which sits in 14th in the Eastern Conference.
- Manchester City beat Sevilla in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw to win the UEFA Super Cup.
- Here’s everything you need to know before the Bundesliga kicks things off this weekend.
- Harry Maguire reportedly intends to stay at Manchester United rather than make a$38 million move to West Ham United.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!