Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/8/23
Orlando City players feature in World Cup qualifiers, Torres enters MVP discussion, OCB draws on road, and more.
You have almost made it to the weekend, Mane Landers! My wife and I are once again on the road this week for another wedding. I find solace in knowing I won’t be missing any first team action this weekend though, so if ever there was a weekend to travel then this would be it. There’s plenty of club news this morning, so let’s go ahead and get right down to it in today’s links.
Orlando City Players Abroad
If you were watching OCB play, you might have missed senior Lions Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena representing the Peruvian national team against Paraguay in their World Cup qualifying match. Gallese earned the start in goal while Cartagena subbed on in the 46th-minute in the 0-0 draw, although the Peruvians had to play a man down for the entire second half. Forever Lion Yoshi Yotun was also on the pitch to bring a bit of nostalgia for longtime City supporters. Peru will be back in action against Brazil on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Orlando City Designated Player Facundo Torres will also take part in the World Cup qualifiers for Uruguay tonight vs. Chile and at Ecuador on Tuesday. Finally, Homegrown forward Wilfredo Rivera’s Puerto Rico side will play in Concacaf Nations League against the Bahamas Saturday, followed by Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.
Facundo Torres Enters MVP Conversation
As the regular season winds down, forward Facundo Torres has gathered a shout or two in the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP race. Torres is listed with one point in the linked story, meaning a fifth-place vote from one of 13 MLS talent, staff, writers, and editors who contributed to the latest rankings. The Uruguayan Designated Player has been effective in his second year in MLS play. He currently boasts six non-penalty goals and four assists on the year for one of the league’s best teams and has quietly climbed within just a few goals of the Golden Boot lead. Should he continue to lead the charge and the Lions make a bit more noise, he would surely gather more points to his name.
Orlando City B Draws 1-1
As the final whistle blew, Orlando City B managed to walk away with one point against New England Revolution II after a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium but could not grab the extra in the shootout. Just 14 minutes into the match, Victor Souza put away the Revs’ only goal, finishing off Jake Rozhansky’s corner kick. It very much could have been worse for the Lions as numerous mistakes were made throughout the first half, but New England did not bury its chances. However in the 65th minute, luck swung in favor of OCB as Juninho’s shot was saved but found its way to MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot contender Jack Lynn, who poached one more for his tally. The Young Lions missed three of their five penalties in the shootout.
Marta’s Virtual Accolades and Skills
Two Brazilian women superstars will reportedly have coveted five-star skills in EA FC 24, the franchise formerly known as EA Sports FIFA. This year, EA will debut women in Ultimate Team, which is the premier online match play format that users collect, trade, and play with highly desirable superstars. Players with five-star skills are always regarded as some of the best in the game with superb dribbling stats. First on the list is none other than Orlando Pride midfield maestro Marta. Currently the record holder for goals scored at any World Cup, Marta will be 84-rated in the game.
First-Time Friendly for USMNT
The USMNT will take part in a friendly against Uzbekistan tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in St. Louis, MO. This is the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the men’s senior level. While this will be a chance to gather some of the nation’s finest talent, the USMNT has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Uzbekistan has yet to qualify, however, and is currently ranked 74th by FIFA internationally.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City midfielder Gastón González talks about the start of his career and life with the Lions.
- Minnesota United is set to bolster its attack in January with the signing of midfielder Caden Clark from RB Leipzig on a two-year contract.
- The New York Red Bulls have signed their second-youngest Homegrown in history, inking 15-year-old forward Julian Hall to a first-team contract through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.
- The Washington Spirit have re-signed USWNT midfielder Ashley Sanchez through the 2026 season.
- USWNT legend Julie Ertz will play her final professional match representing the Stars and Stripes on Sept. 21 against South Africa at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
- Mohamed Salah will officially remain at Liverpool for now after the club rejected a $190 million offer and the Saudi Pro League transfer window closed on Thursday.
- France marched towards the Euro 2024 finals, maintaining its perfect qualifying record with a 2-0 home victory over Ireland.
- Marten de Roon, Cody Gakpo, and Wout Weghorst scored first-half goals as the Dutch won a second match in Group B against Greece.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you finish this week strong. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/16/24
Orlando City beats the New England Revolution, Orlando Pride draw at home, Orlando City B wins third straight, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. This week, I’ll be busy working Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field while picking up some extra hours at Under Armour. There’s plenty to cover today after a busy weekend of Orlando soccer, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Shut Out the New England Revolution at Home
On Saturday, Orlando City defeated the New England Revolution 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. This is the first time the Lions have swept a season series against the Revolution in the club’s history. Rafael Santos, Facundo Torres, and Duncan McGuire all scored for the Lions, and this is the second consecutive match that the Lions have won 3-0 after beating Nashville SC by the same score on Aug. 31. Orlando City is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 40 points. It will be a quick turnaround for the Lions, with another home match against Charlotte FC set for Wednesday before traveling to face the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Pride Draw Against the Kansas City Current
The Orlando Pride played to a scoreless draw against the Kansas City Current on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium and saw their six-match winning streak end. However, the result extended their unbeaten streak to 20 matches this season. Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse put on a stellar performance in goal to earn her 11th clean sheet of the season and tie the NWSL record.
Orlando remains atop the NWSL table with 48 points, while the Washington Spirit are close behind in second with 44 points. The Pride will be on the road on Friday to face Bay FC at PayPal Park.
OCB Defeats New England Revolution II at Home
Orlando City B won 2-0 over the New England Revolution II at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday to move a step closer to clinching a playoff spot. After a scoreless first half, Alex Freeman and Jack Lynn scored for the Young Lions to seal the win at home. Orlando City B has now won three consecutive matches and Freeman has scored five goals in the last four games. OCB is third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference table with 43 points, and its next match is Sept. 23 at home against Chicago Fire II.
Americans Abroad in Europe
There were some USMNT players in action in Europe over the weekend after the conclusion of the recent international break. Brenden Aaronson started and played 68 minutes for Leeds United but ended up losing 1-0 to Burnley in the EFL Championship. Christian Pulisic scored a penalty kick and added an assist for AC Milan in a 4-0 win over Venezia in Serie A action. It was Pulisic’s second goal in four matches for AC Milan this season. Teammate Yunus Musah came off the bench in the second half to see out the win. Fellow American Gianluca Busio returned for Venezia, starting and playing 79 minutes. Tanner Tessmann came off the bench to make his Ligue 1 debut for Lyon Sunday against Lens late in the second half, but the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- Pride midfielder Ally Lemos started for the U.S. Women’s U-20 National Team in the U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Germany. She assisted on the first of two late goals by the U.S. to help send the game to extra time in an incredible comeback. Lemos was subbed off before the penalty shootout, which the U.S. won to advance to the semifinals.
- The Orlando Pride set another club record after their draw against the Current, securing their fourth consecutive clean sheet.
- Carlos Vela and LAFC reportedly agreed to a new contract before the MLS roster freeze deadline on Friday.
- Ashley Hatch scored twice to secure the 50th goal in her NWSL career, as the Washington Spirit cruised to a 3-0 win over the Houston Dash on Sunday.
- Marseille has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/13/24
Orlando City prepares for the New England Revolution, Morgan Gautrat signs new contract, Orlando Pride play tonight, and more.
It’s Friday the 13th, so make sure to stay away from black cats and broken mirrors. I’ll be a bit festive today and grab some early Halloween decorations and a costume for my cat that he will definitely despise me for. Let’s jump into today’s links!
Orlando City Gets Ready for New England
After getting last weekend off, Orlando City is back in action Saturday with a home game against the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. The Lions are coming off of a dominant 3-0 win over Nashville SC and are seventh in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Revolution played during the international break and had to settle for a 2-2 draw against St. Louis City. Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how the Lions have been trying to maintain momentum during the break to get another win against the Revolution this season.
Morgan Gautrat Signs New Contract
Orlando Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat has signed a new deal with the club that will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The Pride traded for Gautrat in January of this year and she’s made 14 appearances across all competitions so far. The 31-year-old has provided important depth for the Pride’s midfield, filling in when needed to cover for injuries and international absences. She’s the latest player to sign a new deal with the club, as Orlando aims to keep most of its roster for next year.
Orlando Pride Game Headlines NWSL Slate
Although tonight’s match between the Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current won’t be a battle of undefeated teams like the last time they squared off in July, it’s still a heavyweight matchup. The Current will likely have revenge on their minds, as they have an opportunity to do what the Pride did earlier this year and snap their opponent’s unbeaten streak. It will also be another duel between two of the league’s top scorers in Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga.
Elsewhere in the league this weekend, the North Carolina Courage will host Bay FC in an intriguing match as both teams jockey for playoff position. Pride fans will also likely be keeping an eye on the Washington Spirit’s match Sunday against the Houston Dash. The Spirit are currently six points behind the Pride with just six games left this season.
Gauging the MLS Playoff Race
The MLS playoff picture is becoming clearer and clearer each week, and Andrew Wiebe assessed where each team stands. Orlando was grouped alongside the New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, and Charlotte FC as Eastern Conference sides who should qualify for the playoffs and have a chance at hosting in the first round. Another strong summer by the Lions has put a gap between them and a playoff bubble that includes teams that have underperformed but have the talent to make some noise this postseason.
As for the Western Conference, the Portland Timbers have established themselves as a potential dark horse amid a strong run of form, while FC Dallas, Minnesota United, and Austin FC are poised to fight for the last playoff spot. It should all make for an exciting final stretch of the season.
Free Kicks
- The cooking competition between Nico Lodeiro and Morgan Gautrat continued with a pair of chicken dishes. The video also includes handy recipes in case you want to try making them yourself.
- Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract with Arsenal that will keep him at the club through 2027. He’s done well since taking over in December of 2019, with Arsenal finishing second in the league for the past two seasons.
- The Seattle Reign loaned defender Sofia Huerta to Olympique Lyonnais for the French club’s season. While it’s a great opportunity for Huerta, it’s a tough blow to Seattle’s playoff aspirations.
- Paris Saint-Germain was ordered by the French league’s legal commission to pay Kylian Mbappe $61 million in unpaid wages. However, PSG reportedly stated that it does not owe Mbappe and plans to take further legal action.
- Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was charged by the Football Association for his racially charged comments regarding teammate Son Heung-min in June.
- EA Sports FC 25 ratings are out and Luis Muriel is the Lion with the highest rating, likely due to his time with Atalanta. As for NWSL players, the Pride’s Ally Lemos was tied for eighth among U-21 players.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a smooth Friday the 13th!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/12/24
Orlando Pride plan for the Kansas City Current, Americans return to their clubs, MLS coaches on the hot seat, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been another hectic week for me, but I’m a few pages into Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne and it’s helped me unwind a bit. I’m looking forward to plenty of soccer and hanging out with friends at a sangria festival this weekend. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando Pride Prepare for Kansas City
The Orlando Pride remain unbeaten this season and face a tough test on Friday at home against the Kansas City Current. It’ll be another duel between the Pride’s formidable defense and the Current’s potent offense. The Pride have only allowed 12 goals all season and have secured a clean sheet in each of their three wins since the Olympic break. The Current may not be lighting up scoreboards as of late, but Temwa Chawinga continues to find the back of the net. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on what the team will need to do to limit Chawinga and the rest of Kansas City’s attack, as well as how the Pride are focused on building momentum to create more separation in the standings.
Americans Abroad This Weekend
With the international break over, Americans will return to their clubs after an underwhelming pair of friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. Haji Wright, Aidan Morris, and Brenden Aaronson are just a few of the Yanks expected to play in the EFL Championship on Saturday. Left back Antonee Robinson wasn’t called up for the recent friendlies so that he could rest, and he may play when Fulham hosts West Ham United on Saturday. In Serie A, AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah will take on Gianluca Busio and Venezia. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing Giovanni Reyna for a while, as he will be out for a few weeks according to Borussia Dortmund Head Coach Nuri Sahin.
Getting to Know Mauricio Pochettino
A new era has officially begun for the United States Men’s National Team, with Mauricio Pochettino becoming the 40th head coach in the program’s history. In his 15 years of managing at the club level, he’s had a penchant for turning teams around, doing so with Espanyol, Southampton, and Tottenham. The 52-year-old also has a track record for giving opportunities to young players and that bodes well for a USMNT that is fairly young compared to other teams on the global stage. Although it’s his first time coaching an international team, he does have experience playing for Argentina. Only time will tell how well his skillset translates to coaching the USMNT, but I have high hopes.
MLS Coaches On the Hot Seat
While the MLS playoff race heats up, coaches across the league may be starting to feel the pressure to finish strongly. Braden Chalker of Sports Illustrated named four coaches who are on the hot seat, including the Philadelphia Union’s Jim Curtin. The 45-year-old has been with the Union since the summer of 2014, but a fresh start could be coming for the club if it misses out on the postseason. A similar clean slate could be coming for Sporting Kansas City, which has been coached by Peter Vermes since 2009. His team would need a miraculous rally to close out the season just to make the playoffs this year. Austin FC’s Josh Wolff and the Chicago Fire’s Frank Klopas may also be looking for work once the season is over.
Free Kicks
- There are going to be open tryouts at Sylvan Lake Park for Orlando youth players, so be sure to let the eligible youngsters in your life know. Best of luck!
- St. Louis City forward Simon Becher won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his equalizer against the New England Revolution.
- LAFC signed Brazilian center back Marlon as a free agent, giving the team some defensive depth for the rest of the season.
- MLS has terminated Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernandez’s contract following an investigation into him violating the league’s gambling policies for a second time.
- San Diego Wave FC and Sofia Jakobsson have agreed to mutually terminate her contract, allowing her to play abroad.
- A record 114 amateur teams will take part in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup’s qualifying rounds, which kick off next month.
- Manchester United reported a hefty net loss of over £113 million for the past year, but is not expected to have breached the English Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
- Here’s a nice breakdown on where things stand in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Brazil has been struggling more than it probably should, while Bolivia may have a path forward through its home-field advantage.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 2-0 as Pride Win Again
-
Lion Links2 weeks ago
Lion Links: 9/5/24
-
Orlando City B2 weeks ago
Orlando City B vs. Huntsville City FC: Final Score 2-1 as Young Lions Hold Off Rally to Win at Home
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Predictions for Orlando City’s Remaining Games of the 2024 Season
-
Photo Galleries2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Photo Gallery
-
Lion Links2 weeks ago
Lion Links: 9/2/24
-
Orlando Pride1 week ago
Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win Sixth Straight