Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/24/23
Orlando’s keys to victory, Wilfried Nancy revives Columbus Crew, conference semifinals previews, and more.
Happy Black Friday, Mane Landers! For those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you got your fill of family, turkey, and dressing. Yes, dressing and not “stuffing” although it stuffs us all the same. Some might even consider today a holiday as well when it comes to shopping deals and saving on holiday gifts or personal needs. I’ve been thinking of grabbing a Duncan McGuire jersey, so it might just be the time to capitalize on that. If only it would arrive in time for our match tomorrow. Let’s break down that game and more in today’s links. But first, today is a historic day in our site’s history. Nine years ago today, an independent free WordPress site called The Mane Land joined SBNation. Of course, this year, we moved back to being independent (although no longer on a free WordPress account), but our time at SBN was well spent, turning a couple hundred readers into thousands and ultimately landing us here in these (still somewhat) new digs.
Lions’ Keys To Victory
The last time the Columbus Crew met Orlando City in Exploria Stadium we witnessed a 4-3 victory for the Lions. CBS Sports’ Thomas Rongen claims the brilliant play of winger Facundo Torres will be the key to victory for Orlando in this outing. The back line has helped the Lions win their last six matches, with five clean sheets along the way, but it will see a true test with Colombian talisman Cucho Hernández on the opposite side. Most pundits agree this will be another high-scoring affair.
Wilfried Nancy’s First-Year Form
Following two disappointing seasons in 2021 and 2022, the Columbus Crew regained confidence this year due to the tactics of first-year head coach Wilfried Nancy. The French manager seems to not only get results but also the best out of his players. In 2022, Nancy coached CF Montreal to its best-ever MLS regular season with 65 points. This year, the Crew equaled a single-season club record for points with 57. Nancy’s use of the 3-4-3 formation allowed the potent Columbus attack to lead the league in goals during the regular season, as the Crew bagged 67 total and scored two or more on 24 occasions in the regular season and playoffs.
Win or Go Home MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
Saturday’s fixture between the Lions and Crew isn’t the only match this weekend. The playoffs are down to the final four in both conferences entering single-elimination play. Seven of the eight remaining teams that advanced from the first-round, best-of-three series’ were the higher seed, with only Sporting Kansas City out of the West being the lone lower seed to force an upset by defeating Western Conference No. 1 seed St. Louis City in a two-game sweep. Should any of the remaining playoff matches be level after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still deadlocked at the end of extra time, kicks from the penalty spot will determine the winner.
USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso to Real Betis
Despite Real Betis wanting to keep Argentine World Cup-winner Guido Rodriguez, who has an expiring contract, Los Verdiblancos have already agreed to invest in his long-term replacement. USMNT and Internacional midfielder Johnny Cardoso will be joining Real Betis for a fee between €7-8 million and the Brazilian side will retain a percentage of any future sale. Cardoso previously attracted the interest of Brighton and Hove Albion, but Real Betis moved swiftly to secure the signing.
Emma Hayes Worth The Wait
USSF Sporting Director Matt Crocker is thrilled having secured the appointment of Emma Hayes as the USWNT head coach. The official announcement came last week after weeks of speculation, but Hayes will not take charge until May. The crunched timeline leaves only two months to prepare for the Paris Olympics, but Crocker believes that Hayes is the one for the job.
“I started to realize not only was she a fantastic coach, but also a great person and somebody with real gravitas and charisma,” claimed Crocker.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City fans sat down to share their support and gratitude for the club heading into the next playoff match.
- USMNT players Gio Reyna and Joe Scally will meet as Borussia Dortmund hosts Borussia Moenchengladbach this weekend. These are just two USMNT players abroad this weekend.
- Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is ready to face Liverpool after returning to training following an injury on international duty.
- Spain’s state prosecutors will request a nine-year prison sentence for Brazilian defender Dani Alves for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a night club in December of 2022.
- Rodrygo said he received racist insults on social media after Brazil’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Argentina in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
- England’s Football Association is unlikely to light up the Wembley Stadium arch in support of social and political causes in the future. The FA decided not to light the arch in blue and white in solidarity with Israel following the attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas last month.
- FIFA has signed a longterm sponsorship extension with its global airline partner Qatar Airways that will run until 2030.
That’s it for your Black Friday edition of Lion Links. For those of you working through the holiday sale hustle and bustle, I hope you are safe traveling to and from work. For those of you who still have a bit of a long weekend left, I wish you rest and relaxation.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/30/24
Luana’s season ends, San Diego linked with Chucky Lozano, U.S. and Mexico withdraw 2027 World Cup bid, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was another busy weekend of Orlando soccer, and things aren’t going to slow down anytime soon. May is an absolutely packed month for all three teams, and the games will be coming thick and fast. We have a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s jump into the links.
Luana Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
This week started off with some very sad news, as the Orlando Pride announced on Monday that midfielder Luana has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury list as a result of her being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Brazilian international is starting chemotherapy treatments with the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. In a statement, Luana thanked both the Brazilian National Team and the Pride for the support she’s been receiving. Seb Hines and Rafaelle also spoke about how the team has been supporting Luana.
San Diego Reportedly Nears Deal for Chucky Lozano
The Athletic’s Tom Bogert has reported that San Diego FC is in advanced talks to sign Chucky Lozano (paywall) from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch team is expected to receive a transfer fee in the area of $12 million, and Lozano would likely be the highest-profile player for the expansion team ahead of its maiden Major League Soccer season in 2025. While nothing is official, San Diego is said to be hopeful of getting a deal done before Copa America kicks off this summer.
U.S. and Mexico Withdraw 2027 Women’s World Cup Bid
The United States and Mexico have announced their decision to withdraw a joint bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and instead focus on bidding for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The bid had made it to the final three of the selection process, in addition to a bid from Brazil and a joint effort from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlowe Cone cited a desire to have more time to prepare while also having the opportunity to learn from the experience of the joint effort of hosting the 2026 World Cup. As far as who will host in 2027, the decision will be made on May 17, with Germany having hosted a Women’s World Cup back in 2011, while Brazil would be the first South American nation to host the tournament.
English Premier League Approves Spending Cap
Premier League teams took the first step towards implementing a spending cap on Monday. While a final vote is still needed to ratify the proposed changes, yesterday’s vote gave the green light to start the legal and economic studies needed to change to a spending cap model. The proposed cap would be based on how much the lowest earning Premier League team earns from television rights, and could be implemented for the 2025-26 season. There were 16 teams that voted in favor of continuing the process of moving towards a salary cap, while Chelsea abstained from voting, and Manchester United, Manchester City, and Aston Villa voted against the motion.
Free Kicks
- The Pride have risen to third in CBSsports.com’s NWSL power rankings.
- Meanwhile, Orlando City is down to 20th in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
- There are a number of Americans playing in midweek games, so make sure you have everything marked down on your calendar.
- Speaking of Americans, Jesse Marsch has been linked with South Korea’s managerial opening.
- Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny have purchased a minority stake in Necaxa.
That does it for me this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/29/24
Orlando City and OCB lose to Toronto, Pride beat the Spirit in Washington, EPL title race update, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was a mixed weekend for our teams, with the Pride winning, while Orlando City and OCB lost. I’ve been busy covering high school volleyball, badminton, and soccer throughout the past week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Lose at Home to Toronto FC
Orlando City SC saw its four-match unbeaten streak come to an end, losing 2-1 to Toronto FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday. Duncan McGuire scored the opening goal to put Orlando ahead in the first half. The Lions held on to the 1-0 lead until late in the second half, when goals from Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu put the Reds up 2-1, and they were able to hang on and walk out of Orlando with all three points. Toronto FC has won two in a row in league play and is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 16 points. Meanwhile, the Lions are in 13th with nine points. Orlando City will look to bounce back Saturday at home as it takes on FC Cincinnati.
Pride Grab Road Win Over Washington Spirit
The Orlando Pride held on to defeat the Washington Spirit 3-2 at Audi Field Friday — their third straight victory. Angelina scored to put the Pride ahead in the first half, but the Spirit equalized just before halftime. Barbra Banda scored her first goal for the Pride, and Summer Yates added her third goal of the season, giving the Pride a 3-1 advantage in the second half. Ashley Hatch pulled one back for the Spirit on a howler by goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, but the Pride keep their unbeaten streak alive at six matches (3-0-3). Orlando remains undefeated and is fourth in the NWSL table with 12 points. Next up for the Pride is a pair of home matches this week, starting Wednesday at home against the North Carolina Courage. Orlando will host Racing Louisville FC Sunday.
OCB Falls at Home to Toronto FC II
Like the first team, Orlando City B also lost 2-1 to Toronto FC II in its first home match at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions went down early in the match when Charles Sharp scored for Toronto FC II to take a 1-0 lead. Wilfredo Rivera scored the equalizer in the second half to tie the match, however, late in the second half, Jesus Batiz scored the game-winning goal to seal the win for Toronto. The Young Lions have yet to win a match at home, but has played well on the road this season and are on a four-match unbeaten streak away. The Young Lions will face MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference leaders Chattanooga FC Saturday at Finley Stadium.
Manchester City and Arsenal Win to Keep EPL Title Race Close
The Premier League title race is going down to the wire as Manchester City and Arsenal won their matches over the weekend. Arsenal held on to defeat rival Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the North London Derby. That result moves Arsenal into first with 80 points with three matches remaining. Manchester City shut out Nottingham Forest 2-0 and is second, with 79 points and still four matches left to play. Liverpool dropped points to West Ham in a 2-2 draw, putting another blow to the Reds’ title chances and leaving them in third with 75 points and three matches left.
Free Kicks
- If you missed it, check out the first goal from Pride forward Barbra Banda.
- Rose Lavelle made her debut for NJ/NY Gotham FC Sunday and scored the tying goal late in stoppage time to secure a point for her new team in a 1-1 draw against Racing Louisville FC.
- Despite getting a 3-3 draw against Le Havre over the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain won its 10th Ligue 1 title after AS Monaco lost 3-2 to Lyon.
- Mohamed Salah refused to reveal the reason for his touchline disagreement with Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp during the club’s match against West Ham Saturday.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/26/24
Orlando City gets ready for Toronto FC, Thiago Silva linked with Orlando, Marta announces international retirement, and more.
I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad it’s Friday. It’s been a bit of a brutal week for me, but the weekend is nearly upon us, and I plan on spending it with my family for my dad’s birthday. I’m also hoping to find some time to read the new book that came out this week from my favorite author, Emily Henry. For now though, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City Prepares for Toronto FC
After a shaky start to the season, the Lions are unbeaten in their past four games and can make it five when they host Toronto FC Saturday night. Toronto has lost three of its past four games, but is coming off of a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. In the time since Oscar Pareja took over as head coach, Orlando City has won six of its seven games against Toronto. It will be the first meeting between the two with John Herdman at the helm of Toronto, so we will see if the trend of recent Orlando dominance continues. It should be a great game and is another opportunity for the Lions to climb up the table.
Thiago Silva Linked With Orlando City
Brazilian defender Thiago Silva’s contract with Chelsea ends this summer and Orlando City was mentioned as one of many reported clubs interested in signing him. Beyond the surface-level facts that Silva is an incredibly talented defender and Orlando City is a popular landing spot for South Americans who want to play in MLS, the move would not make much sense. The club signed David Brekalo this off-season and Rodrigo Schlegel is a solid option off the bench as well. Even if Orlando does want Silva, there will be plenty of competition. Returning to Fluminense is the expected choice, but Silva could stay in Europe or make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Marta Will Retire From National Team After 2024
Orlando Pride star Marta announced that 2024 will be her last year playing for Brazil. You will need a translating tool for more of the details from her interview with CNN, but she spoke on how she’s at peace with her decision to stop playing at the international level once the year is over. She made her international debut in 2002 and has since played in five Olympics for Brazil. Marta may play in her sixth this summer, and there would be global attention to see one of the greatest players ever to lead Brazil one last time. Her contract with the Pride also ends after this season, but only time will tell if this is her final season in Orlando.
Orlando’s Academy Teams Get Results Against New England
With the Generations Adidas Cup behind them, Orlando City’s U-17 and U-15 teams earned some important points against the New England Revolution’s youth squads. The U-15 team dominated New England in a 4-1 result that included a hat trick from Jakob Garcia. The match between the U-17 sides was a closer affair, as they split the points in a 1-1 draw. Orlando’s teams will play again tomorrow, with a pair of home games against Nashville SC.
Free Kicks
- The San Jose Earthquakes officially have a new Designated Player, signing Argentine winger Hernan Lopez to a contract through the 2026 season. The reported $6 million transfer fee would break the club record if accurate.
- D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse had a successful first surgery last month to help correct an ulcerative colitis diagnosis.
- American midfielder Malik Tillman had a fantastic game for PSV Eindhoven, scoring twice and adding an assist in the team’s 8-0 win over SC Heerenveen.
- Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera announced that he is retiring from international soccer. The 37-year-old has played in the past four World Cups for Uruguay.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jesse Marsch have reportedly been contacted for the coaching vacancy at the Canadian National Team.
- An active bomb from World War II was discovered during renovations of Mainz’s stadium in Germany and it will be deactivated today.
- We will end our links with this pretty entertaining video series featuring Orlando City players and staff competing in Parcheesi. There’s a bracket, trash talk, and an explanation of the rules as well, if you’ve never played before. Here’s a little clip of the most recent game, if you need convincing.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
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