Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/8/24
Orlando City wins preseason match, USWNT Gold Cup roster unveiled, Fire close to signing Kellyn Acosta, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? This week has flown by, but I’m not complaining too much about that. I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends over the next few days and enjoying some good food and drinks. We should finally be able to get some closure about the Duncan McGuire saga today as well. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Orlando City Beats Rhode Island FC in Preseason Game
Orlando City took on Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship in a preseason match Wednesday afternoon and won 3-1. Draft pick Jeorgio Kocevski was the only player who started against Flamengo to also start in this game, as the Lions rolled out a young lineup led by veteran midfielder Felipe. Forward Jack Lynn picked up from where he left things off for Orlando City B last season, scoring in each half for a brace.
Rhode Island pulled one back late, but an own goal minutes later gave Orlando its third and the win. It may have just been a preseason game against a Rhode Island side gearing up for its inaugural season, but it’s always nice to see Orlando’s younger players pick up some momentum heading into the season.
Nicolas Lodeiro’s Potential Impact in 2024
Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro was noted as one of many free agent signings this MLS off-season who can make an impact in 2024. The Uruguayan joined Orlando last month after spending the past eight seasons in Seattle and will fill the void in the midfield left by Mauricio Pereyra’s departure. He’s no stranger to racking up assists in the league and will have plenty of weapons around him in Orlando’s attack. There are fair questions on just how much the 34-year-old will play during a busy year for the Lions, but I think Florida sunshine and actual grass will help him thrive here.
As for other Eastern Conference teams, FC Cincinnati did pretty darn well in free agency by bringing in defender Miles Robinson and forward Corey Baird. Josef Martinez, Julian Gressel, and Dax McCarty are a few of the other names who could impress with new teams this year.
USWNT Gold Cup Roster Announced
The United States Women’s National Team roster for the Concacaf W Gold Cup was announced. Of the 23 players called up by interim head coach Twila Kilgore, 21 were also called up for the team’s friendlies in December. Crystal Dunn and Alyssa Naeher are both back in the fold, while Mallory Swanson, Savannah DeMelo, and Gisele Thompson will be in training camp as non-rostered players. It’s a fairly young roster, with former Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kristie Mewis as notable absentees. Alyssa Thompson will miss out on the tournament due to a back injury as well. The Concacaf W Gold Cup will kick off Feb. 20, with the USWNT facing off with a to-be-determined opponent that day at 10:15 p.m.
Kellyn Acosta Reportedly Headed to the Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign free agent midfielder Kellyn Acosta. The 34-year-old American’s deal with LAFC ended after last season and the Fire will reportedly use Targeted Allocation Money to bring him in. Acosta should help improve a Chicago side that missed out on the playoffs last season and his inclusion would be the latest swing during a busy off-season for the team.
Elsewhere in the league, FC Cincinnati added midfielder Pavel Bucha from Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic’s top flight. The 25-year-old bolsters Cincinnati’s midfield and is signed through the 2026 season. Out in the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes added Brazilian left back Vitor Costa from CS Maritimo, which was relegated from Portugal’s first division last year.
Africa Cup of Nations Final Set
The Ivory Coast and Nigeria will face off in the Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday at 3 p.m. Nigeria reached the final after besting South Africa in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw that included traded goals from the penalty spot. As for the Ivory Coast, the host nation beat DR Congo 1-0 thanks to a goal from Sebastien Haller. The final is a pretty interesting match-up to close out a tournament filled with surprises, as both teams were in the same group during the group stage and neither won it. Nigeria beat the Ivory Coast 1-0 back on Jan. 18 and is unbeaten in the tournament, while the Ivory Coast fired its coach following the group stage and battled its way to the final.
Free Kicks
- Former Orlando City player Nani will return to the U.S. this summer for The Soccer Tournament, the seven-on-seven competition that will feature 48 teams. His team, Nani FC, will also include Italian striker Mario Balotelli, as the two play together for Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
- American goalkeeper Matt Turner made six saves, including a crucial one in the penalty shootout, to help Nottingham Forest advance past Bristol City to reach the FA Cup’s fifth round.
- In the AFC Asian Cup, host Qatar beat Iran 3-2 in a thriller to book its spot in the final. Qatar will take on Jordan in the final this Saturday at 10 a.m.
- West Brom has suspended the season ticket of a man who was arrested for allegedly racially abusing Birmingham City’s Juninho Bacuno in this past weekend’s match.
- Sergio Busquets had to exit Inter Miami’s preseason match against Vissel Kobe due to injury. Miami failed to score and lost the penalty shootout to the Japanese team in Tokyo.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/17/24
Facundo Torres’ journey to Orlando, Yutaro Tsukada earns recognition, USMNT will face Jamaica in the Nations League, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope you all have been enjoying the cooler temperatures this week. It’s been nice to break out some long sleeves and it gives me a chance to acclimate before a trip to Maine next week. I may even drink some hot coffee today instead of the usual cold brew. Let’s get this Thursday started with today’s links!
Facundo Torres’ Path to Orlando
Orlando City forward Facundo Torres is enjoying his best season yet with the Lions, scoring 18 goals across all competitions to help the Lions climb up the Eastern Conference standings. It’s his third year in the City Beautiful, joining the club as a Designated Player from Penarol back in 2022. The 24-year-old discussed just how quickly things changed after just one year playing professionally with Penarol.
“At first, I was a little afraid and a little nervous because it was my first time going off on my own,” Torres told WESH 2 recently. “I could only enjoy a year of being a professional in Peñarol because everything happened so fast, debuting and then going to the national team and then the transfer to Orlando — it happened so fast. But I found good people in this club, and the Hispanic community here is big, so that helped me feel at home.”
Torres also talked about how soccer fits in Uruguay’s culture, as well as how his work ethic has helped him reach this point in his career. Orlando’s roster features players from many different cultures, with many hailing from countries in South America. The result is a unique club culture that’s helped the team build a strong identity and find success.
Orlando City Prepares for Decision Day
Orlando City will host Atlanta United on Saturday in what should be an exciting Decision Day showdown between the two rivals. Both teams have plenty to play for beyond the usual bragging rights, as the Lions aim to secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs while Atlanta fights for a spot in the postseason. Head Coach Oscar Pareja spoke on how the team is maintaining momentum after the international break to finish the season strong before the playoffs.
Yutaro Tsukada Honored For Rookie Season
Orlando City B’s Yutaro Tsukada was an honorable mention at forward in this year’s MLS NEXT Pro Best XI. Drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Tsukada had seven goals and seven assists in 22 matches with OCB this season. His efforts earned him a contract with the first team in August and he’s made three appearances with the Lions. It’s nice to see the 23-year-old receive some recognition for a solid first year. I think an argument could definitely be made that Alex Freeman deserved a spot after recording eight goals and nine assists this season. The Young Lions are back in action this Sunday for a playoff match on the road against Chicago Fire FC II.
USMNT Will Face Jamaica in Nations League
The United States Men’s National Team will take on Jamaica in next month’s Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. The first match of the two-leg series will take place in Kingston on Nov. 14 before the two teams face off again in St. Louis on Nov. 18. The U.S. has won all three of the past editions of the Nations League and beat Jamaica 3-1 in the semifinals earlier this year in a match that was closer than the score suggests. Jamaica tends to keep things tight when playing the U.S. and went undefeated in its group play to reach the quarterfinals. It will be interesting to see how Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino builds his lineup for his first Nations League matches.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Kicks Off
The U.S. had a rough start to its U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign with a 3-1 loss to Spain. An own goal gave Spain an early lead, but the U.S. battled back with a goal from Melanie Barcenas later in the first half. Spain took all three points though with Noa Ortega scoring and then providing the assist on Spain’s third goal. The result puts the U.S. last in its group for the time being, as Colombia and South Korea played to a 1-1 draw. The U.S. will play its next match Saturday against Colombia before taking on South Korea Tuesday to close out its group play.
Free Kicks
- Congratulations to former Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
- You can download a customized cover featuring the Lions for EA Sports FC 25. I haven’t played a soccer video game in a while, but this is pretty dang cool to see regardless.
- Boston’s NWSL team apologized for the “Too Many Balls” part of its marketing campaign. It’s honestly such a baffling thing to have existed in the first place. Hopefully those in charge make some changes about the name BOS Nation FC as well.
- American defender Emily Fox scored her first goal for Arsenal in a 4-1 win over Valerenga in the Champions League.
- It’s official: Thomas Tuchel is England’s new manager. He will get started in January, with Lee Carsley serving as the interim head coach for the team’s UEFA Nations League matches next month.
I hope you all have a great Thursday as we get ready for a weekend filled with Orlando soccer to enjoy. Make sure to stay hydrated out there!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/16/24
Barbra Banda up for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, U.S. falls to Mexico, Thomas Tuchel will reportedly coach England, and more.
Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the groundbreaking at Orlando City SC’s soccer-specific stadium. The stadium has been home to plenty of memories over the years, and I’m hoping I can make the trip to see the Orlando Pride make some history there this postseason as well. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Barbra Banda Up for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was one of five players nominated for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for her stellar performance at both the club and international levels. Since joining the Pride from Shanghai Shengli for $740,000, Banda has scored 13 goals to help the club reach the top of the table. She also scored four goals for Zambia at the Olympics this summer to become Africa’s all-time top scorer at the Olympics at just 24 years old. Banda also spoke to the BBC about challenging herself by joining the Pride, playing alongside Marta, and creating a foundation to help girls and boys in Zambia (see the embedded video in the story linked above).
Americans Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma were also nominated after helping the U.S. win gold in Paris. Barcelona duo Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen round out this year’s nominees for their roles in yet another successful season for the Spanish club.
USMNT Falls to Mexico
The United States Men’s National Team went to Mexico and lost 2-0 in a friendly against its rival. Although the USMNT was without some of its best players for this match, it’s still a disappointing result. The Yanks conceded in each half, with Fulham forward Raul Jimenez scoring the first goal and assisting on the second. The match at least gave Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino a look at some of the team’s depth to see what he’s working with moving forward. The USMNT will be back in action next month in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.
Thomas Tuchel Reportedly Set to Take England Job
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly agreed to become England’s next manager on an 18-month contract. He would start in January to coach the team through World Cup qualifying next year and get England ready for the tournament. This would be Tuchel’s first time coaching at the international level, but he does have experience coaching in England after leading Chelsea to Champions League and Club World Cup trophies in 2021. He would replace Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after eight years at the helm of England following the team’s loss in the Euro final this summer.
Boston NWSL Team Confirms Awful Name
The branding for Boston’s NWSL team was unveiled and it will officially be named BOS Nation FC. The club’s crest will be revealed at a later date, but the club’s colors will include green, raspberry, and charcoal. The name, which is an anagram for “Bostonian” has been on the receiving end of criticism, and deservedly so in my opinion. It’s worse than uninspired, it’s just bad. I find it hard to believe that no better options were pitched. Only time will tell if the club reconsiders things before taking the field in 2026. We did see Racing Louisville FC make a change after originally opting for Proof Louisville FC. Fingers crossed!
Free Kicks
- Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was called up for England’s pair of friendlies later this month.
- Pride midfielder Evelina Duljan was called up by the Swedish U-23 team as well.
- The U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off today in the Dominican Republic, with the U.S. set to take on reigning champion Spain at 4 p.m. The U.S. will then play Colombia on Saturday before facing South Korea to close out group play on Tuesday.
- American striker Folarin Balogun will reportedly miss two months due to a shoulder injury suffered earlier this month while with Monaco.
- Merritt Mathias, who has played in nearly 200 NWSL games and played in the very first NWSL game back in 2013, has announced her retirement.
- The draw for the FA Cup’s first round is complete and Wrexham will take on Harrogate Town, a team it wasn’t able to beat across two matches in League Two last season.
- Jonas Eidevall has resigned as the head coach of Arsenal’s women’s team following a rough start to the Women’s Super League season and a 5-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
- There were a pair of own goals in a 1-1 draw between Japan and Australia in AFC World Cup qualifying. Elsewhere, South Korea took control of Group B by beating Iraq 3-2.
- Alex Ferguson is stepping down from his ambassador role with Manchester United as the club continues to cut costs.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/15/24
MLS Decision Day scenarios, Orlando Pride announce playoff campaign, USMNT plays Mexico tonight, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? Things aren’t exactly back to normal for me here in Tampa after the hurricane, but they’re getting there. On this day in 2017, Kaká played his final official game for Orlando City. Plenty has changed since then and I’m glad he’s been able to see the Lions transform into a true contender in recent years. Let’s get to the links!
Getting Ready for MLS Decision Day
MLS Decision Day is Saturday and Orlando City’s home game against Atlanta United is a crucial part of the Eastern Conference drama. A win by the Lions would guarantee them fourth in the standings and crucial home-field advantage in the first round. A loss or draw would open the door for New York City FC to possibly leapfrog Orlando if the Pigeons beat a CF Montreal team desperate to hold onto the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta needs a win to qualify for the playoffs and the same goes for the Philadelphia Union, which faces FC Cincinnati. Orlando clinching home-field advantage and denying Atlanta a spot in the postseason in the process would be a nice way to close out the regular season.
Orlando Pride Launch Playoff Campaign
With the 2024 NWSL playoffs only a few weeks away, the Orlando Pride have announced their campaign to get the community ready for the postseason and celebrate a historic season. The motto “Do You See Us Now?” highlights how the Pride have been impossible to ignore this year by winning the NWSL Shield for the first time and setting records left and right. There will be plenty of local events leading up to the playoffs, including player appearances, watch parties, and ways to get merch to represent the Pride in November. There’s also a promotion in which you would get a ticket to the semifinal if you buy a quarterfinal ticket and the Pride advance.
USMNT Takes On Mexico Tonight
After a 2-0 win over Panama in Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching debut, the United States Men’s National Team is on the road tonight for a friendly against Mexico in Guadalajara. It will be Pochettino’s first taste of the rivalry and a fairly tough test for him, as the U.S. has only beaten Mexico once in Mexico. However, the Yanks also haven’t lost in their past four trips to Mexico to face El Tri. The U.S. will be without five players who returned to their clubs after the win over Panama, including Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi.
Angel City FC Releases Statement on Sanctions
In response to the sanctions imposed by the NWSL that included a three-point deduction and a $200,000 fine after an investigation into a salary cap rule violation, Angel City FC has released a statement.
The club stated that it did not exceed the salary cap, noting that it was the club’s understanding that child care did not count against the salary cap. Angel City was found in violation of going over the salary cap by $50,000 for four weeks this season. That three-point deduction has Angel City in 11th and five points out of a playoff spot with just two games to go.
Free Kicks
- The Pride remained at the top of ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, while the Portland Thorns jumped up five spots to sixth for handing them their first loss of the season.
- Orlando City B’s Wilfredo Rivera had quite the birthday, drawing the penalty kick that resulted in the winning goal in Puerto Rico’s 2-1 win over Sint Maarten in the Concacaf Nations League.
- Boston’s NWSL team set to join the league in 2026 will reportedly be named BOS Nation FC, which is almost impressively bad. We’ll see if the reports are true when the name and logo are officially revealed today.
- Nigeria boycotted its Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya after being stranded at an airport 130 miles from the team’s intended destination. Libyan authorities deny it was sabotage, but the CAF will investigate what happened.
- Australia’s match against Japan highlights an intriguing slate of matches in AFC World Cup qualifying that also includes South Korea facing off against Iraq.
- Amandine Henry, who captained France at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, has announced she is retiring from international soccer. The 35-year-old midfielder won seven Women’s Champions League titles while with Lyon and currently plays for Toluca in Mexico.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a great Tuesday and rest of your week!
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