Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/4/24
Lions lose big, Tigres is up next, the USWNT wins, USMNT news, and more.
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. No, I’m not feeling very merry either, but it’s a tradition at this point. The good news is that we don’t have to wait long for Orlando City to get a chance to make us forget about Saturday. In an effort to help with that, let’s get to the links, but first, let’s wish Orlando Pride rookie Ally Lemos a happy birthday.
Massacre in Miami
If you’re like me, you turned off Saturday’s Orlando City match at some point. It was easily the worst showing by an Oscar Pareja-coached Orlando City team. Typically, these Lions are mentality monsters and do not give up. I’m not saying that any of the coaches or players will say they did, but the results speak for themselves. I think it best to just put it behind us and move on to the Tigres match, but if you want to revisit it — or if you were fortunate enough not to watch but still want the details — you can read our match recap.
Up Next: Tigres
The early part of the season doesn’t get any easier for Orlando City as the Lions are set to face Liga MX giant Tigres UANL in a Round-of-16 match in Concacaf Champions Cup. Our own Nic Josey touched on the upcoming match. Unlike the previous matches against Cavalry FC, the Lions will play the first leg at home. The match is tomorrow night at 9 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium. Tigres is coming off a 2-1 loss to Toluca in Liga MX competition. Hopefully, the Lions can shake off the Miami result and take it to Tigres.
USMNT News
It couldn’t happen before the Orlando City match, but Inter Miami is reportedly trading DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati. Good timing, guys.
In happier news, Malik Tillman scored a very nice goal for PSV against Feyenoord in the 2-2 draw. Tillman made a nifty move through the defender and then slotted it inside the left post.
Tillman isn’t alone in scoring for the Eredivisie club, as both Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest have also scored goals this season. In all, the three have 24 goal contributions so far. That ties Mexico for the most by players from another country.
Brentford will be looking to replace departing striker Ivan Toney, and Norwich City striker Josh Sargent is a contender to make the move. Sargent has 11 goals for Norwich so far this season. Christian Pulisic received online death threats after he goaded two Lazio players into receiving red cards in AC Milan’s 1-0 win over the Serie A opponent.
USWNT Rebounds, Blanks Colombia 3-0
The USWNT bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Mexico in the group stage to defeat Colombia 3-0 in a quarterfinal match in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The U.S. started early with a converted penalty kick by Lindsey Horan. Former Orlando Pride player Alex Morgan drew the foul in the box for the USWNT. Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw added two more goals in the first half. There were no second-half goals, nor were any needed. The U.S. will face Canada in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Free Kicks
- Xabi Alonso’s Bayern Leverkusen moved 10 points clear atop the Bundesliga after their 2-0 win over Cologne. It’s a little bit funny that Harry Kane made the move to Bayern Munich and the club might not win a trophy because of Leverkusen’s amazing season.
- NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman spoke about the growth of women’s soccer in the U.S. amid the joint bid with Mexico for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
- In a result that everyone hated other than Manchester City fans, Manchester United wasn’t able to help out the rest of the world, falling 3-1 to City on Sunday.
- Catarina Macario scored a goal in her first match back from injury in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Leicester City.
- The match between Real Madrid and Valencia ended in a 2-2 draw. It also ended on a controversial call when the referee blew the whistle just as Jude Bellingham was scoring what would have been the winning goal.
That will do it for today. Check back for our coverage of the upcoming Tigres and Minnesota United matches later this week. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/3/24
Orlando City wins at home, Eastern Conference playoff picture update, USMNT roster announced, and more.
One of the best parts about Orlando City winning a midweek MLS match is that it makes the rest of the week feel much less like a slog. Having all three of Orlando’s soccer teams performing well is both unfamiliar and pretty great. Let’s dive right into Orlando’s win and more in today’s links!
Orlando City Beats the Philadelphia Union
Orlando City hosted the Philadelphia Union and claimed all three points in a 2-1 win. Luis Muriel came off the bench and changed the game after a scoreless first half, continuing his strong run of form as of late. The Union pulled one back, but the Lions held on for their sixth straight win at home in league play. The Lions remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with two games to go. Orlando will be back in action on Saturday with a tough road match against FC Cincinnati.
Eastern Conference Playoff Races Tighten
Although the regular season nears its end, the MLS playoff picture didn’t get much clearer after the midweek matches across the league. New York City FC beat FC Cincinnati 3-2 and the New York Red Bulls won 4-1 against Toronto FC, meaning both teams are still just two points behind the Lions in the standings. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte FC clinched a spot in the playoffs after winning 4-3 against the Chicago Fire. Inter Miami also won the Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 road win over the Columbus Crew. D.C. United’s Gabriel Pirani scored twice in stoppage time to lift his team to a dramatic 4-3 win over Nashville.
Mauricio Pochettino Names His First USMNT Roster
United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino called up 25 players for his first training camp at the helm. The roster includes plenty of familiar faces, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tim Ream. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen is back in the fold, joining Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte, and Ethan Horvath. Midfielder Giancarlo Busio was also called up for the first time this year. The USMNT will host Panama in a friendly on Oct. 12 in Pocchettino’s first game in charge before a friendly with Mexico on Oct. 15 in Guadalajara.
Keeping Up With Champions League Action
The second round of matches in the Champions League wrapped up and there were some interesting results to enjoy. Despite a red card to goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the 59th minute, Juventus mounted a comeback to win 3-2 on the road against RB Leipzig. Mo Salah had a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Bologna. In the heavyweight match between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, Jhon Duran beat Manuel Neuer from distance to give Aston Villa the 1-0 win. It was a rough day for the Spanish clubs, as Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Lille, Atletico Madrid fell 4-0 to Benfica, and Girona was beaten 3-2 by Feyenoord.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL unveiled the redesigned NWSL Shield and MVP trophies, which were handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. Hopefully, the Pride can secure some of this brand new silverware on Sunday, because it is gorgeous.
- The live show where MLS NEXT Pro playoff teams choose their opponents will take place on Monday. Orlando City B has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but Decision Day on Sunday will determine if the Young Lions will get to pick which team they’ll face in the first round. The top three teams in each conference get to choose an opponent, with the fourth-place team facing whichever club is left over.
- Ahead of his team’s clash with the Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit Head Coach Jonatan Giraldez stated that he won’t have a player take the field until they are “100% available.” Spirit forward Trinity Rodman may miss Sunday’s game due to the back injury she suffered last month.
- Former Portland Timbers defender Modou Jadama has unfortunately passed away. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and all affected.
- Senegal sacked Aliou Cisse as its head coach, with the federation citing a government request not to renew his contract. In his time as head coach, Cisse helped Senegal win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the past two World Cups.
- A section of Atletico Madrid’s stadium will be closed for three games due to fan behavior in the club’s derby match against Real Madrid.
- Brentford has been off to a hot start in each of its past three English Premier League matches, scoring in under 40 seconds each time out. Although Brentford didn’t end up winning any of those games, it’s still an impressive feat. Someone should tell the Bees they’re allowed to score after the first minute.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/2/24
Orlando City ready for the Union, Julie Doyle’s new contract, Champions League results, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s matchday in the City Beautiful, and I will be joining all of you lovely supporters at the stadium this evening. I know it’s a midweek match, but why not come on out and bring some friends or family? That’s what I will be doing, as my nieces and nephews from the area are coming with me. There’s still time to get tickets, but for now, let’s get to the links.
Lions Welcome the Union
Orlando City hosts the Philadelphia Union tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. The Union need results as they currently sit ninth in the standings and in the final play-in match position for the playoffs. As such, they still control their own destiny. The Lions are looking to maintain their fourth position and home field advantage to start the playoffs. It should be a hard-fought match.
Doyle’s New Contract
The Orlando Pride signed midfielder Julie Doyle to a new contract through the 2026 NWSL season. Doyle adds depth and energy to the Pride’s attack. The three-year deal is exactly the type of business that Haley Carter and the club are becoming known for — locking in players with new contracts before the current contract is up. The strategy has been integral in building the Pride into the successful club we see today.
Marta’s Resurgence
At 38 years old, no one should expect Marta to be doing as well as she is this season, especially after coming back from injury last year. However, the Pride captain has seven goals and looks better than she has in years. While she isn’t the same player she was in the past, she is an integral part of Orlando’s success this season. Her leadership, play, and heart show in every match as the Pride continue to take on every challenge put in front of the team.
Champions League Results
The Champions League is underway. Arsenal defeated PSG 2-0 thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. Fellow English Premier League side Manchester City utterly dominated Slovan Bratislava 4-0. Honestly, it’s lucky it was that close. You can check out all of the other results here. The Champions League continues today. Here is everything you need to know about Wednesday’s matches.
Free Kicks
- Emma Hayes has brought the fun back to the USWNT, according to the players. So far, the results are pretty good.
- The WSL will look to avoid any further postponements while scheduling around the Women’s Champions League after having to do so with the match between Chelsea and Manchester United.
- The Houston Dash have officially parted ways with Fran Alonso. Alonso has been absent since June with Ricky Clarke acting as Houston’s interim head coach. Clarke will continue in that role through the end of the season.
- Bruno Fernandez will be available for Manchester United’s next three matches after successfully appealing his sending off against Tottenham Hotspur.
That will do it for today. Check back after the match for our match recap, players grades, and five takeaways. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/1/24
Lions earn weekly recognition, Angelina up for NWSL Goal of the Week, MLS stock watch, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. All three of Orlando’s soccer teams have made the playoffs for the first time ever. With Orlando City back in action tomorrow we don’t have any time to rest on our laurels. Before we get into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B defender Zakaria Taifi.
Lions Earn Weekly Recognition
A pair of Lions were rewarded for their performances in Saturday’s 3-1 win over FC Dallas with starting spots in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Rodrigo Schlegel gets the start on the left side of a back three, while Ramiro Enrique gets the nod as the right midfielder. Enrique nabbed the game’s first goal with an outstanding flicked header from a Rafael Santos cross despite being one of the shortest players on the field, and he also stole the ball and provided the assist for Facundo Torres’s goal. Schlegel scored the game’s second goal with another header from a corner, beating Dallas defenders to send the ball home. Andrew DeSalvo gave Schlegel an 8 out of 10 and Ramiro an 8.5 out of 10 and Man of the Match honors in his player grades, so it’s nice to see them get some more widespread recognition as well. Keep it up, boys!
Angelina Up for Goal of the Week
Continuing the theme of Orlando players being recognized for their performances over the weekend, Angelina’s strike against the Houston Dash has been nominated for NWSL Goal of the Week. With the Pride leading the game in the 51st minute, the ball fell to Angelina on the edge of the area. She took a couple touches to set herself before firing her shot past Jane Campbell and into the net. It’s a worthy contender for NWSL Goal of the Week so make sure you go cast your vote for her!
MLS Stock Watch
With just a handful of games left in the MLS regular season, form matters now more than ever, and that makes this a good time to check in on which way various teams are trending. LAFC won the U.S. Open Cup and then beat FC Cincinnati on the road all in the span of a few days, so it’s definitely going in the right direction. So too are the Seattle Sounders, who are 10-2-2 in their last 14 league games, and Orlando City, which sits in fourth in the Eastern Conference and will need to keep winning in order to stay there. The same can’t be said for the Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City, and St. Louis City SC, as all three have been eliminated from postseason contention. The plights of those teams pale in comparison to the San Jose Earthquakes though, as not only are they locked in as the team that will receive the Wooden Spoon, but they’re also in real danger of setting some unfortunate league records in the process.
Americans in Midweek Action
It’s a busy time of year when it comes to the soccer calendar, and that means there are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the week. Things kick off in the Champions League today, as Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan face Bayer Leverkusen, while Malik Tillman, Richie Ledezma, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV Eindhoven face Sporting CP. Wednesday features Folarin Balogun and Monaco facing off against Dinamo Zagreb, while Weston McKennie and Juventus will take on Red Bull Leipzig. Things finish on Friday with Joe Scally and Borussia Mönchengladbach in action against Augsburg, and Gianluca Busio’s Venezia traveling to play Hellas Verona.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride rightly remained at the top of ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings.
- Orlando City rose three spots to 10th place in the same outlet’s MLS power rankings.
- Antoine Griezmann has retired from playing for the French national team.
- Ousmane Dembele has been dropped for Paris Saint-Germain’s upcoming Champions League game against Arsenal after an argument with head coach Luis Enrique.
That’s all for me this morning, vamos Orlando!
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