Lion Links: 6/19/24

Happy Juneteenth, Mane Landers. It is a day to celebrate the end of chattel slavery in the United States and the progress of the Black community in this country. There is always more work to be done, but celebrating the progress to date is worthwhile. Today is also a match day for Orlando City, but for now let’s get to the links.

Scoring Goals is Important

Former Orlando City gaffer Adrian Heath is known for saying that goals change games. Orlando City has not scored many goals this season, making it hard for the club to change games and get results. Head Coach Oscar Pareja is taking the positives from the last match, but he will need to turn things around in Orlando’s attack if he’s to snap the club’s four-game winless streak. The first opportunity is tonight against Charlotte FC.

Competition Grows for Duncan McGuire’s Services

Following the Blackburn Rovers debacle in the last transfer window, we know that Duncan McGuire has interest in moving abroad. If not for incompetence on Blackburn’s part he would already be in Europe. The other interested party in that saga was Sheffield Wednesday, a club that is reportedly still interested in signing the young striker. Now, the English club may have some competition from Torino in Serie A, with other Serie A clubs interested as well. Hopefully, Orlando City will be able to secure McGuire’s services, though I expect he wants to go abroad.

Tonight’s Orlando City B Match Postponed

Orlando City B was set to take on New York City FC II today, but the match has been postponed. The new date and kickoff time have not yet been announced.

It’s not the first time this game’s date has been changed, as it was originally set for June 29 when the season’s schedule was announced. The Young Lions may not be complaining much about not having to play on the road on relatively short rest. As it stands, OCB’s next match will now be against Atlanta United 2 on June 26.

Hines Remembers Match After Pulse Shooting

It’s been a week since the eighth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Yesterday, it was eight years since Orlando City played the San Jose Earthquakes in the first Orlando City match following the shooting. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines was a starting center back for the Lions in that match. He remembers the emotions of that day. Hines spoke on how it felt to get up for a match, but also taking time in the 49th minute to honor the 49 people whose lives were taken away too soon. He still has the rainbow sweatbands from that match that he was wearing when he scored a header for Orlando City. Hines remembers the good and the bad, and so should we.

Upgrading the NWSL Match Experience

NWSL clubs are trying to improve the matchday experience for their fans. That looks different everywhere, but at Inter&Co Stadium that experience includes local food vendors as a part of the “Orlando Made” initiative by Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Of course, great food will only get attendance to a certain level. The real crowd pleaser is winning, and the Pride have been doing a lot of that so far this season.

Free Kicks

• The MLS Disciplinary Commission did a very unsurprising thing by fining Cesar Araujo for embellishment/simulation. LAFC Denis Bouanga had his yellow card accumulation total reduced.
• Former Orlando Pride forward Thais Reiss has signed with Spokane Zephyr FC of the USL Super League.

• FIFA did something good. I know, you don’t believe me, but it’s true. The organization has opened up its Social Media Protection Service to all 211 member associations to help players and teams fight online abuse. Well done.
• USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers may have signed a five-and-a-half year deal with Celtic in January, but that hasn’t stopped interest from a few English Premier League clubs. Celtic wants to keep Carter-Vickers but the allure of the EPL may be too much to overcome.
• In the Euros, Portugal came from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1, and Turkey defeated Georgia 3-1 in a wild, rain-sodden match.
• It seems that many USMNT players both past and present make an appearance in The Boys TV show on Amazon Prime. Well, kind of. Spoilers!

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the match tonight. As always, Vamos Orlando!