Lion Links
Lion Links: 8/19/24
Orlando Pride acquire Carson Pickett, OCB wins against New York City FC II, Leagues Cup semifinals are set, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was another busy week for me while working at Wrigley Field for the Green Day Concert and Chicago Cubs games. Our only team in action this weekend was Orlando City B, but Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are back in action this week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando Pride Trade For Carson Pickett
The Orlando Pride brought back former Pride defender Carson Pickett via a trade with Racing Louisville FC in exchange for $75,000 in Allocation Money on Friday. Pickett had previously played with the Pride from 2018 through 2020. She was with Racing Louisville for two seasons, making 36 appearances, scoring one goal, and adding an assist. The fullback was also with the North Carolina Courage before joining Louisville, recording a goal and 11 assists in 45 appearances. Pickett earned NWSL Best XI honors and was an NWSL Defender of the Year finalist in both of her seasons with the Courage. The Pride now have a player that can boost their defense at left back and serve quality set piece deliveries into the box as Orlando attempts to win its first trophy.
OCB Wins at Home Against New York City FC II
Orlando City B defeated New York City FC II 3-2 at Osceola County Stadium Sunday. The Young Lions were trailing before they scored a pair of back-to-back goals right before halftime to take the lead. OCB added another in the second half to extend its lead and managed to hold on for the win despite conceding another goal. It was a crucial win at home for OCB’s playoff aspirations. The team remains in 10th in the Eastern Conference with 31 points and sits just two points behind Inter Miami CF II, which holds the eighth and final playoff spot. OCB’s next match is Friday on the road against Atlanta United 2.
Leagues Cup Semifinals Are Set
The Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, LAFC, and Philadelphia Union all won their respective Leagues Cup quarterfinal matches over the weekend. LAFC shut out the Seattle Sounders on the road 3-0 to punch its ticket to the semifinals. The club has outscored its opposition 9-1 in its three knockout round matches. The Crew trailed 1-0 early in the first half to New York City FC, but Cucho Hernandez scored the equalizer just before halftime. Still tied after 90 minutes, the Crew won the shootout to advance. The Union also needed a shootout win to advance, defeating Mazatlan after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The Rapids continued their run in the Leagues Cup by winning 9-8 on penalties against Club America to eliminate the last Liga MX team remaining after a scoreless draw. That’s the fourth straight win for Colorado against a Liga MX side. In the semifinals, the Rapids will face LAFC and the Crew will take on the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
Catching Up With Americans Abroad
With many European leagues kicking off their seasons over the weekend, there were plenty of Americans in action overseas. Let’s start in Italy, where AC Milan was down 2-0 to Torino before a late comeback secured a 2-2 draw for Milan. Yunus Musah helped set up Milan’s tying goal with a great assist, while fellow USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic started the match and played 73 minutes. Josh Sargent scored a goal in the EFL Championship, as Norwich City got a 2-2 draw at home against Blackburn Rovers. Haji Wright scored the game-winning goal for Coventry City to seal a 3-2 win against Oxford United.
It was not a good weekend for goalkeeper Ethan Horvath though, as he conceded an own goal and didn’t make a save in Cardiff City’s 5-0 loss on the road to Burnley. American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina and Donovan Pines led Barnsley to a 2-1 win over Lincoln City to claim their first three points in League One.
New Premier League Season Begins
The new English Premier League season kicked off over the weekend and there were some notable matches. Manchester United defeated Fulham 1-0, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring the lone goal. Liverpool and Arsenal secured 2-0 victories over Ipswich Town and Wolves, respectively, while Aston Villa edged past West Ham 2-1. Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler got his first win in the Premier League, leading his side to a 3-0 win against Everton. Elsewhere in the league, Brentford defeated Crystal Palace 2-1, and Manchester City won 2-0 on the road against Chelsea. The lone Premier League match to wrap up the first week of matches will be later today when Leicester City host Tottenham Hotspur.
Free Kicks
- Former Pride players Jordyn Listro, Kristen Edmonds, and Erika Tymrak started in the opening match for Tampa Bay Sun FC in the inaugural USL Super League season. The Sun drew 1-1 at home to Dallas Trinity FC.
- Former U.S. men’s U-20 head coach Mikey Varas will reportedly lead the USMNT on an interim basis for the team’s upcoming friendlies in September against Canada and New Zealand.
- In case you missed it, the San Diego Wave named former USMNT legend Landon Donovan interim head coach for the remainder of the NWSL season.
- Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga debut with Real Madrid got off to a rough start, as his side could only get a 1-1 draw on the road against Mallorca.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/11/24
Orlando City’s protected players, Orlando Pride roster update, the USMNT is returning to Inter&Co Stadium, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The season might be over, but there’s still plenty of news to be found. I’m glad that we have all the movies and specials to watch since there are no MLS or NWSL matches. There are quite a few that my family watch each year including Elf, Scrooged, and of course, Die Hard. Let me know your favorites in the comments below. Let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Protected List Released
The addition of San Diego SC to MLS means another expansion draft this off-season. Yesterday, Orlando City released its protected players list. There are a total of 19 players on the list, though seven of those are automatically protected due to either Homegrown or Generation Adidas status. San Diego will be able to pick up to five players from across the league, but only one from any given club. There aren’t many surprises in which players Orlando City chose to protect.
Pride End-of-Season Roster Update
Following a historic season that saw the club win both the NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Cup, the Pride have released their end of season roster update. We already knew that Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco retired. Given how the club works its contracts, often re-signing players during the season, there weren’t a lot of surprises. Marta and Evelina Duljan were the two players out of contract, and we now know that Duljan won’t be returning, while the club is negotiating a deal that would keep Marta in Orlando.
USMNT Returning to Inter&Co Stadium
The USMNT is heading back to the City Beautiful, as the team will play Costa Rica Jan. 22 at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff for the match will be 7 p.m., allowing fans in the Orlando area to make it after work. It will be the second match in Florida, as the Americans will take on Venezuela Jan. 18 at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. Pre-sale tickets went on sale Tuesday, and ticket sales for the general public start Friday.
USWNT vs. Brazil
If you were hoping for a rematch of the 2024 Women’s World Cup final between the USWNT and the Brazilian Women’s National Team, you are in luck. The two teams will square off on April 5 and April 8, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and at PayPal Park in San Jose, respectively. The match at SoFi Stadium will be the first soccer match played in the venue, which will also host matches for the 2026 World Cup.
Free Kicks
- It’s no surprise to those of us who work with the Pride regularly that Jackie Maynard, Lucas Medeiros, and the rest of Orlando’s comms staff was named the first-ever NWSL Communications Team of the Year winner. We congratulate Jackie and her team and look forward to continuing to work with a great group of professionals.
- Take a trip down memory lane with this compilation of Facundo Torres’ goals from 2024.
- Today, FIFA will award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The circumstances leading up to this “decision” are exactly as forthright, transparent, and without any hint of shenanigans as one expects from FIFA. Give me a minute, my eyes got stuck in the back of my head because of how hard I rolled them.
- In related news, Norway plans to protest the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and will abstain on the basis that not enough has been done to protect human rights at the event.
- Orlando City wasn’t the only team to drop its list of protected rosters. Here are the lists for every MLS club.
- Plenty of teams were in action in the UEFA Champions League Tuesday. Liverpool won its sixth consecutive first round match 1-0 over Girona, and Mbappe scored and got injured in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Atalanta.
That will do it for today. Keep checking in for our Season in Review pieces for both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/10/24
Facundo Torres linked with move to Palmeiras, Pride players in FIFPRO Women’s World 11, Amanda Allen suffers injury, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope your week is getting off to a good start and that you’re on top of any Christmas shopping that you still need to do, because I’m just now realizing that I’ve done exactly zero of mine. Alas, the only way out is through. As usual, we have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Facundo Torres Linked With Palmeiras
Tom Bogert reported on Monday evening that Orlando City has agreed to a deal with Brazilian club Palmeiras for the transfer of Facundo Torres. While Bogert says the two clubs have reached an agreement, the transfer is still pending as Torres and Palmeiras still need to agree on personal terms. While no price tag was given, the fee would reportedly eclipse the $9.5 million fee that West Bromwich Albion paid for Daryl Dike, which is OCSC’s current outbound transfer record. Torres is the club’s record signing, as he joined from Penarol for roughly $7.5 million, and has been central to the team’s success ever since. We will bring you more from this story as it develops.
Familiar Faces in FIFPRO Women’s World 11
FIFA announced the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 on Monday and there are two familiar faces in the lineup, as Marta and Barbra Banda were named to the team. This is the third time in Marta’s career that she has been chosen for the award, which is the only global player award decided exclusively by the players themselves. Banda is included in the team for the first time, with this also being the very first time that an African player has made the team. Both players had incredible seasons for the Orlando Pride and were instrumental in the team winning its first two pieces of silverware. Congratulations to both for all their hard work and justified recognition!
Amanda Allen Suffers Injury
The Orlando Pride announced on Monday that forward Amanda Allen has suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder and will undergo surgery to repair it. As a result, Allen’s loan with USL Super League team Lexington Sporting Club has been terminated, and she has been placed on the season-ending injury list. It’s a tough break for Allen, who became the youngest player to debut for the team back during the 2023 season, as she was getting good minutes and experience on loan. We wish her all the best and hope to see her back on the field soon!
Christian Pulisic Injury News
AC Milan announced on Monday that United States Men’s National Team forward Christian Pulisic has torn a muscle in his right calf, and will spend time on the sideline. The winger went off injured during the team’s game on Friday, and Milan has said that he could be on the shelf until January. While the USMNT won’t play a competitive game until March’s Concacaf Nations League semifinals, the timing is a tough blow for Pulisic, who has had an excellent start to the season with eight goal contributions in Serie A and three UEFA Champions League goals. Here’s hoping that he makes a speedy recovery.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a number of Americans who will take part in games this week, so make sure you get everything marked down on your calendar. Things get started later today as Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Celtic take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Malik Tillman, and PSV Eindhoven face Brest in the same competition. Tomorrow has Yunus Musah and AC Milan hosting Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus welcome Manchester City to Allianz Stadium. Things then finish up on Friday as Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host St-Etienne in Ligue 1 play.
MLS Transfer Happenings
We have a lot of MLS transfer moves and roster changes to cover this morning. Cruzeiro has declined the purchase option on FC Cincinnati winger Alvaro Barreal, meaning he has returned to the club following the conclusion of his loan. Expansion side San Diego FC has acquired Tomas Angel and a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft from LAFC in exchange for $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM). Austin FC also bought out Gyasi Zardes’ contract, making the 10th-highest scorer in MLS history a free agent.
The Colorado Rapids signed center backs Ian Murphy and Chidozie Awaziem from FC Cincinnati in exchange for $1 million in General Allocation Money. Tom Bogert is also reporting that Bournemouth is finalizing a deal to sign American center back Matai Akinmboni from D.C. United in a deal worth up to $2.5 million. Finally, in the wildest piece of MLS transfer news I’ve seen in awhile, I simply present the following tweet.
Free Kicks
- Check out this very interesting and informative article detailing how Pedro Araujo, Orlando City’s SVP of Marketing and Brand, sells and markets the Lions and Pride to the club’s fanbases.
- In MLS NEXT Fest action, Orlando City’s U-15 team beat Real Salt Lake 5-0 but the U-16 team fell 3-2 to LAFC.
- The United States Women’s National Team has scheduled a pair of friendlies against Brazil on April 5 and April 8 out in California.
- Former Orlando City goalkeeping coach Tim Mulqueen has been named the men’s soccer coach at his alma mater, Saint Joseph’s University.
- MLS is reportedly considering adding an internal trade market that would let MLS clubs make trades with real money rather than allocation money.
- Angel City FC has parted ways with head coach Becki Tweed.
- The Houston Dash have hired Angela Hucles Mangano as its president of women’s soccer.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/9/24
Former Lion Nani announces retirement, OCSC U-19 team winning at MLS NEXT Fest, FIFA Club World Cup schedule revealed, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I had a busy week at Under Armour and watched a Chicago Blackhawks game with friends. Besides that, I’ll be working the Christmas Winterland Event at Wrigley Field later this week. We have plenty to cover today so let’s get to the links.
Nani Announces His Retirement
Former Orlando City captain Nani announced his retirement from professional soccer on Sunday after a stellar career. The 38-year-old left a heartfelt message on social media to announce the news.
The Portuguese star spent three seasons with Orlando City after joining the club from Sporting Lisbon in 2019, scoring 31 goals across all competitions. Nani recently played for his hometown club, Estrela da Amadora, in Portugal. He also spent time with Manchester United, Valencia, Fenerbahce, and many other clubs over the span of his career. At the international level, Nani made 112 appearances for Portugal, scoring 24 goals and helping the team win Euro 2016 in France. We here at The Mane Land wish him all the best in his retirement.
OCSC U-19 Team Beats LAFC and FC Cincinnati
MLS NEXT Fest kicked off this weekend and Orlando City’s U-19 team has been on fire. Orlando beat LAFC 7-4 in its first game of the event, with Jack Basinet and Gustavo Caraballo each scoring two goals.
The team followed that up with a 4-0 win against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The U-19 academy team will be back in action later today to face the LA Galaxy.
Orlando Matches Set for FIFA Club World Cup
The full schedule for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was unveiled and we’ve learned which games will be held in Orlando’s two venues for the tournament.
Inter&Co Stadium will host two matches, with Ulsan HD of South Korea playing against South African club Mamelodi Sundowns on June 17 before Benfica takes on Auckland City on June 20. Camping World Stadium will host four matches. The first will be June 24 between Club Leon and Flamengo, and Juventus will play Manchester City on June 26. Camping World Stadium’s third match will be a round-of-16 matchup on June 30, while the fourth match will be a quarterfinal on July 4. MetLife Stadium will host nine matches, including the semifinals and final.
LA Galaxy Defeat the Red Bulls to Win MLS Cup
The LA Galaxy beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win the MLS Cup at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday. It’s the sixth time that the Galaxy have won the MLS Cup. Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic put the Galaxy ahead 2-0 before the Red Bulls pulled one back in the first half with a goal by Sean Nealis. Despite missing their star player, Riqui Puig, the Galaxy held onto their lead in the second half to secure the win. The Galaxy snapped their title drought that had lasted since 2014, and Head Coach Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two MLS clubs. Gaston Brugman won the MVP honors for the match for his role orchestrating things in the midfield.
Free Kicks
- The Guardian named its 100 best female footballers in the world for 2024. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was seventh, while Marta was 27th on the list. FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati took the top spot.
- Christian Pulisic left the pitch in the first half of AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat to Atalanta on Friday due to a calf injury. However, AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca stated after the match that the injury doesn’t look too serious.
- The San Jose Earthquakes are reportedly in talks to acquire Monterrey forward Brandon Vazquez.
- Here are the 10 MLS clubs that have qualified for the 2025 Champions Cup.
- Botafogo defeated Sao Paulo 2-1 on Sunday to win its first Brazilian league title since 1995. It secured 78 points and finished six points ahead of runner-up Palmeiras.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City6 days ago
Orlando City Announces Roster Decisions Following 2024 Season
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Five Takeaways
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 1-0 as Toothless Lions Fall at Home
-
Lion Links1 week ago
Lion Links: 12/4/24
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago
Orlando Pride Have Built Something Special and Sustainable
-
Orlando City1 week ago
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match
-
Photo Galleries2 weeks ago
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Photo Gallery