Lion Links: 8/21/24

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We’re back at it this week with all three teams playing either Friday or Saturday. It definitely helps the mid-week malaise when there are Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches only days away. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s my birthday weekend, so I’m expecting some goals and victories for my presents. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Sign Norwegian Youth International Midfielder

Orlando City announced the signing of midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth from Norwegian side Kristiansund BK. Bruseth has signed under the MLS U22 Initiative and will take up an internation spot. This is a signing a club can make when it is comfortable with the current players but wants to build for the future. If Bruseth does see the pitch, he will certainly be able to help the Lions down the home stretch of the MLS season.

Pride Hype

It’s been a bit since the Orlando Pride have played a match. Excuse me, it’s been a while since the undefeated Orlando Pride have played a match. It’s been even longer since a full-strength, undefeated Orlando Pride have played a match. That makes it all the more exciting that we get to see the return of Marta, Barbra Banda, and the rest of the Olympians for the match against the Houston Dash this Friday night. That should be enough to get you hyped up, but just in case, the Orlando Pride social media team has you covered.

Americans Abroad

Cade Cowell was named Player of the Month for July in Liga MX. Cowell scored three goals, and provided an assist in 340 minutes over four matches. It’s an impressive showing by the youngster in a tough league like Liga MX.

Things were not as good for USMNT’s Tim Weah over in Serie A. Weah scored his first league goal for Juventus in a 3-0 victory over Como. The bad part came when he was substituted off at halftime with a low-grade hamstring injury. He will be reevaluated in about 10 days. Hopefully, he won’t be out of action long.

Tragedy in Guatemala

Julio Ariz Leiva, the head coach of Guatemalan club Deportivo San Pedro, was murdered on Sunday prior to his club’s match with Democracia. Allegedly, the perpetrators were impersonating local police when they asked Leiva to leave a team meeting at a restaurant. Once outside, Leiva was gunned down. The crime is being investigated, though suffice it to say that such actions have no place in soccer or society writ large. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Free Kicks

• Former MLS player Brandon Aubrey is kicking his way to the top of the NFL. Aubrey hit a 66-yard field goal in preseason that would have been good from 72 yards. Check it out.

• MLS stalwart Dax McCarty is hanging up his boots. McCarty has always been a class player. We offer a big congratulations as his excellent career comes to an end.

• Are you, for some reason, not sick of Leagues Cup yet? If so, here is an in-depth look at why the Liga MX squads didn’t reach the semifinals of this year’s tournament.
• The English Premier League season is underway, with the usual contenders like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool looking pretty good. It’s a long season, but here are the first impressions from Week 1.

That will do it for today. Keep checking back and we’ll get you ready for the Orlando Pride’s match this Friday and Orlando City’s match this Saturday. Vamos Orlando!