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Lion Links: 11/22/18

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Happy Thanksgiving to all. It’s a special time of year, where we eat dinner way too early, stuff ourselves so much that it hurts, remember why certain members of our family drive us insane, and watch some really boring NFL games that we don’t really care about.

Seriously though, on most nights my family eats around 6:30 p.m. but on major holidays for some reason we’re finished eating by 3:30 or 4 p.m. I don’t understand this concept, but whatever. No matter how much turkey, potatoes, stuffing and other side dishes I eat, I’m usually hungry again around bedtime, which is just dumb. Can we put a committee in charge of fixing this?

Anyway, just because it’s a holiday, it doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty to discuss, so let’s get to it. And remember, if you ever need to tune out your family for an hour or so, you can always throw in your earbuds and catch our November PawedCast with our interview of Orlando SeaWolves Head Coach Tom Traxler.

Yoshi and Peru Fall to Costa Rica, 3-2

Despite goals from Jefferson Farfan and Edison Flores, Peru lost its international friendly to Costa Rica, 3-2. Orlando City midfielder Yoshimar Yotún featured in the match, as one would expect. Here is a photo gallery from the game with some good pics of Yoshi.

Where Does the USMNT Go From Here?

After a disappointing 2018, spent entirely under an interim coach and with no discernible direction beyond #PlayYourKids, the United States Men’s National Team seems to be in limbo. Jeff Carlisle of ESPN wrote about the uncertainty surrounding the USMNT as we all wait for (presumably) Gregg Berhalter to be announced. Meanwhile, Joe Prince-Wright over at NBC is also asking, “what’s next for the U.S.?” There has never been a more baffling time to be a USMNT supporter but hopefully the tide will turn with the naming of a coach and January’s Camp Cupcake.

Dos A Cero

The U-20 USMNT defeated rival Mexico, 2-0 in the Concacaf Championship in Bradenton last night, capturing the nation’s second straight title in the competition. Alex Mendez scored both U.S. goals to lead the U-20s to victory. Check out the lovely teamwork on the second USMNT goal.

Congratulations to Tab Ramos and the lads. Now go win that U-20 World Cup next year in Poland.

U-17 USWNT Falls to Germany to Close Out World Cup Run

The U-17 USWNT fell behind just four minutes into the match against Germany and despite dominating possession and chances, struggled to finish, hitting the woodwork multiple times, and having a goal waved off. Eventually the Germans doubled the lead on a counter attack against the run of play and went on to win, 4-0, despite being out-shot by a wide margin. The United States is eliminated from the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The Yanks finished 1-2-0 in group play with a win over Cameroon and losses to Korea DPR, and Germany in a disappointing World Cup run. The troubling trend at the youth level continues for the U.S. women.

Oh, FIFA

You can’t even make this up. FIFA ethics committee judge Sundra Rajoo was arrested on suspicion of corruption on Wednesday. Rajoo was part of a revamped ethics committee tasked with cleaning up the organization to restore its credibility. This arrest is not going to help with that.

Sundra Rajoo has been taken off cases while under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for financial wrongdoing in his job leading an arbitration service.

″(Rajoo) will not be involved in any further activities of the adjudicatory chamber (while under investigation),” FIFA said in a statement.

The decision was imposed “with immediate effect” by judging panel chairman Vassilios Skouris, FIFA said.

Who will watch the watchers? Who will watch the watchers of the watchers? FIFA won’t clean itself up until it actually has people in charge who want to do just that. This latest episode might just be the most FIFA thing ever.

Free Kicks

  • Alex Calder, a fitness coach with Orlando City for the past two seasons, has departed to take a position with the Houston Dynamo as the club’s head of sport science. You may recall that the club brought in Isaac Ramos as director of fitness in August and parted ways with Dave McKay.

  • Greg Seltzer at mlssoccer.com made his picks for the player each Eastern Conference team should build around and for Orlando City, he says that player is Dom Dwyer. Is he right?
  • The price to #SaveTheCrew is, according to Forbes, reportedly $150 million.
  • Didier Drogba appeared to have changed his mind about retiring with a social media post from The Wolf of Wall Street recently but he has apparently changed his mind again and is calling it a career.
  • LAFC has signed 21-year-old Colombian defender Eddie Segura on a six-month loan with a purchase option.
  • The Bundesliga has decided to scrap Monday games under pressure from fan protests.
  • Those born on this date include French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle (1890), Rodney Dangerfield (1921), Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam (1940), tennis legend Billie Jean King (1943), E Street Band guitarist/actor Little Steven Van Zandt (1950), Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth (1950), Jamie Lee Curtis (1958), German tennis great Boris Becker (1967), actor Mark Ruffalo (1967), ex-Germany international Torsten Frings (1976), Scarlett Johansson (1984), Belgium/Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini (1987), England/Manchester United defender Chris Smalling (1989), and Miami Dolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler (1990).

That’s all I’ve got for you today. Hopefully you’re not so stuffed with Lion Links that you lose your appetite for your way-too-early holiday dinner. Enjoy your Thanksgiving (if you celebrate that today) and the rest of your week.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the homestretch of the week and I couldn’t be happier. A busy weekend awaits me, but I’m hoping for some quiet, nice moments to offset some of the hustle and bustle. It’s also another weekend packed with Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your next couple of days accordingly. But for now, let’s get to the links!

MLS Unveils Club Roster Details

There’s a little more transparency in Major League Soccer after the league released helpful snapshots of each club that detail the composition of each roster. From Designated Players and MLS U22 Initiative Players to international roster slots and contract lengths, the graphics are easy to comprehend and give a nice look behind the curtain on each team. Using this, we can see that Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo no longer takes up a U22 Initiative slot and that the team also has an open international roster slot. It should be a fairly nice reference guide for fans moving forward, as well as a way to check out how other MLS teams are building their rosters.

Emily Sams Earns Recognition as Potential USWNT Player

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was mentioned as one of the top 20 eligible Americans who have yet to make an appearance with the United States Women’s National Team according to Pro Soccer Wire. The shout out is well deserved, as Sams has helped anchor a Pride defense that’s only given up seven goals this season. Only time will tell if Sams will earn a call-up once Emma Hayes is at the helm of the USWNT, but it does feel inevitable given how she’s been playing. Other notable players on the list include Ajax’s Lily Yohannes, Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune, and Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden.

Marta’s Top Moments

All For XI compiled some of the best moments from Marta’s career into a tidy top five. Considering how prolific she has been for Brazil over the years, it was nice to see a pair of goals from her time with the Pride receive some recognition. Both of those moments were from 2018, with her free kick to equalize against the Seattle Reign placing fifth and her solo effort to stun the Spirit taking third. It’s fitting though that the top moment on the list showcases the impact she’s had off the field, as it’s Marta’s emotional speech after Brazil’s exit in the 2019 World Cup.

Kelley O’Hara Will Retire After 2024 Season

USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara announced that she will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. Over the course of her international career, she’s played in four World Cups, three Olympic Games, and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2019. O’Hara has played in every NWSL season since the league’s inception, winning the title with the Spirit in 2021 and again with NJ/NY Gotham FC last year. She joined Gotham as the first free agent signing in NWSL history and she is set to close out her illustrious career there.

Free Kicks

  • Curve Fragrances was named the official fragrance partner of Orlando City. As part of the partnership, there will be giveaways and product sampling at select games this season.
  • Wrexham’s women’s squad for The Soccer Tournament this summer will include a trio of former Pride players, with Bridget Callahan, Danica Evans, and Nickolette Driesse all taking part. I can’t wait to see if Callahan will make SkoRed a rallying cry at the tournament.
  • Orlando City won’t have to contend with FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza tomorrow, as he will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a broken jaw suffered in an off-field incident.
  • The Europa League semifinals are underway and Bayer Leverkusen extended its unbeaten run to 47 games after a 2-0 road win against Roma. In the other matchup, Atalanta and Marseille drew 1-1 in France.
  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso hasn’t been with Real Betis for long, but he’s doing well enough that Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
  • Lucas Hernandez suffered an ACL injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s loss to Borussia Dortmund and will miss out on this summer’s Euros with France.
  • Reims and Will Still have mutually agreed to part ways, with the coach leaving now despite just having three games left in the Ligue 1 season. It will be interesting to see where the 31-year-old coaches next, as he had a notable 19-game unbeaten stretch with Reims last season.
  • Here’s a detailed dive into the obstacles Everton has faced in recent years, as well as how the club has avoided relegation amid another difficult season.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

It’s Thursday, Mane Landers. Of course, the name Thursday comes from Thor’s day, and as such, it isn’t a big leap for us to consider it Thorhallsson’s day. Though I suppose that is a bit of a mouthful, so we’ll just keep things the way they are, but do hold Dagur Dan close to your heart today. Also, let us wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Luana. Despite the devastating news that dropped about her health earlier this week, we hope that her spirits are high and we wish her nothing but happiness today. It’s also Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s birthday today, so we’re celebrating him as well. Let’s get to the links.

The Pride Dominate the Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in a midweek match at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride did indeed dominate the Courage as much as the score line indicates. It was once again the Barbra Banda show, with the Pride’s newest player contributing a brace and an assist on the night. It is the Pride’s fourth straight victory and the undefeated run continues.

OCSC Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are doing their part this May to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. The club is sponsoring and attending events and forums available to the general public, as well as holding club staff workshops around promoting mental health. I have to say my favorite is the therapy dogs visits that will be available to the staff. There’s nothing as good for my personal mental health as the joy and unconditional love a dog can bring. If I didn’t have dogs of my own, I’d be really jealous.

The Billionaires Clubs

Orlando City and Orlando Pride owners, the Wilf family, are not the only billionaire owners in the NWSL. There are more and more owners and ownership groups that fall into that category. The influx of more money is a growth opportunity for the league and potentially for those owners. It’s a bit of a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality for these owners as they do better when the league as a whole does better. It’s not just the owners who think so. The NWSL was ranked No. 5 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. I’m just glad the Pride are in the club.

USMNT News

I hate starting off a section with bad news, but Sergino Dest tore his ACL in training with PSV Eindhoven and will miss the Copa America. Dest will require surgery though there is no time frame yet for when he may return. The loss of Dest is a blow to the U.S. defense heading into the competition this coming June. The USMNT plays Bolivia on June 23.

In better news, Tim Weah provided the assist for Juventus on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal against Lazio. Juventus entered the second leg of the Copa Italia semifinal up 2-0, but Lazio drew level before Milik’s goal. Juventus advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will play in the final.

Free Kicks


That will do it for today. There’s plenty more soccer to come this weekend with all three teams playing. Check back for more as we get you ready for those matches. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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