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Lion Links: 7/23/22

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It’s a big match day, Mane Landers. Orlando City hosts the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union tonight at 7:30 p.m. A win does not seem out of the realm of possibility, as the Lions currently trail by only nine points on the table. However, the squad is going to need to put together one of their best team efforts across the board to do so. The fun does not stop there, as the rubber match between the Young Lions and Philly II will be played tomorrow at 7 p.m. as well. Let’s hope the first team can set the tone tonight and OCB can wrap it all up tomorrow. Now, it’s time for the links!

Orlando City Hosts Philadelphia Union

Orlando City took a short break from MLS play by adding in a friendly match against Arsenal on Wednesday. The club will be at home again tonight — this time against MLS side Philadelphia for the first meeting between the teams in league play in 2022. The two teams met earlier in the year in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 10, when Ercan Kara and Andrés Perea both found the back of the net.

Kara would love to score again against the Union and leads the Lions with eight goals in all competitions in 2022 — seven of which have come in league play. Facundo Torres follows closely behind with five and scored against Arsenal on Wednesday. The Lions will need to keep an eye on Dániel Gazdag, who leads the Union with nine goals this campaign, followed by Julián Carranza, with seven.

Young Lions Called Up

U-19 United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Marko Mitrović has called up 23 players for a training camp from July 25 to Aug. 2. Orlando City B will be offering up three of its players for the camp. Goalkeeper Dominic Pereira will be joining attackers Favian Loyola and Ethan Subachan on the plane to Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. This will be Pereira’s first appearance with the U-19s.

The players called to Carson are also age-eligible for the U-20 side, which just qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2024 Olympics in Paris with its performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras. The players born in 2005 are also age-eligible for the 2024-2025 U-20 World Cup cycle. Hopefully, the Young Lions can prove themselves worthy in this camp as they work towards inking their names on the U-20 World Cup roster.

OCB Keeper One to Watch

If you have yet to see Javier Otero feature for Orlando City B, you might also recognize his name from a couple of recent short-term contracts with the first team. He was recently signed to fill in as backup goalkeeper due to Orlando’s usual second- and third-string keepers being out with injury. While he has yet to play in a match for the senior Lions, he has been making a name for himself across MLS NEXT Pro. He has recently been listed as one of five MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers that MLS clubs should keep their eyes on.

Otero was named MLS NEXT Pro’s Goalkeeper of the Month for April. At only 19 years of age, Otero towers in goal as a man amongst boys at 6-foot-6. Across 12 matches this season, Otero has 70 saves while only conceding 24 goals. He boasts three clean sheets, a 74.5% save percentage, and 16 additional clearances.

Sebas Mendez Welcomed in LA

LAFC added Orlando City’s Sebas Mendez to the tem’s list of summer transfers Tuesday for $300,000 in guaranteed General Allocation Money, with another $450,000 in conditional GAM tied to the Ecuadorian international’s performance metrics with the Black & Gold.

Mendez has more than three years of MLS experience and more than 4,500 regular-season minutes with the Lions, He will be joining his countrymen, Jose Cifuentes and Diego Palacios, on the club level now as well. The three players will be chasing a Qatar 2022 World Cup spot with La Tri later this fall.

LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo described his newest addition as a versatile midfielder who can play multiple spots.

“He is physically very gifted and covers a lot of ground and is quite aggressive. His ball-winning abilities is something that we’re also looking for in players, and he brings that. On top of that, he’s technically proficient and has an eye for certain windows. So he fits very nicely into an 8 position for us, and in a pinch, he can play in a 6 position.”

It has yet to be seen if Orlando City will replace Mendez this transfer window or wait until the end of the season. Mendez has already integrated into his new club and could play as soon as LAFC’s visit to Sporting Kansas City tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Luis Gil Joins Union Omaha

Former Orlando City midfielder Luis Gil has joined USL League One side Union Omaha. In 2017, Gil joined Orlando City from Querétaro of Liga MX on loan and featured in 17 matches for the Lions. Orlando City went on to swap midfielders with the Colorado Rapids in the final hours of the MLS summer transfer window, when the Rapids received Gil and $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money and Orlando claimed Dillon Powers.

At the international level, Gil only earned two caps with the USMNT senior team. However, at the youth international level, Gil accumulated over 50 appearances and 12 goals, and played in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the 2009 Concacaf U-17 Championship, the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the 2013 Concacaf U-20 Championship.

“Luis adds great quality and experience to our team,” Union Omaha Head Coach Jay Mims said. “He has played at the highest level in our country including at every level with the USMNT. Adding an experienced, quality player like Luis will have such a great impact on our team on and off the field for the second half of the season. We are excited to welcome Luis to the club and I know the players are eager to have another hard-working, humble person in the locker room.”

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That’s all the links for today. You know what to do now. Pull on your purple jersey, start the pregame rituals, and head over to Exploria Stadium. Let’s get this weekend off to a great start. Vamos Orlando!

Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

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  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

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  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

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  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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