Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/19/23
Orlando City is frustrated, the Pride lack consistency, the USMNT vs Canada, and more.
Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. I hope you all had a great weekend, and a great Father’s Day for all the fathers, step-fathers, and anyone father-like. I was incredibly lucky, as not only did I get to see both of my grown sons, but I also received the Ted Lasso Party Game, and Queen’s Greatest Hits I, II, & III. It was a nice surprise, and I might have teared up a bit — from the visit, not the gifts. Let’s get to the links.
Lions Frustrated with Loss
Going on the road against New England without Pedro Gallese, Wilder Cartagena, and Facundo Torres was always going to be difficult, but Oscar Pareja and the players are still disappointed. One could point to the weather and the turf — I guess you don’t have to be soccer-specific if your name is Kraft — but Pareja declined to explicitly do so. Ultimately, Duncan McGuire’s goal was the only bright spot in the scoring for the Lions. Good on the rookie for making the most of the opportunity to get his fifth goal of the season, tying him for the lead with Torres.
Pride Lacking Consistency
Seb Hines said that the Orlando Pride were not themselves against the North Carolina Courage in the 3-0 loss. It was a lack of sharpness away from home that once again haunted the Pride as the team looked to follow up the win over the Portland Thorns the week before. Despite having numerous offensive options, the Pride were not able to get many quality chances, only putting one shot on target. The Courage did a good job of pressing and taking advantage of the numerous chances created. The Pride take on the Kansas City Current this coming Saturday at Exploria Stadium.
USMNT Wins Concacaf Nations League
The USMNT scored twice in the first half and held off Canada in a 2-0 Concacaf Nations League final victory in Las Vegas. The Yanks had to play without Miles Robinson, who picked up a knock against Mexico, as well as Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest, who were both sent off in the semifinal. Their replacements were Walker Zimmerman, Luca de la Torre, and Joe Scally. Even though Christian Pulisic wasn’t as dangerous against the Canadians as he was against Mexico, the U.S. were dangerous, especially on set pieces, and covered well for each other defensively. Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun each opened their USMNT account to provide the offense. Gio Reyna had a fantastic first half but was forced out of the game at halftime after being fouled from behind by Stephen Eustaquio and then being caught on the leg inadvertently by Alistair Johnston while he was falling.
FIFA Do Something Right…Kind of
This doesn’t happen very often, so excuse me it it takes a minute to type the words. FIFA maybe did a good thing — it’s complicated and now I need a shower. During the 2022 World Cup, the organization used AI to track abusive comments made by those in attendance. I say it’s complicated, because I’m split on the issue. On one hand, I think those that make such abusive, homophobic, racist, and violent comments should be held accountable. On the other hand, I’m not feeling real good about the big brother aspects of this. My worry is that those that engage in such abhorrent behavior will simply go underground with their hate.
Free Kicks
- If you didn’t see Pablo Ruiz’s 68-yard golazo in Real Salt Lake’s match against DC United…take a look, because it will be a contender for goal of the year.
- Brazil dominated Guinea 4-1 in a friendly match in which the team wore black for the first half as a part of an anti-racism campaign.
- Hany Mukhtar became the third MLS player to score 50 goals and record 30 assists in a three-year period. I wish that so many of them weren’t against Orlando City.
- Spain defeated Croatia 0-0 (5-4) on spot-kicks to win the EUFA Nations League for the first time. It was heartbreaking for Croatia, which only days earlier defeated the Netherlands in extra time to make the final.
- FIFA needs to stop playing nice with Mexico in relation to the homophobic chants heard so often and as recent as the match against the U.S. last Thursday. I could not agree more.
That will do it for today. Don’t forget that the Lions play Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Union in Exploria Stadium. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/18/24
Duncan McGuire likes scoring goals, the Pride are impressive, Champions League results, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day, so I hope you are hyped for a midweek showdown with Charlotte FC. So, put on your purple, and tell you boss you don’t care about the dress code. If you haven’t done so yet, there’s still time to listen to the latest episode of The Mane Land PawedCast to help get you ready after you check out today’s links. Let’s get to it.
McGuire Happy to Score
Duncan McGuire’s goal against the New England Revolution Saturday night was his first MLS strike since June. That kind of drought isn’t something he’s used to, and he was away at the Olympics for part of that time, but he said he’s just happy to contribute to the team winning. McGuire will look to continue his scoring in tonight’s match against Charlotte FC. The Lions will need McGuire and others to contribute in this crucial Eastern Conference match. If you’re unsure whether to attend in person, take a look at all the cool stuff the club is doing tonight. Check back later today for our match preview.
The Pride are Scary Good
The still undefeated Orlando Pride are very, very good. This is obvious to anyone that looks at the standings or the records being broken on a weekly basis. Still, it’s one thing to know it and another to see it. SBNation’s Southern Sylvs got a firsthand look at the team and the experience watching the Pride at the last match against the Kansas City Current at Inter&Co Stadium. Sylvs was impressed with the atmosphere and the club, despite what I thought wasn’t their best outing.
Banda Still in Contention
The Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda hasn’t scored as many goals as the Current’s Temwa Chawinga but that doesn’t mean she’s out of the NWSL MVP race. She has contributed quite a bit in her time with the club, and I expect that she will start putting in goals and providing assists again soon. How well the Pride do in the regular season will also likely impact the MVP selection.
Americans in the Champions League
Liverpool may have defeated AC Milan 3-1 in the first of eight UEFA Champions League matches for each club, but Christian Pulisic did score the first goal of the match.
Why pass the ball when it’s so much easier to simply score the goal yourself? That was pretty much it for AC Milan as Liverpool scored three unanswered goals to secure the victory.
Earlier in the day, Weston McKennie scored in Juventus’ 3-1 win over PSV. It was very much a right place, right time goal for the American.
lt was a good day for the Americans, and plenty of other USMNT players will be in action this week across different leagues and competitions.
Free Kicks
- In the least surprising news ever, the Orlando Pride once again topped the Goal.com NWSL Power Rankings.
- The Orlando Pride’s Ally Lemos and the U-20 USWNT will face Korea DPR’s U-20 squad in the semifinals of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup today.
- Orlando City B defender Alex Freeman made the MLS NEXT Pro “On the Rise” list thanks to his very good recent run of form.
- Like so many players, Lynn Williams was greatly impacted by the career of Alex Morgan. Especially that time she wore the No.13 for the USWNT.
- Former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe praised the younger generation of players that won the Olympic Gold. She also recognized that the players of her generation may have held back the success of the new generation. Now, the team is theirs.
- As I mentioned above, Liverpool may have won its match, but Alisson Becker is still frustrated that football’s governing bodies aren’t consulting players on the number of matches over the many competitions that said players will participate in. He’s not wrong.
- Manchester United decimated third-division Barnsley 7-0 in its English Cup match.
- This test is a chance to prove you are a UEFA Champions League savant by answering 36 questions about the teams in this year’s competition.
- Billionaire Marcelo Claure has purchased 10% of New York City FC, and their we’ll-have-it-eventually stadium. Just another reason for Don Garber to kowtow to NYCFC.
That will do it for today. We will have your match recap after the game tonight. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/17/24
Rafael Santos up for Goal of the Matchday, Lions earn recognition, stories to watch around MLS, and more.
It wasn’t a perfect weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, but it was close. Orlando City, the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B went undefeated, and combined to take seven of the nine points available, which is hard to complain about. There’s no time to rest though, as the Lions will be back in action tomorrow at home against FC Dallas. As always, we have plenty to talk about today, so let’s get into the links.
Santos Strike Nominated for Goal of the Matchday
Rafael Santos opened the scoring in spectacular fashion during Orlando City’s 3-0 win over the New England Revolution, and his left-footed blast has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Matchday. With 22 minutes played, the Lions worked a short corner and Ivan Angulo found Santos free outside the box. The fullback took one touch to set the ball up before unleashing a dipping, curling effort that left a fully stretched Aljaz Ivacic with no chance. It was a special strike and a very worthy nomination. Make sure you go cast your vote for him to win it!
Lions Earn Weekly Recognition
In addition to his Goal of the Matchday nomination, Santos was also named to the starting lineup of the MLS Team of the Matchday as one of three defenders, while Facundo Torres was included on the bench. Outside of his goal, Santos also recorded two tackles and two clearances while helping the defense keep a clean sheet. Torres converted his penalty kick with venom, had 94% passing accuracy, and generally looked dangerous. Marcus Mitchell awarded Santos a 7 out of 10 and Torres a 7.5 out of 10 and Man of the Match honors in his player grades from the match, so it’s nice to see the pair get some recognition on a larger scale. Here’s hoping the good work continues!
Stories to Watch in MLS
Some of the flashier teams in the league might grab headlines on a consistent basis, but there are plenty of other intriguing stories happening around MLS. For one, the Lions are on a 6-1-1 run that has them up to fifth in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand on the Red Bulls in fourth. Martin Ojeda playing through the middle and moving Facu back out wide is a big reason why. Then there are the Colorado Rapids, a team that has the second-largest points-per-game increase from last season to this one. At the other end of things you have Charlotte FC, which has won just once in its last eight games and is in danger of missing out on the playoffs altogether.
Mikey Varas Will Coach San Diego FC
San Diego FC has found its first head coach, as it named former United States Men’s National Team interim head coach Mikey Varas to the top job. Varas spent several years with U.S. Soccer, and also was an assistant coach at FC Dallas under Luchi Gonzalez for three seasons. Aside from being the head coach of the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team from 2021 to 2023, this will be his only other gig as a full time head coach. Now that San Diego has that vacancy filled, it can do some serious work on building its roster ahead of its inaugural MLS season next year.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride held fast at the top spot of ESPN’s NWSL power rankings.
- Orlando City had a big jump, as the Lions moved up six spots to ninth in ESPN’s MLS power rankings.
- Former Orlando Pride coach Tom Sermanni has been named interim head coach of the Australian women’s national team.
- NJ/NY Gotham FC has played on every day of the week at least once during this season.
- Barcelona has extended the contract of women’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí until 2028.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/16/24
Orlando City beats the New England Revolution, Orlando Pride draw at home, Orlando City B wins third straight, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. This week, I’ll be busy working Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field while picking up some extra hours at Under Armour. There’s plenty to cover today after a busy weekend of Orlando soccer, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Shut Out the New England Revolution at Home
On Saturday, Orlando City defeated the New England Revolution 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. This is the first time the Lions have swept a season series against the Revolution in the club’s history. Rafael Santos, Facundo Torres, and Duncan McGuire all scored for the Lions, and this is the second consecutive match that the Lions have won 3-0 after beating Nashville SC by the same score on Aug. 31. Orlando City is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 40 points. It will be a quick turnaround for the Lions, with another home match against Charlotte FC set for Wednesday before traveling to face the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Pride Draw Against the Kansas City Current
The Orlando Pride played to a scoreless draw against the Kansas City Current on Friday at Inter&Co Stadium and saw their six-match winning streak end. However, the result extended their unbeaten streak to 20 matches this season. Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse put on a stellar performance in goal to earn her 11th clean sheet of the season and tie the NWSL record.
Orlando remains atop the NWSL table with 48 points, while the Washington Spirit are close behind in second with 44 points. The Pride will be on the road on Friday to face Bay FC at PayPal Park.
OCB Defeats New England Revolution II at Home
Orlando City B won 2-0 over the New England Revolution II at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday to move a step closer to clinching a playoff spot. After a scoreless first half, Alex Freeman and Jack Lynn scored for the Young Lions to seal the win at home. Orlando City B has now won three consecutive matches and Freeman has scored five goals in the last four games. OCB is third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference table with 43 points, and its next match is Sept. 23 at home against Chicago Fire II.
Americans Abroad in Europe
There were some USMNT players in action in Europe over the weekend after the conclusion of the recent international break. Brenden Aaronson started and played 68 minutes for Leeds United but ended up losing 1-0 to Burnley in the EFL Championship. Christian Pulisic scored a penalty kick and added an assist for AC Milan in a 4-0 win over Venezia in Serie A action. It was Pulisic’s second goal in four matches for AC Milan this season. Teammate Yunus Musah came off the bench in the second half to see out the win. Fellow American Gianluca Busio returned for Venezia, starting and playing 79 minutes. Tanner Tessmann came off the bench to make his Ligue 1 debut for Lyon Sunday against Lens late in the second half, but the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Free Kicks
- Pride midfielder Ally Lemos started for the U.S. Women’s U-20 National Team in the U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Germany. She assisted on the first of two late goals by the U.S. to help send the game to extra time in an incredible comeback. Lemos was subbed off before the penalty shootout, which the U.S. won to advance to the semifinals.
- The Orlando Pride set another club record after their draw against the Current, securing their fourth consecutive clean sheet.
- Carlos Vela and LAFC reportedly agreed to a new contract before the MLS roster freeze deadline on Friday.
- Ashley Hatch scored twice to secure the 50th goal in her NWSL career, as the Washington Spirit cruised to a 3-0 win over the Houston Dash on Sunday.
- Marseille has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to sign former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
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