Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/12/21
How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s Friday, so we can all let our hair down a bit as we get ready for the weekend. I don’t have many plans beyond work and finishing off some rum punch from the Super Bowl. If you have Valentine’s Day plans, I wish you the best of luck and hope all of it is without rain or stress. Now, let’s hop right into today’s links from around the soccer world.
Daryl Dike Debuts for Barnsley FC
Orlando City forward Daryl Dike made his Barnsley FC debut in the club’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup. Dike didn’t start, but came on in the 59th minute to boost Barnsley’s offense when the match was still scoreless. A goal from Tammy Abraham gave Chelsea the lead in the 64th minute, but Barnsley fought back. Dike had a blocked shot, made a key pass, and sent a header wide in a play that was offside but could pass as a renaissance painting.
KEEP PUSHING, LADS! pic.twitter.com/ebSGk8OZCX
— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) February 11, 2021
Barnsley wasn’t able to equalize, but still had a solid performance against one of the best teams in England. As for Dike, he could get his first start in Barnsley’s next game on Feb. 14 against Brentford FC. It’s a tough match-up as Brentford sits atop the English Football League Championship, but it will be interesting to see how Dike performs in his first league game in England.
Alex Morgan Gets Support from Sydney Leroux
Between pregnancy, the birth of her daughter, minor injuries during a stint in England, and testing positive for the coronavirus, 2020 was a rollercoaster of a year for Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan. In a press conference, Morgan detailed her symptoms while she and her family recovered from COVID-19 and the difficult decision to leave Tottenham to return to the Pride.
Now, after a week of preseason training with the Pride, Morgan is training with the United States Women’s National Team in Orlando ahead of the SheBelieves Cup next week. Although the pandemic still casts a shadow of uncertainty on future games this year, Morgan is making the most of her training. The 31-year-old also appreciates the guidance from Pride teammate Sydney Leroux as she balances both training and motherhood.
“I’m really happy to have Syd on the team just to be able to help guide me,” Morgan said. “She has been here quite a few years with kids, and this is kind of really my first go-around into a full season. … I feel like having Syd on my team, having another mom to be able to lean on in certain times is really important for me.”
MLS Clubs Make Moves
Austin FC added a key piece to its plans by signing attacking midfielder Tomas Pochettino as the team’s second Designated Player. It will be the Argentine’s first time playing outside of his home country after he managed seven goals and 10 assists in 62 matches with Atletico Talleres.
Staying out in the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy are trying to bring forward Cristian Pavon back with a reported offer of $6 million for 60% of his rights. Pavon was one of the league’s best wingers with 13 goals and 15 assists in 33 games for the Galaxy. Elsewhere, the Portland Timbers hope Sebastian Blanco is fully recovered from his ACL tear in time for the season and Concacaf Champions League.
In the Eastern Conference, Frankie Amaya requested to be traded from FC Cincinnati but the club has no interest in doing so. Inter Miami hired former Manchester United scout Mark Prizant to be the club’s director of scouting.
Bayern Munich Wins FIFA Club World Cup
In a result that was expected, but impressive nonetheless, Bayern Munich defeated Tigres UANL to win the FIFA Club World Cup. The trophy is Bayern’s sixth in 12 months and manager Hansi Flick now has more trophies than losses since taking over in November 2020. French World Cup champion Benjamin Pavard scored the game’s only goal and Canadian left back Alphonso Davies played all 90 minutes against the Concacaf side. With a historic sextuple claimed, Bayern aims to do it all again this year.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City gave a shoutout to Director of Performance Nutrition Rikki Keen for International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
It's International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Thank you to Rikki Keen, our Director of Performance Nutrition, for all the work with our Lions. 👏 pic.twitter.com/0s9h9kkfng
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 11, 2021
- Pride players competed in a soccer tennis tournament for training. You can see Gunny Jonsdottir and Jade Moore’s skills below, but the trophy went to Marta and Ali Riley.
Great point by @Gunnhildur_Yrsa & @jade_moore20. 👏👏 #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/m0S5enLrKe
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) February 11, 2021
Weeeee are the champions… 🎶🏆
Congrats Marta & @RileyThree! 👏👏 #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/82nCGUOaUC
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) February 11, 2021
- Here is a great guide breaking down each MLS team’s path in the Concacaf Champions League.
- Gregg Berhalter’s call-ups have illustrated the direction the United States Men’s National Team is headed, along with the players left in its dust.
- After experiencing their first loss of the season, the Florida Tropics look to bounce back on the road against the Dallas Sidekicks today at 8:30 p.m.
- Neymar is out for four weeks with a hip injury and will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s clash against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
- Burnley detailed its long-term plans to make its women’s side professional.
- Toronto FC could be temporarily headed to Florida, with Tampa as a possible destination for the 2021 season during the pandemic. As a Tampa resident, it would be exciting having an MLS team back after the Mutiny disbanded and Orlando City would basically have home-field advantage over a tough Eastern Conference foe. On the other hand, this could all be a chess move for Toronto to get its hands on whatever has made Tampa’s sports teams so good lately.
What do you all think? Would you be fine having another MLS team down here in Florida or is three a crowd? Let me know in the comments below and have a great weekend.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/20/24
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS season schedule announced, MLS mock drafts, MLS clubs making moves, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! I finally have everything squared away after a week of hustling and bustling, meaning I can thankfully avoid the stores this weekend and just relax before next week’s chaos. I’m still trying to nail down what I’ll be cooking as my contribution for my family’s holiday dinner, but it should be fun trialing some options over the next few days. For now though, let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City’s 2025 MLS Schedule Announced
MLS revealed the schedule for the 2025 season and Orlando City’s first game of the season will be at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22. Orlando has yet to start a season on the road since joining the league back in 2015. The Lions aren’t scheduled to play against expansion club San Diego FC this year, but they will play their first road game against St. Louis City on June 25. While a majority of Orlando’s games will be on Saturdays, they do have a pair of games on Sundays against Inter Miami, including a rivalry week showdown on May 18. Decision Day will be on Oct. 18, with the Lions on the road to take on Toronto FC to close out the regular season.
Predicting the 2025 MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft is set to take place today and Top Drawer Soccer did a mock draft to predict how the first two rounds will go. Orlando City currently has the 27th pick in the first round and Top Drawer Soccer has them selecting defensive midfielder Jackson Castro out of Creighton. The pick makes enough sense to me, as Orlando lost some depth in its midfield following the 2024 season and Castro was Duncan McGuire’s teammate on a strong Creighton team a couple of years ago. The Lions were also predicted to take West Virginia winger Sergio Ors Navarro and Kentucky forward Logan Dorsey in the second round.
Travis Clark of MLSsoccer.com also did a mock draft of the first round, with Orlando taking Cornell winger Alioune Ka. Interestingly enough, both mock drafts have NCAA leading scorer Emil Jaaskelainen going in the first round after Orlando’s pick. I’m pretty excited to see how it all shakes out today and learn which players will become the latest Lions on the team.
MLS Transfer News Roundup
The off-season is bringing plenty of change across the league as teams continue wheeling and dealing in preparation for the 2025 season. The New England Revolution made a splash by trading away up to $3.25 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Miami in exchange for attacker Leonardo Campana. The 24-year-old should give a needed boost to a New England team that only scored 37 goals this season. As for Miami, it now has an MLS-trade record fee of $2.5 million in guaranteed GAM and an open Designated Player spot at its disposal.
The LA Galaxy traded away 2024 MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and a conditional $100,000 in GAM to Nashville SC in exchange for midfielder Sean Davis. Brugman will help Nashville fill the gap left by Anibal Godoy, who joined San Diego FC as a free agent. FC Dallas also added a free agent, signing defender Lalas Abubakar to a two-year deal.
GAM Amounts Revealed for Each MLS Club
MLS pulled back the curtain a bit and unveiled the amount of General Allocation Money that each team had as of Dec. 10. Orlando City’s total comes in at $3,990,312, which is a pretty hefty amount that can be used to improve the team. Atlanta United’s $6,503,478 is the most in the league, while the Houston Dynamo are at the other end of the spectrum with just $2,063,538. The Campana trade helps put these amounts into perspective, but there are many uses for GAM and it’s interesting to see where each club stands. It’s also just nice to get some transparency from the league about this and hopefully that trend continues in 2025.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf announced that Saudi Arabia was invited as a guest nation for both the 2025 and 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- The Kansas City Current bid farewell to goalkeepers Adrianna France and Almuth Schult. The club then announced that it signed goalkeeper Laurel Ivory to a one-year contract.
- The National Independent Soccer Association will reportedly no longer be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Foundation next year, which would leave MLS NEXT Pro and USL League One as the third-division leagues in the U.S.
- Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 to claim the final semifinal spot in the EFL Cup, with Son Heung-Min scoring directly from a corner kick. Tottenham will face off against Liverpool in the next round, with Newcastle and Arsenal squaring off in the other semifinal.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I wish you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy holidays!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/19/24
Preparing for the MLS SuperDraft, New York Red Bulls sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tim Weah injured, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve knocked out all of my shopping except for one gift I’m still trying to procure. I have a lead on it though and high hopes that I can get a literal bow on it before traveling to visit my family next week. For now though, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!
Getting Ready for the MLS SuperDraft
The 2025 MLS SuperDraft will take place on Friday and the league released the list of 477 eligible players clubs can choose from. This year’s Generation Adidas class includes Cornell forward Alex Harris, North Carolina left back Tate Johnson, Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz, and UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah. Those players likely won’t be on the board by the time Orlando City’s 27th overall pick rolls around, but the team has proven in the past it isn’t afraid to make a trade for a top prospect.
Here’s a nice position-by-position breakdown of some of the best players available on Friday. I personally think Orlando could use some depth at center back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team rolls the dice on a center forward given its track record. Unfortunately, we’ll have to follow along with each pick on the league’s website rather than a stream.
MLS Transfer Roundup
After falling in the MLS Cup final earlier this month, the New York Red Bulls have added some firepower by signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player. The 35-year-old heads to MLS after playing for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Stoke City, and Schalke 04 over the past 10 years. The Red Bulls now have a fairly dangerous trio of Designated Players in Choupo-Moting, Emil Forsberg, and Dante Vanzeir.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution added midfielder Jackson Yueill as a free agent. The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract that includes options for 2028 and 2029. D.C. United traded away $150,000 in General Allocation Money to Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton. FC Dallas signed midfielder Ramiro Benetti, who has spent the past two seasons with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Brazil. Veteran defender Nick Lima has returned to the San Jose Earthquakes, signing a two-year contract with the club.
Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad
The injuries continue to rack up for the Americans, as Tim Weah will miss some time after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this week in Juventus’ win over Cagliari. In better news for Americans plying their trade abroad, forward Ricardo Pepi scored twice in PSV Eindhoven’s 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in left back Antonee Robinson, who turned some heads with a pair of assists on Sunday.
EFL Cup Semifinals Nearly Set
The EFL Cup semifinals are setting up to be a heavyweight affair, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle all advancing from the quarterfinals. The day belonged to Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first hat trick for Arsenal in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Liverpool extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games across all competitions after a 2-1 win over Southampton, while Newcastle United beat Brentford thanks to a brace from Sandro Tonali. The final semifinalist will come from today’s match between Manchester United and Tottenham, with the draw taking place afterwards.
Free Kicks
- The NWSL Shield and Championship trophy paid a visit to WFTV’s studios, and it’s still a bit surreal that the Orlando Pride secured both pieces of silverware this season.
- The Columbus Crew announced that they will play Inter Miami in Cleveland at Huntington Bank Field rather than its home stadium next season. The “home” game is a good two-hour drive north and reportedly has no opt-out option for season ticket holders, so this decision has not gone over well with some Crew fans.
- Forward Lynn Williams is reportedly expected to be traded from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Seattle Reign so that she can close out her career on her home coast.
- We now know the eight quarterfinalists for the Women’s Champions League, with the draw set for Feb. 7. The usual suspects like Barcelona, Wolfsburg, and Lyon all made it, which should make for an exciting knockout stage.
- Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win the Intercontinental Cup, giving Carlo Ancelotti his 15th title with the club.
- Here’s a look at the absurd amount of minutes players like Federico Valverde and Jules Kounde have logged this year. Just seeing those numbers makes my legs tired.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/18/24
Another report on the Facundo Torres transfer, Marta wins her own award, Becky Sauerbrunn retires, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. For those that celebrate Christmas, we’re only a week out, so I hope you’ve gotten your shopping done. If not, no judgement from me, just encouragement. I know you can do it! I think we can all do with a little more encouragement these days. For now, let’s get to the links.
Torres Deal Done?
WESH is reporting that the Facundo Torres to Palmeiras deal is done. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation from either club, but it is reasonable to think where there’s this much smoke, there’s fire. Torres may have scored his last goal in purple, and will leave as the club’s all-time leader in that category after three seasons. According to the report, Torres signed a five-year deal with the Brazilian club. We will provide updates as information becomes available.
Marta Wins Marta Award
In the most appropriate award selection in history, Marta has won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer, aptly named The FIFA Marta Award.
The award winning goal came in Brazil’s international friendly against Jamaica in June, as the Brazilian made a nice move to clear a defender and then sent in a long-range shot. Check it out.
Marta received the award at FIFA’s “The Best” Award ceremony in Doha, Qatar.
USWNT Legend Becky Sauerbrunn Retires
Former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn is retiring from professional soccer. The legendary defender has played in the NWSL in every year of it’s existence. She retires having won three championships, one NWSL Shield, multiple Women’s World Cups, and Olympic medals. Sauerbrunn is definitively one of the best to ever wear a U.S. jersey.
NWSL, MLS NEXT Pro Expand
The NWSL is entering into exclusive negotiations with a Denver-area group regarding the league’s next expansion franchise. Denver was picked above both Cincinnati and Cleveland. The expansion fee is in the $105-$120 million range.
MLS NEXT Pro is also adding another new team. Until a new name, logo, and brand are settled on, the team will be called West Michigan Soccer. The team will be the sixth independent club in MLS NEXT Pro. Orlando City B won’t have the opportunity to play the new team until 2027.
Free Kicks
- Torres’ goal against Nashville made it into a compilation of volleyed goals from the MLS Twitter account.
- Vitor Pereira will be the new coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers following the departure of former boss Gary O’Neil. Pereira will have his work cut out for him getting Wolves out of the relegation zone.
- Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been suspended after testing positive for a banned substance in a recent drug test. Mudryk stated he has never knowingly used such substances, and hopes an investigation will clear up the matter.
- The Washington Spirit have signed free agent midfielder Narumi Miura to a two-year contract. Miura spent the last two years with the North Carolina Courage.
- The Columbus Crew re-signed goalkeeper Evan Bush through the 2025 season.
- New name, same idea. The European Super League is back as the “Unity League.” A proposal has been submitted to UEFA and FIFA.
That will do it for today. Keep checking in as our Orlando City and Orlando Pride Season in Review pieces continue. Vamos Orlando!
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