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Lion Links: 4/19/20

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5 years ago

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Happy Sunday, everyone. Sorry for the later-than-usual start. For me, motivation seems to be at an all-time low and just keeps getting worse the longer I feel trapped. I was able to get outside for about a 40-minute walk yesterday, so that was a nice pick-me-up after rain wiped out much of my ability to get outside during non-work hours this week.

It honestly feels like we’re living in the first few lines of “Band on the Run.”

Stuck inside these four walls,
Sent inside forever,
Never seeing no one
Nice again like you

It’s day 32,341 of our stay-at-home mandate, or at least it feels like it. I haven’t quite bought the entire internet yet, but I have been doing way more online shopping than is healthy since this all started and I’ve even been contemplating buying a turntable over the past few days. Since I’m a person who couldn’t wait to get rid of vinyl because of the pops, cracks, and skips that come along with that format, this illustrates a real problem and maybe I should seek some virtual counseling.

It’s been about a month and a half since Orlando City played at Colorado and since the shutdown we’ve missed the beginning of the OCB season and today was the day the Orlando Pride were supposed to start their 2020 NWSL campaign against Sky Blue FC. I remain hopeful of a 2020 season but not especially optimistic given the lack of a vaccine. We’ve done a decent job of flattening the curve with our social distancing efforts but to abandon those efforts now would be a bit like abandoning a parachute after it has done a decent job of slowing our descent toward the ground. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing for now and hope the rest sorts itself out soon.

In the meantime, here is the news of the day.

Miggy on Benji

Orlando City broadcaster, former goalkeeper, and friend of the PawedCast Miguel Gallardo took some time to break down the explosive attacking movement of Homegrown forward Benji Michel in his latest analysis video. Nobody looked as dangerous in the attack at the end of last season as Benji did and, if he can continue to develop, Michel could end up being an outstanding pro for the Lions for years to come. I’m excited at the prospect of seeing him on the pitch when this whole mess is over to see if he can continue to build on the form with which he finished 2019, when he scored three goals and added an assist in his final three matches of the year.

Skinner Pushing Pride Leadership

Without the ability to get together with his players, Orlando Pride gaffer Marc Skinner is leaning on veterans Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger for leadership. The two USWNT veterans hold regular Zoom meetings with their teammates — which include several new faces in 2020 — to get to know them and bond a bit. The Pride coaching staff checks in on players regularly and uses survey feedback to tweak training programs. But so much of maintaining proper fitness and nutrition is up to the players themselves at this time and leadership is critical during this pandemic.

“Ash and Ali are absolutely looking at the leadership style that they want to implement as captains,” Skinner said. “They’ve been touching base and talking about professionalism. They’re looking to themselves and their teammates to be accountable for each other and part of what Ash wanted to do is take control of that.”

…

“The part that we can’t give them at the minute is the feeling of them being part of something bigger than themselves,” Skinner said. “When we get back into it, that’s what the aim will be.”

Separated from his family during this shutdown, Skinner has had to resort to Facetime to stay in contact. This thing has been hard on everyone, but I couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it would be if I were isolated from my wife and daughter.

USMNT Names in the News

As we continue on without soccer games to watch, a couple of young USMNT players are able get healthier and hopefully will be ready to help the Yanks with their World Cup qualifying efforts — whatever those end up looking like — when all this is over. Midfielder Tyler Adams was just getting back onto the field for Red Bull Leipzig. Now the young midfielder is trying to catch up to his teammates fitness-wise and is treating this like it’s a brand new preseason.

“For me, being injured in the beginning of the season and not really being able to participate in preseason, I’m almost having a preseason right now,” Adams said in a Bundesliga conference call on Friday. “For me, this is varied to other players where I’m building up to my full capability now, and getting that full length of fitness, the four weeks of what everyone else had at the beginning of the season, and then a run of games, I’m getting it now.”

Meanwhile, over in England, Christian Pulisic and his Chelsea teammates are in talks with their club about taking pay cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to numerous reports Chelsea’s players are discussing a 10 per cent pay cut along with other measures to help with the Blues’ response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia is in talks with captain Cesar Azpilicueta over the issue. Despite a suggestion of a league-wide 30 percent pay cut, there is no general directive from the Premier League who are letting all 20 clubs deal with pay cuts or wage deferrals on their own.

Former USWNT Star Discusses Living with Autoimmune Illness During COVID-19

Shannon Box, a World Cup and Olympic star with the United States Women’s National Team, has not one, but two autoimmune illnesses — lupus and Sjogren’s Syndrome. Both diseases individually could put her at greater risk if she were to be infected by COVID-19. The former USWNT start discussed how she’s been dealing with her health during this pandemic and about the drug hydroxychloroquine — used by lupus sufferers to manage joint and muscle pain, but which is suddenly in short supply after President Trump recommended Americans take it for COVID-19.

In my case, it has always been a medication that I use in combination with another medication. It’s pretty much, as far as I know, the main medication that is given to a lot of lupus patients and RA — rheumatoid arthritis — patients, because it doesn’t have a lot of side effects and it works really well for patients.

There are definitely times that I have missed going back and refilling, and I’ve been off my medication for a couple of days, or I thought I had refills and I didn’t and I had to go to the doctor and it took a couple days. It just sets off an immediate flare. And so it has made me realize that it is controlling my flares a lot more. And even when I do have a flare, it’s making it more minimal.

I encourage you to give this piece a read. Boxx was a pivotal player for the USWNT and it’s sad to think of her barely being able to walk a mile just a few years after retiring as a player.

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  • An MLS guide to soccer analytics.
  • The NWSL season’s delay has cost the league some of its momentum.
  • Those born on this date include Jayne Mansfield (1933), Dudley Moore (1935), Tim Curry (1946), racing’s Al Unser, Jr. (1962), Ashley Judd (1968), James Franco (1978), Kate Hudson (1979), Hayden Christensen (1981), football’s Troy Polamalu (1981), basketball’s Candace Parker (1986), goalkeeper Joe Hart (1987), and tennis star Maria Sharapova (1987).

That’s all I’ve got for you today, folks. Don’t forget, Nani and Abe Valbuena will be taking on Atlanta United today in FIFA 20 in a televised match. (Edit: Sorry, that’s not happening until May 10, apparently, as they drag this out.) It could be interesting if you’re into that sort of thing. Me? Personally, I can’t get into watching other people play video games.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/18/25

Orlando City set to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Lions reach Generation Adidas Cup semifinals, Angel City hires Alexander Straus, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you well as we gear up for another Saturday filled with soccer to enjoy. I don’t have many plans this Easter weekend beyond working, catching soccer when I can, and playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time if I find some spare hours. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Learns U.S. Open Cup Opponents

Orlando City’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign will begin on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in what will be the latest edition of the I-4 Derby. It will be Orlando’s first game of this year’s tournament, while the Rowdies joined in the previous round and got past FC Naples in penalties. The Rowdies have lost four of their five games so far this season in the USL Championship and fired Robbie Neilson as head coach earlier this month. The Lions also notably would have hosting priority if they reach the round of 16, where they will play either Nashville SC or the Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Here’s the full schedule for the round of 32, which includes some interesting matchups across the country. The Tacoma Defiance are the only MLS NEXT Pro side left and will face the Portland Timbers, while the New York Red Bulls will have a long road trip to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Lions Advance to Generation Adidas Cup Semifinals

Orlando City’s U-18 team beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Generation Adidas Cup to secure a spot in the semifinals. The Young Lions have won four of their five games of the tournament and will take on Santos Laguna in the semifinal on Saturday. The winner of that match will face whichever team becomes victorious in the other semifinal between Atlanta United and the Colorado Rapids.

The U-16 team’s run in the Premier bracket is also going strong after a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, and Orlando will take on the New England Revolution in the semifinals on Saturday.

Angel City FC Hires Alexander Straus

Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus was named Angel City FC’s next head coach and will officially join the club on June 1. The Norwegian coach has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and has Bayern positioned well to make it three straight this season. He’ll join an Angel City team that’s unbeaten in its first four games of the season under interim head coach Sam Laity, who will stay on as an assistant coach once Straus joins.

Europa League Quarterfinals End In Dramatic Fashion

Old Trafford hosted one of the wildest games in Europa League history, with Manchester United and Lyon battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. United scored twice in the first half, then conceded twice in the second, sending the game to extra time. Lyon took the lead despite being a man down and then the teams traded penalty kicks as the madness continued. Casemiro orchestrated Manchester’s victory in the end, assisting on two late goals within a minute of each other to beat Lyon 5-4 and advance. This United fan pretty much sums up just how much of a rollercoaster this match was.

There was also drama in Italy, as Lazio came back in the second leg to force extra time against Bodo/Glimt. The match went to penalties and Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikitka Haikin denied former New York City FC player Taty Castellanos from the spot to book his team’s place in the semifinals. Although Tottenham was without Son Heung-Min, it got the job done in a 1-0 road win against Eintracht Frankfurt, while Athletic Club beat Rangers 2-0 in Spain to advance as well. In the semifinals, Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt and Manchester United will take on Athletic Club.

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

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Lion Links: 4/17/25

Oscar Pareja signs new contract with Orlando City, Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, Orlando’s youth teams win, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 17, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I can’t believe we’re already into the back half of April and Easter is right around the corner. There’s plenty of soccer to enjoy between now and then and we also have the draw for the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 this morning at 9:15. MLS teams are finally joining the fray, so we’ll see where the chips fall for Orlando City. Let’s get to the links!

Oscar Pareja Signs New Contract

Orlando City and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep him in the City Beautiful through 2028. Pareja was hired as Orlando’s fourth head coach in its MLS era back in December of 2019 and he’s led the Lions to the playoffs in all five seasons he’s been at the helm.  Under Pareja, the Lions won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, set club records in points and wins in 2023, and reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time last year. This year was the final one on the contract he signed in December of 2023, so it’s nice to know Pareja will be sticking around in the future.

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride will look to make it five wins in a row when they host the Washington Spirit on Saturday in another rematch of last year’s final. While this is the first match between Orlando and Washington this season, the two clashed in the NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7 and the Spirit lifted the trophy after a penalty shootout. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team has grown since that game and has benefitted from depth and consistency carried over from last year.

Orlando City Youth Teams Win in Bradenton

Orlando City’s U-18 team won in the Generation Adidas Cup’s round of 16, beating St. Louis City 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Young Lions remain unbeaten in that age group and will take on a Real Salt Lake team that also won its group and just beat Toronto FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw.

Orlando’s U-16 squad didn’t qualify for the Championship bracket, but still advanced in the Premier bracket. After a 1-1 draw with Toronto, Orlando prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout and will play Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Semifinals Are Set

The quarterfinals for this year’s UEFA Champions League are over and only four teams remain in the tournament. Arsenal secured its spot in the semifinals after an impressive 2-1 road win against Real Madrid that included two assists from Mikel Merino. The Spanish club couldn’t muster its usual magic in the tournament and forward Kylian Mbappe exited in the second half due to injury. In Italy, Inter Milan held on for a 2-2 draw against Bayern to advance on aggregate, with defender Benjamin Pavard scoring a crucial goal for Inter against his old team. The semifinals will take place at the end of the month and will feature Arsenal taking on Paris Saint-Germain and Inter going up against Barcelona.

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  • Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza, who died after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China.
  • The Chicago Fire are reportedly strongly interested in signing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer. If any Western Conference teams could join the hunt for him, that would be great.

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

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Lion Links 4/16/25

Orlando Pride on top, OCB falls to Inter Miami II, USMNT eyes Gold Cup, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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April 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I know I’ve said it before, but I love that I can always find soccer to watch. Whether it’s UEFA Champions League or the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, or anything in between, I love it. I’m willing to bet you love it too. Speaking of love, we want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando City Designated Player Luis Muriel. Let’s get to the links.

All the Rankings

With the win over the Seattle Reign, the Orlando Pride stayed perfect on the season. It was enough for the Pride to remain on top of the standings and also at the top of numerous power rankings. All for XI kept the Pride at No. 1 with a shoutout to Anna Moorhouse, SI.com did the same, while noting Summer Yates’ injury, and Goal.com completed the sweep. The Pride also landed at No. 8 in Opta’s global power rankings for women’s clubs. Strangely, the Kansas City Current were two spots above on that particular list.

OCB Falls to Inter Miami II

Orlando City B traveled to IMG Academy to take on Inter Miami II Tuesday night. The Young Lions went down early on the road, but were able to equalize thanks to a goal from Tahir Reid-Brown. Unfortunately, Inter Miami scored two more goals before a penalty in second-half stoppage time gave OCB a slight lifeline. It was not enough as the team fell 3-2 to their in-state foes.

Generation Adidas Cup Matchups

Orlando City Academy’s U-18 squad won Group J in the Generation Adidas Cup. Now the team will face St. Louis City SC 2 in the Round of 16. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the younger generations of players in Orlando City’s system, here is your opportunity.

U.S. Eyes Gold Cup

We’re about two months out from the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup and it feels like a must-win for the USMNT given recent results. Winning an eighth Gold Cup title will not come easily. Naturally, all eyes fall on Christian Pulisic to lead the squad, though not everyone thinks he should be the pick for captain. Tyler Adams is looking for more belief from his teammates heading into the competition.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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