Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/31/20
The end of the month is finally here. March didn’t really pan out how any of us expected, did it? Still, I hope you’re safe and here’s looking forward to a better April. I don’t know that things will get any better, but we can still maintain a good attitude. I wonder what type of April Fool’s Day jokes will be played? With the way things are, do you think it’s better to play some jokes to lighten the mood or are people not in the right frame of mind to enjoy it? I’m undecided. For now, let’s take a look at today’s links!
MLS Unites Initiative
Major League Soccer partnered with the MLS Player’s Association to launch MLS Unites, a league-wide platform designed to highlight efforts by clubs, players, and MLS to inform and educate fans during the coronavirus crisis. Each club is contributing in its own way, and Orlando is no exception.
“Orlando City are utilizing social media and web platforms as a way to keep fans engaged remotely with the club and up to date on all important information. In addition to posting updated league and governmental news as it happens, City is posting a weekly roundup video featuring the club’s reporter, that recaps the current mandates as well as highlights of the players’ individualized, at-home activities. In addition, Spectra — the food service provider for Exploria Stadium — donated 1500 pounds of food to the Christian Service Center for Central Florida. A larger project is currently in the works that will empower the club and its fans to give back to the local community that may have been impacted by this unprecedented situation.”
Gallardo Evaluates Perea’s Game
Former Orlando City keeper Miguel Gallardo (who recently made it to the Sweet 16 in The Mane Land Bracketology competition) took time to break down the limited film we have on Andrés Perea. Gallardo highlighted his use of space, ball control, and defensive skills.
.@migallardo01 is back and breaking down Andrés Perea's game. @Audi | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/7aGmapB8aO
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 30, 2020
National Doctor’s Day Messages
Yesterday was National Doctors’ Day, and the Orlando Pride coaches and players had a message for those putting their lives on the line today and everyday.
Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you to the Doctors at @OrlandoHealth and all over the country for their work. #NationalDoctorsDay pic.twitter.com/dVUJxheXnO
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) March 30, 2020
Of course, the guys got in on the thanks as well.
Today we say thank you to all the Doctors at @OrlandoHealth and all around the country working to make a difference. #NationalDoctorsDay pic.twitter.com/qaHwKUIstL
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 30, 2020
We here at The Mane Land add our belated thanks as well.
2020 Olympics Rescheduled
We now have official dates for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan that were officially postponed one week ago. The rescheduled games will begin in 2021 on July 23 and end on Aug. 8. This is the only time in history that the Olympics have been cancelled or postponed for any reason other than war. The Paralympics were also postponed, and have been rescheduled for Aug. 24 through Sept. 5, 2021. The dates are exactly one year after the original dates for the competition. This will allow the least amount of disruption for the athletes who maintain rigorous training regimens.
Remember Chris Schuler?
There once was a time when Orlando City trotted out a hodge podge of center back pairings rather than stick with a strong pair. One of those players was Chris Schuler, who was originally drafted by Real Salt Lake in 2010. He was loaned out and then suffered a string of injuries that derailed his career. A depleted Orlando City brought him in during the 2018 season, and he competed in 10 matches before being let go. Currently, Schuler works for U.S. Soccer as an events coordinator.
Belarus Still Playing Soccer
The Belarusian Premier League stands alone atop the sports mountain. The league has already made 10 television deals with various countries to allow people to watch live soccer matches. As such, the league has actually spread out its scheduling Friday through Sunday to allow people to watch all the matches. Those with access are already picking their new favorite Belarusian Premier League clubs to support.
Authorities in Belarus are taking special precautions during the matches, though they are still allowing fans into the stadiums. The derby between FC Minsk and Dinamo Minsk had 3,000 supporters in the stands.
Major Players and Staff Take Pay Cuts
Players and board members at Barcelona agreed to take a 70% pay cut to make sure that non-sporting staff recieve pay during the current crisis. Juventus players and manager Maurizio Sarri agreed to give up four months of salary to do the same. In the Bundesliga, several clubs, including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin, and Borussia Monchengladbach, have taken reduced pay to help the non-sporting staff. Expect other clubs to take similar measures, though the English Premier League is looking for an all-encompassing solution rather than club by club.
Free Kicks
- Evan Weston had a nice chat with former Orlando City midfielder Antonio Nocerino to discuss past games and his current role with the club.
- Emily van Egmond just doesn’t stop. She’s barely finished winning the W-League and she’s back at it with some one-on-one training with her dad.
Some 1 on 1 iso training today with @gary_egmond and his hidden fitness 😅⚽️🤙 pic.twitter.com/aWqBqfFosk
— Emily Van Egmond (@Em_surf) March 30, 2020
- Orlando City’s Benji Michel and Jordan Bender will be instructors at the SIMA Junior Elite – Legends of the Game Summer Camp. OCB’s Mason Lamb will also lend his talents. The camp is scheduled to take place in the middle of July this year.
Our SIMA Junior Elite – Legends of the Game Summer Camp will be instructed by the likes of Salif Diao, Oguchi Onyewu, Jordan Bender, Benji Michel, Mason Lamb and Frederico Moojen who each have professional experience!
Learn more and register at https://t.co/6A20LUiA6J pic.twitter.com/a31jvbjgKi
— Montverde Soccer (@SIMA_MVAsoccer) March 30, 2020
- USL League Two is committed to playing a 2020 season, even though the developmental league might have to get creative. It may even bring in teams from other leagues to make it happen, once it’s able to do so.
- AS Roma delivered care packages to each of its season ticket holders over 75 years old.
- You’ve already missed some of this replay action, but there’s still time to watch some matches that don’t include Orlando City.
- MLS is using FIFA 20 to simulate matches that aren’t being played, and Orlando City defeated Red Bulls 1-0 on a 39th minute rebound goal from Dom Dwyer (1:03 minute in video).
Week 5 @MLS Results, not IRL, but in SIM life. 🎮@BFordLancer48 breaks it down@SportingKC vs. @realsaltlake@TimbersFC vs. @PhilaUnion
@NewYorkRedBulls vs. @OrlandoCitySC
#FIFA20 https://t.co/AcZjYIw7zk pic.twitter.com/ZiCWAnUsfW— 🎮 Major League Soccer (@eMLS) March 30, 2020
That was quite a bit for a Tuesday morning. Stay safe and vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/6/24
Lions lose at home, Orlando Pride win, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It was another mixed weekend for our teams as the Lions lost, the Pride won, and OCB drew. As for me, I’ve been busy managing the broadcast operations for the NISA league’s matches this weekend and also got a chance to cover high school soccer, softball, and badminton. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Lions Lose at Home to FC Cincinnati
Orlando City lost at home for the second straight weekend with a 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday. Luciano Acosta scored the lone goal for Cincinnati just seconds into the match. Orlando City went down to 10 men when defender Rodrigo Schlegel received a red card in the first half. The Lions had some chances to get back in this one, including a free kick opportunity in the second half when Wilder Cartagena scored what would have been the equalizer, but Facundo Torres was ruled offside, and the goal was waved off. Cincinnati also dropped to 10 men late in the second half as defender Bret Halsey received his second yellow for a foul on Ivan Angulo and knocked the ball out to waste time. Still, FC Cincinnati found a way to hang on for the victory, securing its third win in a row. Orlando City will look to rebound on Saturday as it takes on the Philadelphia Union at Suburu Park.
Orlando Pride Win at Home Against Racing Louisville FC
The Orlando Pride defeated Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, 1-0, at Inter&Co Stadium, winning their fifth straight game. Barbra Banda scored the lone goal of the match and now has four goals for the Pride this season. The Pride remain undefeated in league play, keeping their unbeaten streak alive at eight matches (5-0-3). Orlando also moved up to first in the NWSL table with 18 points. The Pride will be back home on Saturday to face Bay FC.
OCB Draws Chattanooga FC
Orlando City B drew 1-1 on the road against Chattanooga FC on Saturday. The Young Lions trailed early in the first half as Mehdi Ouamri put Chattanooga FC in front 1-0. Later in the first half, OCB got an equalizer, with forward Shak Mohammed finding the back of the net to score his second goal of the season. The match went to penalties after 90 minutes of action, where Chattanooga FC won the extra point with a 5-4 win over OCB. Despite not getting the extra point in penalties, the Young Lions still keep their road unbeaten streak alive at five. OCB will have a quick turnaround with its next match at Osceola County Stadium on Wednesday against New York Red Bulls II.
European Soccer Roundup
Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title on Saturday, defeating Cadiz 3-0, while their rivals Barcelona dropped points in a 4-2 loss to Girona over the weekend. Madrid has now won La Liga for the 36th time and still has a shot of adding another trophy if it gets past Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday to reach the final next month. Elsewhere, we had plenty of drama in England. Let’s start in the EFL Championship, where Ipswich Town joined Leicester City, getting promoted to the Premier League after a 2-0 victory against Huddersfield Town. Leeds United, Southhampton, West Brom, and Norwich City will go to the playoffs to determine the third club to secure promotion. Arsenal won 3-0 over Bournemouth, while Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 win over Wolves to keep the EPL title race tight. Arsenal is in first with 83 points, with two matches remaining, while Manchester City is just behind in second with 82 points and three matches left to play.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos gave insight on her first NWSL start for the Pride after their match against Racing Louisville FC on Sunday.
- PSV Eindhoven clinched the Eredivisie title on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Sparta Rotterdam. American Malik Tillman played for 90 minutes, while Ricardo Pepi came off the bench and added an assist.
- USMNT midfielder Christian Pulisic put on a solid performance and contributed an assist for AC Milan in a 3-3 draw against Genoa on Saturday.
- USWNT forward Catarina Macario came off the bench for Chelsea in the second half and made WSL history by adding two assists in 10 minutes in an 8-0 win over Bristol City.
- Despite their manager Xabi Alonso being in the stands serving a suspension due to yellow card accumulation, Bayer Leverkusen dominated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 and extended its unbeaten streak to 48 matches.
- Wrexham is reportedly targeting Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. His contract expires with the Premier League-bound club at the end of June.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/3/24
MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.
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!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 5/2/24
The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.
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
- Despite Bayern Leverkusen’s 46-match unbeaten run, and winning the Bundesliga title, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi believes his team can defeat the German club in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday.
- Borussia Dortmund defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League tie between the two clubs. Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug provided the only goal.
- Wrexham AFC owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have bigger plans for their club than previously suspected. The pair want to potentially increase the capacity of their stadium, SToK Racecourse, to 55,000 seats.
- Never pulled the trigger on the Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass? Now, you can get it for the remainder of the season at a 30% discount. Once you get past the Messi ads the coverage is pretty good.
- Former USWNT player Carli Lloyd is pregnant, though it was a long journey to get there. She shares her story of unexplained infertility and multiple rounds of IVF treatments. Congratulations, Carli.
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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