Lion Links
Lion Links: 3/2/19
Wake up, Mane Landers, it’s match day! Welcome to Major League Soccer Opening Day 2019! Our Orlando City Lions start the season here at home against New York City FC with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, although I’m sure you were already aware of that. While you recover from last night’s Fifth Annual Orlando City Pub Crawl, take a few minutes to read about all the news you need to know before heading to Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando City Signs Defender Kamal Miller
In the world of poorly kept Orlando City secrets, yesterday saw another confirmed player signing that we all knew was coming, 2019 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick Kamal Miller. Miller has been with the Lions throughout preseason and as The Mane Land’s own Sean Rollins pointed out, Head Coach James O’Connor often had the 21-year-old center back in his first team. One such first team appearance actually came against NYCFC during the Orlando City Invitational, a match that saw Miller impress more than a few fans. After the official announcement, Miller seemed happy to share the news on his Twitter.
Excited to announce that I have officially signed my first professional contract with @OrlandoCitySC Extremely blessed and grateful for this opportunity 🦁💜 #VamosOrlando #KM27 pic.twitter.com/LPAylyI6zs
— Kamal Miller (@KMillz_00) March 1, 2019
Lions Looking to Add Swedish League Champion Robin Jansson
First reported by Swedish news outlet Sport Bladet and confirmed by sources with knowledge of the situation to The Mane Land, Orlando City is in talks to add center back Robin Jansson to the squad. As a defender for Allsvenskan league club AIK, the 27-year-old won the top-tier league’s title in 2018, having started 25 matches for 2,523 minutes and notching two goals and one assist. Based on his resume and current estimated transfer value of approximately $850,000, one might assume that should the signing go through, Jansson will immediately be in consideration for a starting center back spot in O’Connor’s preferred three-man back line. The guy worked in a horseshoe factory and drove 50 miles to train every night, so it sounds like he has the blue-collar grit that appears to be a theme with this incarnation of Orlando City.
Nani is Ready for Today’s Match, But Here’s Some New Game Day Info for the Fans
Before WFTV sports reporter Christian Bruey confirmed that new Orlando City superstar Nani would be available for today’s match, Nani himself took to Twitter to express his excitement over opening day:
Just ONE day to go for the MLS season to kick off… so excited to begin my journey in Orlando! 😈🦁⚽#VamosOrlando #soccer #mls pic.twitter.com/WLMCvlNiEO
— Nani (@luisnani) March 1, 2019
Several pieces of information about the Orlando City Stadium game day experience also dropped on Friday.
- Founder and Vice President of Community Relations Kay Rawlins confirmed that match day posters benefiting the Orlando City Foundation would continue to be available this season, in addition to the new CITYiD patches.
- The drumline of The Wall announced that their GoFundMe goal for replacing and maintaining their equipment was met, meaning they will continue bringing the noise throughout 2019.
- Jeremiah’s Italian Ice partnered with the club to sell their yummy frozen treats in various locations around the stadium.
- When you finish your drink during the match, you can now recycle plastic bottles and cans by Section 16 and donate five cents to the Orlando City Foundation in the process.
- A limited edition 2019 Home Opener collectible 20-ounce cup was shown off specifically for today’s game that you certainly won’t want to recycle.
- Finally, the merch of the match in The Den will be the new home kit and the #BringtheNoise scarf of the month.
Make sure to arrive early this afternoon so that you can check out these cool new features of our beautiful Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando SeaWolves Swept Away by Milwaukee Wave
Gordy Gurson scored a brace but the visiting Milwaukee Wave were rarely threatened, beating the Orlando SeaWolves, 6-2 at Silver Spurs Arena last night. The Wave were physical and defensively sound, while Orlando was sloppy and missed some excellent opportunities to climb back into the game. The SeaWolves are back in action tonight at Silver Spurs Arena against the rival Florida Tropics, who came over from Lakeland. Why not make today an Orlando professional soccer double header?
Free Kicks
- Again, surprising no one, a spokesman for Orlando City confirmed to The Mane Land that former Designated Player Sacha Kljestan is now a TAM player and the roster is compliant with three DPs: Nani, Dom Dwyer, and Josue Colmán. Jordan Culver wrote a bit more about it here.
- Culver’s match preview mentioned the club’s favorite off-season phrase, “establishing a new culture.”
- The City of Orlando turned the Lake Eola fountain purple on Friday night to celebrate the start of the Lions’ 2019 season.
- Is Toronto FC looking to Orlando City to improve its preseason next year? Some fans of the Reds think they should.
- The Orlando Pride’s own Shelina Zadorsky helped lead Canada to a 1-0 victory over Scotland in the 2019 Algarve Cup. The Canadians have four points after two matches.
- Meanwhile, Zadorsky’s Pride teammate Marta continues to lead Brazil.
- In DP news, the LA Galaxy officially bought out the final season of Giovani dos Santos’ contract and the Colorado Rapids waived forward Shkelzen Gashi.
- Former United States Men’s National Team star Landon Donovan is “a little worried” about Christian Pulisic.
- HuffPost published this long and quite interesting read about some fringe extremists in the NYCFC fan base.
- Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando announced that the 2019 season will be his last.
- The MLS Disciplinary Committee decided to add a game to the suspension of the Houston Dynamo’s Ronaldo Pena from the 2018 season to the start of the 2019 campaign.
It was another busy Friday for both Orlando City and MLS, as everyone prepared to get the 2019 season started today. I know that I’m super psyched to finally, after what feels like way more than a few months, see the boys in purple take the pitch in a match that has real ramifications. Now get down to the stadium, bring the noise, and go City!
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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