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Lion Links: 2/10/19

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5 years ago

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Happy Sunday, Mane Landers. I say we drop the formalities and hop right into your Sunday serving of Links. Let’s do this.

OCSC Goalkeeper Coach Loves the Open Competition

With the departure of two of the goalkeepers from last season in Joe Bendik and Earl Edwards Jr., the Lions’ keepers have found themselves in an interesting (and somewhat nerve wracking) competition between Adam Grinwis, Mason Stajduhar, Greg Ranjitsingh, and trialist Brian Rowe. All four have seen minutes in City’s preseason clashes, and according to goalkeeper coach Thabane Sutu, it’s currently too close to call in terms of who has the edge.

“As far as standing out, we’ve played two games and all of them have been involved in the games and all of them have been doing quite good. It’s a close one to call, so we’ll see.”

To add to that, Sutu also briefly spoke about how high the level of play is between the goalkeepers, and that although the competition is in full throttle, they still all help each other and provide a support system for each other.

“It’s very, very high, but friendly at the same time,” Sutu said about the competition so far. “Guys [are] getting along really well. They’re helping each other out. It’s been good to see, but, obviously, each one of them wants to be the No. 1, but we’ll get to see that on March 2. For now, the competition is really high, and it’s been fantastic to see.”

Let’s hope the upcoming season will be, too.

Lions in the Running to Land Nani

Cheers to hoping OCSC lands Portuguese winger Nani. The former Manchester United midfielder hasn’t asked for a transfer but Orlando City is interested in the Portuguese winger. Nothing is imminent but Nani would fill a need for the Lions. We’ll keep our eyes on this one.

FC Dallas Defender Reggie Cannon Reflects on Time with National Team

The Gregg Berhalter era as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, as we all know, got off to an excellent start with two consecutive friendly wins against Panama and Costa Rica. Reggie Cannon, a 20-year-old wing back, has provided insight into what it was like working under the new coach, even talking about the tactics and positioning that Berhalter wanted to deploy.

“It was interesting playing with a coach like that,” Cannon told ProSoccerUSA. “He’s a very tactical-sided coach and he has a certain way about going about things. He wants the fullbacks to come inside and play that center-mid role and it’s something I quite haven’t adapted to much yet. . .It’s good to get that adaptation in and I’ve learned a lot in that camp.”

To add to that, Cannon also touched on the attitude and culture that Berhalter has brought with him to the national team setup.

“We spent a lot of training doing tactical stuff,” Cannon said. “It’s good coming back to FC Dallas, where Luchi has that more grit side that Oscar had. It’s even with Luchi; It’s all about grit and effort, but it’s also about having that tactical balance to be able to disrupt the team and be comfortable where you play. Gregg was more on the side of, obviously valuing effort, but tactics is where the majority of his premise sits. Gregg is a great coach, it’s just going to take a lot longer to adapt to that position.”

Stories like this are a good sign — they show the promise and dedication that Berhalter exudes. Perhaps the Yanks might qualify for the next World Cup (too soon?).

World Cup Veteran Fernando Clavijo Passes Away at 63

A member of the 1994 World Cup squad, Fernando Clavijo has passed away after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma. Known globally for his passion, dedication, and commitment to the sport we love, Clavijo was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005. Born in Maldonado, Uruguay, the defender began an illustrious 22-year career at the tender age of just 16, signing with Uruguayan club Atenas de San Carlos. From there, Clavijo made his move stateside, earning accolades in American Soccer League and in indoor circuits. By 1987, Clavijo acquired his U.S. citizenship…and the rest was history, as the versatile defender found his way into the national team setup, and later parlayed his success on the field to success off the field, becoming a manager of several MLS and indoor clubs throughout this later years. The impact he had on the sport in this country was important, and we’re all devastated by his passing.

“All of us in the U.S. Soccer family are deeply saddened by the passing of Fernando Clavijo, one of the pioneers of soccer in the United States,” U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro said. “As a player, a coach, a mentor and a friend, Fernando impacted the lives of generations of people involved in the sport to which he dedicated his life. Our thoughts today are with his family and friends as we reflect on his great legacy.”

We’ve lost a good one, that’s for sure. Rest in peace, Fernando. You will be missed.

Free Kicks

  • Darlington Nagbe is apparently attempting to force a move to the Columbus Crew, with his absences from the Atlanta United’s recent preseason friendlies raising questions as to what’s going on with the defending MLS champions and their influential midfielder.
  • Major props to the Philadelphia Union for releasing a fan-inspired jersey celebrating their 10th season. The jersey includes an MLS first — customizable back tags. The available tags include local athletes Zach and Julie Ertz and Jorge Alfaro, rapper Freeway, alternative rock group The Wonder Years, club Chief Tattoo Officer Bonedaddys Tattoo, Phang, as well as the club’s supporter group, the Sons of Ben (as voted on by the fans).
  • Speaking of the Union…the club’s recent signing of Marco Fabian is making major waves in the City of Brotherly Love, and he already feels comfortable in his new home.
  • Another recent MLS move, Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez to Atlanta United, is garnering praise as well. Pity, while a very different player than the recently departed Miguel Almiron, is impressing his new teammates.
  • Real Salt Lake will advance to the Pacific Rim Cup final against V-Varen Nagasaki after they notched a 2-1 win against Iwaki FC. The Vancouver Whitecaps lost to Nagasaki, failing to reach the final of the preseason tournament.
  • And speaking of the Whitecaps…the club has secured a year-long loan of FC Chiasso striker Joaquín Ardaiz with an option to make the move permanent. The young Uruguayan will occupy one of the club’s Young Designated Player slots.
  • Liv Cooke is a beast. Proof:

Before I make my leave, I want to leave you with this absolute gem. Well played, mom. Well played.

Enjoy your Sunday and have an excellent week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

Published

15 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

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!

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Lion Links: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 2, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

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

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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Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

May 1, 2024

By

,
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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