Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/11/19
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Happy Friday eve, Mane Landers! We only need to get through today and tomorrow and it’s the weekend again! Both the Old and Young Lions were in action last night, so look for those recaps below in addition to some good news for two of the men in purple and a story about the newest Lion. Time to get to it.
Orlando City Advances on Penalties after Drawing NYCFC
The first-team Lions returned home to Exploria Stadium Wednesday evening — after playing in Philadelphia late Sunday afternoon — for a quarterfinal Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against New York City FC. The teams couldn’t decide it in 90 minutes, nor in 120, so on to penalties the match went after finishing 1-1. When the supporters saw that NYCFC had chosen to kick toward the south end of the stadium, there was a mass exodus from The Wall to the other end to support the Lions. Once it went to spot kicks, Adam Grinwis stole the show, stopping two penalties to lead the Lions to a 5-4 shootout win and into their first appearance in the semifinals.
Former Orlando City center back Amro Tarek sent his support to his old squad hours before the game.
Check back later today for David Rohe’s five takeaways from the epic battle as well.
Lions Acquire 24-Year-Old Winger Robinho from Columbus
While most fans were still celebrating the final Adam Grinwis save last night, The Mane Land and Massive Report co-broke a transfer story. Sources told TML that Orlando City has agreed to a deal with the Columbus Crew that will send Brazilian winger Robinho to Orlando in exchange for $50,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money — a total that could be augmented by $70,000 in 2020 TAM if the 24-year-old meets certain performance criteria. The two SB Nation blogs had pieces of the story and worked different ends of the deal and shared information, finally breaking the news together after last night’s match. Teamwork is fun.
OCB Hosts Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
For the second match of a two-game home stand, the Young Lions of Orlando City B, forced a very late 1-1 draw against the Red Wolves of Chattanooga Wednesday evening at Montverde Academy. Down 1-0 at the half because of this Jose Sito Seoane goal, OCB saw the game’s first 90 minutes conclude down a man and with the same score. Another long period of stoppage time allowed the home club to find a goal and earn the point. A recap of the match by our Sean Rollins will drop later this morning. (Sorry, but Sean was at the USOC game.)
2019 MLS Homegrown Game Roster Revealed
Orlando City SC Development Academy director Marcelo Neveleff will lead a group of 22 players from the U.S. and Canadian youth national teams in this year’s MLS Homegrown Game. The match, part of the MLS All-Star festivities, will be on July 30 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, and sees the MLS team facing Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 squad. Rookie Lions’ forward Benji Michel and long-time Orlando City Homegrown Player Mason Stajduhar were chosen to represent the club. Congratulations guys! See the entire roster here and start planning to get out there to support our boys.
USWNT Celebrates World Cup Championship in NYC
The United States Women’s National Team, including Orlando Pride’s Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger, and Alex Morgan, were honored for their 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship with a parade through the streets of New York City Wednesday morning.
Morgan also made certain that everyone knew it was tea time.
Tea time. ☕️🔑 #WNTParade pic.twitter.com/bPkTSpuYOA
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) July 10, 2019
Meanwhile, FOX Soccer named the top five goals of the WWC and offered up this remembrance to “those souls we lost.” Though most of the country, and a large part of the world, spent the last month buzzing about the tournament, FIFA certainly isn’t to thank for that. Also, I think this article about the pets of the USWNT may be my favorite WWC news ever. Yay for including all of the kitties! Oh, and then the whole team jumped on a plane and flew to Los Angeles for the ESPY Awards.
Free Kicks
- American Soccer Analysis provided performance breakdowns for Lions’ forwards Tesho Akindele and Dom Dwyer.
- In true Major League Soccer fashion, the Disciplinary Committee issued an additional one-game suspension (immediately before the kickoff of last night’s Cup match) to Orlando City midfielder Sacha Kljestan after reviewing the red card he picked up against the Philadelphia Union last Wednesday. He’ll miss Saturday’s game against Columbus.
- It’s safe to assume that the Pride really, really missed the legendary Marta.
- Speaking of both the USWNT and the Orlando Pride, Alex Morgan was nominated for Best Athlete in a Sport and Best Female Athlete at last night’s ESPYS awards. The ceremony saw Morgan nab the ESPY for Best Female Athlete. Congratulations on another trophy, Alex! See the full list of ESPY winners here.
- Toronto FC is looking to trade Jordan Hamilton and an international spot to Columbus Crew SC in exchange for Patrick Mullins.
- Head Coach Bruce Arena is continuing his work to improve the New England Revolution with the signing of Designated Player Gustavo Bou.
- Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin inked a two-year contract extension.
- Twenty years and one day ago, Brandi Chastain showed off her sports bra. Oh, and the USWNT 99ers won the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
- Concacaf unveiled the new qualifying structure for the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
- Liverpool FC’s Champions League hero Divock Origi signed a new long-term contract with the club. In even better news, his teammate Daniel Sturridge got his beloved dog Lucci back!
- Does Brazil want former USWNT Head Coach Pia Sundhage for its national team?
- I know it’s VfL Wolfsburg day — and I’ll get there next — but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Frank Lampard’s first match in charge of Chelsea FC. Unfortunately, the squad only managed a 1-1 draw in the preseason friendly.
- The dates for the first six Bundesliga fixtures of the 2019-2020 season are out. The Wolves kick off the campaign on Aug. 17 by hosting FC Koln.
And that’s a wrap for me today. Enjoy the rest of Thursday and keep counting the hours until the weekend. Go City!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/6/24
Amanda Allen loaned to Lexington SC, Alex Morgan announces retirement, USMNT prepares for Canada, and more.
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Happy Friday! I don’t have many plans this weekend, but am still looking forward to the next few days after a hectic week. When not working, I plan on finally starting Book of Night by Holly Black and figuring out how to make the most out of some dark rum I was gifted. For now though, let’s get to today’s links from around the soccer world!
Amanda Allen Loaned to Lexington SC
The Orlando Pride have loaned forward Amanda Allen to Lexington SC for the remainder of the USL Super League season. This decision should give Allen some valuable minutes, and the loan includes a right to recall as well. The 19-year-old has made 17 appearances since joining the Pride and had an assist in this year’s season opener. She is also currently in Colombia for the U-20 Women’s World Cup and her Canada squad takes on Brazil tonight. Hopefully she’s able to tear it up in the USL Super League’s inaugural season.
Alex Morgan Announces Her Retirement
American forward Alex Morgan has announced that she will retire after the San Diego Wave’s match on Sunday. She also announced that she is pregnant with her second child.
In her 224 international appearances, Morgan scored 123 goals and was a major force behind the USWNT’s back-to-back World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. At the club level, she has played in every year of the NWSL’s existence and joined the Orlando Pride ahead of their inaugural season in 2016. In her six years in Orlando, Morgan recorded 23 goals and 10 assists in 69 appearances. Off the field, she’s been an outspoken supporter of equality and increased investment in women’s sports. We wish her the best of luck after a legendary career.
USMNT Faces Canada on Saturday
The United States Men’s National Team will take on Canada on Saturday in Kansas City in the first of two friendlies this month. Plenty has changed since the U.S. beat Canada in a penalty shootout in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals, particularly on the sideline. American coach Jesse Marsch was hired by Canada in May, while the U.S. will be led by Mikey Varas in an interim capacity amid buzz that Mauricio Pochettino will take over. The U.S. is without Giovanni Reyna for these friendlies due to injury, with Cade Cowell replacing him. Canada boasts a talented roster that includes a trio of former Lions in Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, and Kamal Miller. After this match, the USMNT will take on New Zealand on Tuesday.
Keeping Up With International Soccer
San Marino may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it arguably had the biggest win of a busy day of international soccer after beating Liechtenstein 1-0 for its first competitive victory. Elsewhere in the UEFA Nations League, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia, while Spain was held to a scoreless draw in Serbia.
The third round of AFC World Cup qualifying is underway and Australia was upset 1-0 at home by Bahrain. Japan suffered no such setback though, dominating China in a 7-0 home win. Palestine drew 0-0 against South Korea in Seoul, which is no easy task.
CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifiers have also resumed, and Bolivia came up with a huge 4-0 win in high altitude against Venezuela to move up the table. We may see some Lions in action today. Facundo Torres and Uruguay take on Paraguay, while Pedro Gallese, Wilder Cartagena, and Peru host Colombia.
Free Kicks
- FC Cincinnati’s Luca Orellano won MLS Goal of the Matchday for scoring from nearly 80 yards out to beat CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. Orlando’s Facundo Torres placed second in the voting for his volleyed strike against Nashville SC.
- NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Ella Stevens was named NWSL Player of the Month after recording three goals and two assists in August.
- Argentina beat Brazil in blind soccer at the Paralympics, ending Brazil’s unbeaten streak that has lasted the past 20 years. France and Argentina will face off in the gold medal game on Saturday.
- Chris Jurasek has stepped down as Chelsea’s chief executive after a year in the position, with Jason Gannon replacing him.
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: 9/5/24
Orlando City partners with Sporting CP, Barbra Banda nominated for Ballon d’Or, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, and more.
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How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going smoothly for you as we gear up for plenty of club and international soccer over the next few days. I’ve been getting plenty of reading done when not working and am looking forward to another trip to my local bookstore this weekend. Let’s dive into today’s links!
Orlando City Partners With Sporting CP
Orlando City and Portuguese club Sporting CP have officially agreed to be technical partners, meaning they will share information and methodologies in regards to player development, recruitment, and more. The two clubs have had links before, with former Lions Nani and Uri Rosell joining Orlando from Sporting. The two clubs will also organize training periods for academy players to train with the other club in a different environment. Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira spoke on how this partnership will help both clubs moving forward.
“This is an agreement that will foster a great exchange of information for the betterment of both sets of players and coaches, setting both clubs up for even more success in the future. The culture within both clubs is very similar and we’re excited to see the benefits this partnership brings for everyone involved, especially in an academy level.”
Barbra Banda Nominated for 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda was one of 30 players nominated for this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or, which is one of the top honors in women’s soccer. Since joining the Pride in March, Banda has scored 12 goals in 14 matches this season and is the first NWSL player to score 10 goals in her first 10 league appearances. The 24-year-old also had four goals and an assist with Zambia in this summer’s Olympics.
She’s joined on the nomination list by five United States Women’s National Team players: Alyssa Naeher, Sophia Smith, Malory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Lindsey Horan. I’m not surprised to see as many players who play for European clubs nominated, but I do think San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma was snubbed. The winner will be announced in Paris on Oct. 28.
Orlando Pride Prepare for Chicago
After a dominant 2-0 win at home against NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Orlando Pride will hit the road for a match against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday. It’s the second match between them this season, with the two sides splitting the points in a 1-1 draw in Orlando on March 29. The Pride sit atop the NWSL standings, and it should be a tough road game against a Chicago side fighting to keep its playoff position. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the difficulty of playing in Chicago, as well as how the Pride have been able to score in different ways this year.
Croix Bethune Out for the Season
Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune suffered a torn meniscus, reportedly while throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game, and will miss the remainder of the NWSL season as a result. It’s brutal news for Bethune, who was the clear frontrunner for NWSL Rookie of the Year and just an assist shy of breaking the NWSL record of 10. She finishes with five goals and 10 assists in her rookie campaign, and also made the trip to Paris this summer for the Olympics with the USWNT. Her injury is also a blow to the Spirit’s NWSL Shield aspirations, as they are currently six points behind the Pride and now without one of their best playmakers.
Free Kicks
- Enjoy the sights and sounds from the Pride’s rainy win over Gotham. The video exemplifies just how fun the Pride have been to watch this year.
- Carlos Bocanegra is no longer the vice president and technical director of Atlanta United, with President and CEO Garth Lagerwey taking over in an interim capacity for the rest of the season.
- Sporting Kansas City transferred American defender Kayden Pierre to Genk in Belgium’s top flight.
- The U.S. Women’s U-20 National Team won 2-0 against Morocco in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with the Pride’s Ally Lemos coming off the bench in the second half. The team’s last group stage game will be on Saturday against Paraguay.
- For the first time since 2003, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi were nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
- Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli after being left off the Italian club’s 23-man roster for the Serie A season. Galatasaray has won all three of its matches so far this Super Lig season and will compete in the Europa League.
- AS Roma added 35-year-old center back Mats Hummels on a free transfer to bolster its defense.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/4/24
Facundo Torres’ great week, Lions on international duty, Celia nominated for an award, and more.
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Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. While there’s no chance at a another nine-point weekend since Orlando City doesn’t play, that doesn’t mean a six-point weekend is off the table with both the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B in action this Sunday.
Let’s get to the links.
Summer of Facundo
It seems that when the temperature heats up in Central Florida, so does Facundo Torres. Orlando City’s attacker has made a habit the last few years of starting slow before coming into form over the summer months. That has been the case once again this season, but it’s something that Torres wishes he could change. I also would like him to be in form for a longer stretch of the season. At least for now, he’s playing well enough to make MLS Team of the Matchday. He’s also up for Goal of the Matchday, so go vote soon.
More Lions on International Duty
Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena have been called up for international duty with Peru. The two Orlando City starters make three so far, as Uruguay selected Torres for the national team on Monday. Peru will play Colombia Friday, followed by a match against Ecuador on Tuesday. The trio are just a few of the many MLS players that will represent their respective national teams.
Pride’s Celia Nominated for Impact Award
Orlando Pride defender Celia has been nominated for the 2024 Lauren Holiday Impact Award presented by Nationwide. She is one of 14 players chosen — one from each NWSL club — for her work with a community partner. Celia’s partner is SpaceKids Global, a non-profit focused on STEAM+ (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). There will be an appreciation night on Sept. 28 when the Pride host the Houston Dash. There will be a fan vote in October, and fans can select their nominee to win the award.
U-20 USWNT Back in Action Today
Ally Lemos of the Orlando Pride will be with the U-20 USWNT when it faces off against Morocco in the team’s second match of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup today. The match is scheduled for 9 p.m. this evening, and you can watch it on FS2 or Telemundo. Lemos did not get any minutes in the U.S. loss to defending champion Spain on Sunday. The Americans will need a result if they hope to make the knockout rounds. Here’s hoping Lemos gets some minutes and is able to help the U.S. secure a victory.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride topped another power rankings list. This time it’s the Goal.com rankings. Also, water is wet.
- Check out which Americans are in action abroad heading into the international break.
- The Professional Footballers’ Association held a training camp for players who were not picked up in the last transfer window and are out of contract.
- The NWSL is running into the same problem as other leagues around the world. The players are playing in too many matches between club and country.
- Former Orlando Pride and current Angel City defender Ali Riley is facing the possibility that she may need to retire from professional soccer due to a nerve issue in her left leg. We wish her the best, no matter what the outcome.
- Lastly, don’t forget to vote for Adriana for NWSL Goal of the Week.
That will do it for today. The Lions are on an international break, but the Pride will try to keep the undefeated streak going Sunday, and OCB will be on the road in a big match against Crown Legacy as well. Check back as we get you ready for all the action. Vamos Orlando.
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