Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/29/23
Lions set for final group stage match, a must-win game for the Pride, OCB looks for separation in Eastern Conference, and more.
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There are two big purple fixtures on the calendar today, Mane Landers! The Lions are back in action for a Leagues Cup group match while the Orlando Pride have another East Division NWSL Challenge Cup tie to play. After playing 18 holes with the boys on what was one of the hottest days of the year here in Kentucky — hovering above 100 degrees — I’m now looking forward to spending the weekend indoors, staying cool, and rehydrating, while watching a whole lot of soccer. Speaking of soccer, let’s get to the latest news down in today’s links!
Orlando City’s Road to the Knockouts
The Lions will be playing the final match of the South 2 group tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Exploria Stadium against Liga MX side Santos Laguna. With all other group matches played, Orlando City now knows exactly the path forward. The winner of tonight’s meeting will advance to the knockout round of the tournament, with the loser set to go home. However, if the score is still level at the final whistle, the Lions can still move forward by grabbing the extra point in the penalty shootout, setting them on a trajectory for a visit to Inter Miami next week. A loss in penalty kicks and the regulation score being anything less than a 3-3 draw would end Orlando City’s campaign in the 2023 Leagues Cup tournament. The Lions have played and lost to Santos Laguna once before in the 2021 quarterfinals of the former version of the Leagues Cup.
“It’s a great opportunity to compete against a good rival like Santos Laguna. Obviously, it’s going to increase this rivalry between the leagues of Mexico and the United States,” Lions coach Oscar Pareja said. “[Our] mission is to continue [in Leagues Cup] and advance to the next round. The players are good, we are optimistic and we are looking forward to a good game.”
Orlando Pride Need Tournament Win
The Orlando Pride are set to take on the North Carolina Courage tonight at 7 p.m. The Courage are flying high following a 6-0 result in their previous match against the Washington Spirit last weekend, with all six goals coming in the second half among six different goal scorers. Orlando enters the match with just one point in the competition through three group stage matches and could be eliminated without a positive result. The club’s only tournament point came at Exploria Stadium in April against the Courage after Denise O’Sullivan leveled the score in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Orlando City B Ready for Monday Night
The Young Lions of OCB are tied at 33 points with New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference of MLS NEXT Pro. The two teams are set to clash at 7 p.m. in MSU Soccer Park on Monday night. The two sides last squared off on May 29 at Osceola County Stadium in what served as the first-ever fixture between the two clubs in MLS NEXT Pro action. In the match, forwards Jack Lynn and Shak Mohammed each found the back of the net. Lynn has been in red-hot form lately, leading the Golden Boot race with 12 goals this season.
U.S. Soccer Joins Forces with State Department
United States Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new partnership dedicated to elevating soccer as a valued diplomatic tool both at home and abroad. Through this formalized partnership, the USSF and State Department aim to use sport to boost shared peace and prosperity worldwide, with a focus on increasing educational access, economic equity, and social opportunity and inclusion for underserved groups, including youth, women, and people with physical and intellectual disabilities, in support of broader United States foreign policy goals. This initiative is set to enhance the State Department’s ongoing sports diplomacy programming, such as the Sports Envoy Program that sends elite American athletes overseas to engage underserved youth.
“We are really excited to work with the State Department on this partnership. I am the person I am today, the leader I am today due to what sports gave me,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “Wherever I travel around the world, whether I speak the language or not, everyone in the world speaks the language of soccer. It’s a uniting force and brings people together, and we’re looking forward to doing important work with the State Department and making an impact in places all over the world.”
Free Kicks
- A former Orlando City midfielder is once again on the move as New York City FC acquired Andrés Perea on loan from the Philadelphia Union through the end of the 2023 MLS season.
- Toronto FC has added MLS U22 Initiative forward Cassius Mailula from South African top-flight side Mamelodi Sundowns FC.
- D.C. United has transferred midfielder Victor Pálsson to Belgian top-flight side KAS Eupen after only one year with the club.
- FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez netted a hat trick in a match that spanned two days due to weather delays against Liga MX powerhouse Chivas in Leagues Cup action.
- USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is under scrutiny for withholding substitutes in Wednesday’s draw against the Netherlands.
- Juventus has been removed from European competition next season, while Chelsea was fined $11 million in separate UEFA rulings over financial rules breaches.
- Manchester United rejected a $25.7 million bid from West Ham for Harry Maguire.
- Paris Saint-Germain is reportedly set to complete a major deal to sign Ousmane Dembélé from Barcelona.
- A bronze statue of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lifting the Premier League trophy has been unveiled outside the club’s Emirates Stadium.
Here’s to hoping both our clubs can grab some points in their respective tournaments. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/18/23
Enrique’s great day, Pride upset the Courage, USMNT players abroad, and more.
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Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers. I was feeling a bit under the weather starting Saturday afternoon, but that huge comeback win definitely helped. I was starting to feel better by Sunday afternoon, but by the end of the Pride match I was right as rain. Winning really does make everything better. Let’s get to the links.
Enrique’s Very Good, Not Bad Day
Ramiro Enrique was already a hero for scoring the equalizer in the 86th minute against the visiting Columbus Crew. It wasn’t enough for the young striker, as he earned a free kick close enough to goal to give Orlando City the opportunity to win the match. That still wasn’t enough for Enrique, so he decided to score the winner. If you somehow forgot what it looked like, please enjoy watching it over and over again.
Oscar Pareja said he was proud of his team and confident that the Lions could not only earn a draw but actually win in the last 15 minutes of the match. That belief was held by the players as well. Enrique experienced a moment of pure joy after scoring the winner — you can see it in his celebration — though he was most happy for the three points. Mauricio Pereyra said he is just proud to be the captain of this team. I think it is safe to say that after that result we’re all proud of this team.
Orlando Pride Stun Courage
Two first-half goals were enough to give the Orlando Pride a rare 2-1 win against the North Carolina Courage and in September. Neither of those things have historically come easy for the Pride, but given the fact that Ally Watt scoring the earliest goal in Pride history set the right tone for the evening. The win moved the the Pride into seventh place and — just as importantly — only one spot out of the playoffs. The Pride will be in action next on Oct. 2 at Angel City. If you missed our recap late last night, click the link above and enjoy Sean Rollins’ description of the match.
How USMNT Players Fared Abroad
Folarin Balogun went right from scoring a goal for the USMNT to scoring a goal for AS Monaco in a 2-2 draw with Lorient. Balogun came on as a sub and provided the equalizer for his new club. The USMNT striker is red hot, as is Ricardo Pepi, which makes Gregg Berhalter’s choice difficult going forward. Weston McKennie made his 100th appearance for Juventus and provided an assist in a 3-1 win over Lazio. Much like he did for the USMNT, McKennie played an excellent match.
English Premier League Highlights
Manchester City and Liverpool each scored three goals to win easily against West Ham United and Wolves, respectively. The two top four clubs earned easy, controversy-free victories. However, both Tottenham and Arsenal won, but they did not do so easily or without controversy.
Everton is not good. The Toffees are sitting in the relegation zone with zero wins and only one draw so far this season. Despite that, it took Arsenal until the 69th minute to score the only goal of the match to get the win. It was even harder for Tottenham, given it took two second-half, stoppage-time goals to defeat Sheffield United. United manager Paul Heckingbottom was furious with the officiating.
Free Kicks
- Do you think you can play in most pick-up soccer matches? You almost certainly cannot make the cut for this one in Manchester, England. The players were once paid to play, though they now pay to play — they play a whopping £5.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday. AT&T Stadium is a possible venue for the next World Cup. Does anyone else think — and I say this as a Cowboys fan — that this was a meeting of the sports equivalent of the Legion of Doom?
- Never mind that, this is the actual Axis of Evil. I can’t believe I’m giving Atlanta United credit, but this was well done at Inter Miami’s expense.
Check back with The Mane Land as we get you ready for the midweek match Wednesday against New York City FC. That will do it for today other than one plea to the Orlando City front office and the Wilf family: please give Oscar Pareja, Luiz Muzzi, and Ricardo Moreira new contracts. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/16/23
Orlando City resumes MLS play at home, Lions chasing milestones, OCB clinches a playoff spot, and more.
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Welcome to another matchday, Mane Landers! It seems like months since Orlando City’s last match, despite it only being a couple of weeks. It really makes you wonder how we can go a full off-season without our purple fix. Before the match tonight though, I’ll be heading outside with my buddy to get some rock climbing in. It is sunny and mid-60s here in Kentucky, so I’ll be making the most of the early fall weather.
Don’t get me wrong though, I still miss waking up and walking across the street to the beach every morning when I lived in Florida. Whatever your own location is, I’m glad we all get to call Exploria Stadium our personal “home away from home.” Now enough of the lovey-dovey reminiscing stuff, let’s get into today’s links!
Lions Kick Off Slew of Matches at Home
Orlando City resumes league play tonight at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts the Columbus Crew at Exploria Stadium. The Lions and the Crew last squared off in May earlier this season, where City fought to a second-half comeback 2-2 draw. Former Orlando City forward Ercan Kara and rookie striker Duncan McGuire scored to solidify the club’s third-straight unbeaten match against the Columbus. Today’s match is the first of three in a nine-day span for Orlando as the Lions face a quick turnaround for Wednesday’s road match against New York City FC. The team then turns around to host Inter Miami in the Tropic Thunder derby on Sunday.
Lions Hunting for Milestones
We have officially reached the latter part of the season when players and coaches can start to look down their personal goals lists to see just how well they have done this year. Head Coach Oscar Pareja is hunting two more wins to reach the milestone of 60 as the Lions’ manager. Another milestone hunter is Designated Player Facundo Torres, who currently sits level with former forward Dom Dwyer for fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring charts. The Uruguayn’s next goal would mark his 25th and tie him with club legend and inaugural MLS captain Kaká for third in club history. For the team as a whole, Orlando City has made it 10 straight home matches without a loss, which is the club’s longest-ever run within a single season in the MLS era.
Orlando Pride Need Wins for Playoff Run
Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines is calling all supporters for the Pride’s must-win match at Exploria Stadium on Sunday. While the Pride have shown sparks of brilliance at times this year, they’ve lost 10 of their 18 games, leaving crucial points behind along the way. The club has massive six-pointers ahead against Angel City, Racing Louisville, and the Houston Dash. Gathering these pivotal wins would be necessary for the Pride to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Orlando Pride Releases 2023 Moniker Kits
In recent years, the Orlando front office has taken its merch game up a notch with Moniker jerseys of its different start players. This season, August NWSL Rookie of the Month Messiah Bright and captain Marta each earn the special edition honors. The kit includes a special design backing and a limited edition patch only attainable through buying the Moniker kits. Bright’s design is symbolic of a stained glass window, while Marta’s depicts her being the GOAT (greatest of all-time) of professional women’s soccer.
Orlando City B Clinches Playoff Spot with 1-1 Draw at Fire II
Orlando City B drew Chicago Fire II 1-1 last night at SeatGeek Stadium to clinch its spot in MLS NEXT Pro postseason play. The Young Lions were without the services of star striker Jack Lynn, who is likely suiting up for the senior team tonight following the departure of Ercan Kara. It only took 17 minutes for the Baby Sparks to find the net as Sergio Oregel finished off Billy Hency’s cross. In the 71st minute, Wilfredo Rivera stepped up in Lynn’s absence to level the match. Following full time, OCB’s 20-year-old Venezuelan keeper, Javier Otero, made two saves to secure the extra shootout point, 4-3.
Free Kicks
- Inter Miami has signed Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana to a contract extension through the 2027 MLS season with an option for 2028.
- U.S. Soccer plans to construct the nation’s first-ever designated national training center in the Atlanta area, funded in part by Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank’s $50 million contribution.
- Premier League club Everton has been sold to private equity firm 777 Partners in a deal reportedly worth more than $685 million.
- Arsenal is confident of finalizing a contract extension with 24-year-old midfielder Martin Ødegaard, whose deal expires in 2025. It would likely need to be a significant increase on his current £120,000-a-week wage.
- Spain has granted a restraining order to prevent former football federation chief Luis Rubiales from coming near forward Jenni Hermoso.
- Spanish police arrested three Real Madrid youth players for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor.
- Barcelona will play Real Madrid on Oct. 28 in the first El Clásico matchup of the 2023-24 season.
- The father of 22-year-old student Martin Podhajsky paid Czech third division side FK Usti nad Labem around $22,000 to secure his son a place in the senior squad and guarantee him at least 10 minutes of first-team action this season. His son has never actually played soccer before.
That’s all I have for you today. Let’s all enjoy the return of some first-time action tonight. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/15/23
Pedro Gallese stands out during the international break, Orlando Pride prepare for the North Carolina Courage, OCB takes on Chicago tonight, and more.
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It’s finally Friday! I don’t know about you, but this week has felt like forever for me. I don’t have many plans this weekend beyond touring some apartments, packing, and working. Regardless, I’m looking forward to checking out some soccer when I can and enjoying being outside without melting into a puddle. Let’s get into today’s links!
Pedro Gallese Impressed During International Break
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese stood out among the many MLS players who represented their countries during the recent international break. Gallese came up with six saves in Peru’s scoreless draw on the road against Paraguay, and then did well against Brazil in a 1-0 loss. It was further proof towards how important it was that the Lions signed him to a new contract last December, as Gallese’s form is consistent at the club and international level. Wilder Cartagena and Facundo Torres were also noted for receiving some valuable minutes with Peru and Uruguay, respectively.
Orlando Pride Focused Ahead of Sunday’s Match
The Orlando Pride are back in action Sunday night for a pivotal match with the North Carolina Courage at Exploria Stadium. After losing their past two games, the Pride are ninth in the league standings and need a win to insert themselves back in the playoff race. They take on a Courage team that is third in the league and just won the NWSL Challenge Cup. However, the Courage enter this game on short rest and have not won a league game since July 1 (0-2-2). Pride defender Emily Madril spoke on how the team is focused on winning its remaining four matches, starting with Sunday’s.
Orlando City and Orlando Pride Partner With Inter&Co
Inter&Co, which offers finance solutions and digital commerce services, was named the official financial institution of both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride as part of a new partnership. It’s the Brazilian company’s first partnership with an NWSL club, and it’ll be interesting to see what kinds of collaborations come from this partnership in the future. Fans can learn more about the company at tomorrow’s game between Orlando City and the Columbus Crew. It does feel a little wrong to partner with a company named Inter though.
Orlando City B Plays Chicago Fire II Tonight
Orlando City B has a chance to clinch a spot in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs when it takes on Chicago Fire II tonight at 7 p.m. The same can be said for Chicago, making tonight’s match a critical one for both sides. The Young Lions have excelled offensively this year, recording 236 key passes and 56 goals. Of those goals, 11 have come from outside the box, the second most in the league. Forward Jack Lynn remains tied in the Golden Boot race with New York City FC II’s Matt Myers, with both sitting on 18 goals. Lynn is expected on the bench in Orlando on Saturday night, however, so he may not make the trip to Chicago. Hopefully the Young Lions can get the job done tonight on the road and qualify for the playoffs for the first time.
Free Kicks
- EA Sports FC 24 player ratings are out and Martin Ojeda has the highest rating of Orlando City players. As for NWSL players, Marta has the 11th highest rating, while former Pride forward Alex Morgan takes the top spot.
- Sporting Kansas City re-signed Designated Player Alan Pulido to a three-year contract. The forward has been great this year, scoring 13 goals for Kansas City.
- The Vancouver Whitecaps signed versatile attacker Junior Hoilett on a deal through the rest of the 2023 season. A free agent, the 33-year-old most recently played for Reading in England and should give Vancouver a boost to its attack.
- Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara had a successful appendectomy and may miss multiple games while he recovers.
- A Colorado Rapids supporters group released a statement showing its dissatisfaction with the club and ownership during an abysmal season.
- American defender Sam Vines won’t be taking part in Antwerp’s Champions League games in the group stage due to an error.
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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