Lion Links: 9/7/23

How’s it going, Mane Landers? Fall may not officially be here, but I’ve been enjoying the less oppressive heat and pumpkin spice. I recently finished the second season of The Afterparty on Apple TV+ and recommend it if you like mysteries with some humor. Every episode is told in a different genre or style, which makes for a fun watch. Now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Loses Appeal for Wilder Cartagena’s Red Card

Orlando City was reportedly unsuccessful in its appeal of Wilder Cartagena’s red card late in the Lions’ 1-0 road win over FC Cincinnati. It was Orlando’s first failed appeal, and each club is allowed two unsuccessful appeals during the season. As a result, the Peruvian midfielder will miss Orlando’s pivotal match with the Columbus Crew on Sept. 16. Cartagena was also fined an undisclosed amount for failing to leave the field in a timely fashion in the eyes of the MLS Disciplinary Committee.

Carly Nelson Nominated for NWSL Save of the Week

Orlando Pride goalkeeper Carly Nelson was up for NWSL Save of the Week for her stop against OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock. Nelson did well to jump and get enough on the dipping shot from distance to tip it safely over the crossbar. The 25-year-old was called into action early on in the Pride’s 1-0 loss to the Reign after Anna Moorhouse was shown a red card in the third minute. She finished third in the NWSL Save of the Week voting, with Angel City FC’s Angelina Anderson narrowly beating out Kansas City Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Although Nelson didn’t win, it’s nice to see her earn some recognition for her performance off the bench in a tough environment.

Orlando City B Takes On New England Revolution II Tonight

OCB is on the road tonight for a match against New England Revolution II at 7 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. It’s a big match for the Young Lions, as a win would clinch them a spot in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs for the first time. It will also be a tough challenge, as New England has already qualified for the playoffs and has not lost a game since June 18. OCB will likely need forward Jack Lynn to be on the top of his game. Lynn’s 17 goals this season are the most in the league alongside New York City FC II’s Matt Myers.

Houston Dash Part Ways With Sam Laity

Sam Laity is no longer the head coach of the Houston Dash, with the club parting ways with him amid an eight-game winless run in league play. The Dash are 10th in the standings and have only won four games this season, the fewest in the league. Laity joined the team in December of 2022 after years as an assistant coach with OL Reign, but struggled to find a consistent run of form in Houston. The Dash remain in playoff contention, with six points separating them from a playoff spot. An interim head coach has not yet been named for the remaining four games of the season.

Marko Mitrovic Named U.S. Men’s U-23 Head Coach

U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker has chosen Marko Mitrovic to coach the United States U-23 Men’s National Team. Mitrovic has been the head coach of the U-19 team since April of last year, and also served as an assistant for the first team’s interim head coaches this year. The U-23 team’s first training camp with Mitrovic at the helm will be next month, as it begins preparations for next year’s Olympics. Michael Nsien, who has coached the U-16 team since November, was named as the new coach for the U-19 team.

Free Kicks

• The Lions moved up a spot to fifth in the latest MLS power rankings after beating FC Cincinnati on the road this past weekend.
• Here’s a nice breakdown of the CONMEBOL nations ahead of World Cup qualifying kicking off this week. Pedro Gallese, Cartagena, and the rest of Peru will take on Paraguay tonight, while Facundo Torres and Uruguay will play Chile tomorrow.
• Of the 30 women selected for shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, Sophia Smith is the only American. She and Debinha are also the only NWSL players on the list.
• Manchester United signed Japanese midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, who won the Golden Boot in the recent Women’s World Cup.
• The players in Liga F, Spain’s top flight for women’s soccer, are going on strike for the first two weeks of the new season after an agreement could not be reached with the league over a new minimum wage.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a great Thursday and rest of your week!