Lion Links: 10/7/23

Happy Saturday, Mane Landers. My wife and I have friends visiting this weekend so I’m sure we will be busy showing them around our town. It is always great to catch up with those that we only see a couple times a year. Once again, I’ll be doing my due diligence and ensure Orlando City’s match is streaming on the television in the background to try and convert a couple more fans for us.

Orlando City Welcomes New England Revolution

Orlando City will face the New England Revolution tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Exploria Stadium. For the visitors, it will be a match in which they hope to bounce back after a 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew, which was the team’s first home loss of the season. New England dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings but holds a game in hand over all other teams in the top six. As for your Lions, Orlando City enters the fixture in superb form with just one loss in their last 10 games (7-1-2). Orlando has climbed to second in the Eastern Conference. The Revolution hold a nine-match unbeaten streak against Orlando, winning five and drawing four in regular-season action since 2018. New England leads the all-time series, 7-2-7.

Upcoming Orlando City Milestones

With the regular season coming to a close, the Lions are approaching both team and personal milestones. As a group, the next goal scored will be the 51st of the MLS season, setting a new single-season high since Head Coach Oscar Pareja took over. Orlando’s single-season goals record was set at 55 total in 2016.  Rodrigo Schlegel and Iván Angulo will both reach appearance milestones in their next matches, with Schlegel hitting 100 and Angulo 50. Angulo has played in every regular-season match this campaign.

Oscar Pareja Receives Consideration for Coach of the Year

Orlando’s run this season might have been possible by the players, but it is Pareja who puts all the game plans into motion. He’s earned the right to get into the running for MLS Coach of the Year, but let’s face it, that award is going to Pat Noonan or Bradley Carnell. Still, MLSSoccer.com pundits have been impressed with Papi’s performance. Pareja has put the team in a position to potentially finish with the second- or third-best record in the league. He made the decision to give rookie forward Duncan McGuire multiple starts that has helped him become a force to be reckoned with in MLS. McGuire himself is also in contention for being named the league’s Young Player of the Year.

Racing Louisville Defeats Orlando Pride

Last night, Racing Louisville defeated the Orlando Pride 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium. Pride captain Marta was fouled in the box to earn an early penalty kick, which she converted. Kerry Abello bagged the second for Orlando. Unfortunately, the Pride gave up a penalty of their own right before halftime as Messiah Bright brought Savannah DeMelo down and Nadia Nadim scored from the spot. The hosts also converted in transition off a terribly placed cross-field pass and goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, who was just given a new two-year deal through 2025, punched a corner kick cross into her own goal to complete the meltdown. The Pride are on the outside looking in and have blown another opportunity to climb above the playoff line. They entered Friday controlling their own destiny, but now they need a win in the finale and some help to make the playoffs.

Free Kicks

• Former Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath has been relieved of his duties at Minnesota United, along with technical director and former OCSC assistant Mark Watson.
•  New York Red Bulls midfielder Luquinhas has been fined for violating the league’s simulation-embellishment policy in the 85th minute of Wednesday’s match against FC Cincinnati.
• Goal of the Matchday 36 honors officially go to Charlotte FC’s Brecht Dejaegere for his scorpion kick against Toronto FC with 52.2% of the fan vote.
• USMNT defender Joe Scally scored a late goal from distance in a 2-2 draw for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
• The United States Women’s Deaf National Team defeated Turkey 3-0 to win its third Women’s World Deaf Championship.
• The United States Beach Soccer Men’s National Team will face Italy, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt in Group A at the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
• Soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has taken shots at players who joined the Saudi Pro League last summer.
• Juventus will ask shareholders for up to $212 million of fresh capital as the club posted another yearly loss.

That’s all I have for you folks. I hope you all enjoy your weekend and can make it out to the match. Vamos Orlando!