Lion Links: 10/27/23

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s insane to me that October is almost over. I’m not usually too into Halloween, but I am pretty excited this year. I’ve also already set some money aside to stock up on discounted decor and candy after the holiday before all of the Spirit Halloween stores transform back into empty buildings. For now though, I’m getting my ducks in a row before National Novel Writing Month kicks off next week. Let’s get to the links!

Pedro Gallese and Duncan McGuire Are Finalists for MLS Year-End Awards

MLS announced the finalists for the 2023 Year-End Awards and two Lions received some deserved recognition. Pedro Gallese is a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist after recording 10 clean sheets, his most in a season since joining the Lions. The Peruvian also matched his 79 saves from last season, despite playing two fewer games. Rookie Duncan McGuire was also selected as a finalist for MLS Young Player of the Year, which goes to a player aged 22 or younger. It’s unfortunate that MLS did away with the Rookie of the year Award, as McGuire would be the clear favorite. Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja is not in contention for Coach of the Year despite setting club records in both points and wins. Center back Robin Jansson was also strangely absent from the list of finalists for both Defender of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

What to Watch For in Orlando’s Playoff Match

McGuire will be a key part of Orlando’s playoff campaign, which kicks off Monday at 7 p.m. With Ercan Kara in Turkey, the rookie spearheads Orlando’s attack and will need to keep up his strong form against a stingy Nashville SC defense. Nashville has sputtered as of late, but is still capable of frustrating opponents while leaning on its stars to survive and advance in tournaments. These two sides met in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, with the Lions falling 3-1 on the road. Even if Orlando wins on Monday, it will have to make a trip to Nashville on Nov. 7 due to the new playoff format. It’s a bit of a bummer that home-field advantage isn’t as strong during a year when Orlando could actually utilize it, but the Lions have won more road games than any other team in the league this year. To get fans all geared up for the match, free promotional items are available tomorrow night at Exploria Stadium.

USWNT Draws With Colombia in Friendly

The United States Women’s National Team hosted Colombia for a friendly in Utah and had to settle for a scoreless draw. Former Pride forward Alex Morgan had a golden opportunity to give the USWNT a lead with a penalty kick late in the first half, but her shot hit the post and she couldn’t put away a tough rebound. The offense wasn’t at its sharpest, but the defense did its part to secure a clean sheet. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw also made her USWNT debut at age 18, coming on late in the mach. The two teams will face off again this Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego

Keeping Up With the Europa League

The Europa League’s group stage has reached its midpoint and we have a better idea of where each team stands in the tournaments. AS Roma won 2-0 over Slavia Prague thanks to a pair of early goals, Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 5-1 win over Azerbaijan’s Qarabag, and Liverpool beat Toulouse 5-1 as all three clubs maintained their perfect records in the tournament. West Ham’s campaign suffered a setback when its late rally came up short in a 2-1 loss to Olympiacos. Meanwhile, Brighton shut out Ajax 2-0 at home for its first win in a European competition. While there haven’t been too many upsets this year, it’s all shaping up to be an exciting knockout stage once the Champions League dropouts join the fray.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City defender Alex Freeman got the start in a 2-1 U.S. win over Honduras, with fellow Lion Thomas Williams available as a substitute as well. The U.S. will next take on Colombia at 5 p.m. this Sunday.

• Enjoy this very purple gallery of the Lions as they get ready for their playoff match on Monday.
• According to MLSsoccer.com’s Casey Dunau, fans without a team to root for in the playoffs should support Orlando City if they’re used to overachieving without receiving much appreciation for it.
• The Colorado Rapids have declined the option on captain Jack Price’s contract. The 30-year-old missed a majority of the 2023 season due to an Achilles injury, playing for only 37 minutes. Forward Diego Rubin also won’t be returning to Colorado according to the club, making him an interesting player to keep an eye on this off-season.
• Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months for betting on teams he played for, meaning he will miss out on the 2024 Euros and the rest of the English Premier League season with Newcastle.
• We’ll end our links with this great profile on Dick Campbell, who has been coaching in Scotland for decades and is currently leading a team of part-time players towards the Premiership.

That’s all I have for you today. Make sure to stay safe this weekend, what with all the spooky festivities going on. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!