Lion Links: 11/4/23

Salutations on this spectacular Saturday, Mane Landers. As listeners of The Mane Land PawedCast know, I just got back from a stellar vacation in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park, the Stanley Hotel (from Stephen King’s book The Shining), the Garden of the Gods, and much more. If you have the opportunity, I recommend making the trip. Oh, and I got to watch Orlando City win the first match against Nashville SC. It was a great week, but let’s get to the links.

History on the Line

Orlando City secured the club’s first MLS playoff win against Nashville — the “win” against New York City FC was actually a draw with the Lions advancing on penalties. Now the club is looking for a first away playoff victory. Of course, it won’t be easy as Orlando City will need to win a third match in a row against a tough Nashville side that is in a must-win situation. Here’s what you need to know for the second match in this best-of-three playoff bout. Additionally, Taylor Twellman thinks Orlando City has what it takes.

Sunday’s MLS Playoff Matches

There are other teams in the MLS playoffs, including a club Orlando City wants to get knocked out so the Lions can have home field advantage throughout, FC Cincinnati. The Supporters’ Shield winners already won their first match against the New York Red Bulls, 3-0, and now look to close it out at Red Bull Arena. Cincinnati will have to do it without Nick Hagglund, as the defender has suffered a hamstring injury. Hagglund will be out the remainder of the playoffs, and potentially a good bit of next season.

In the other match, Sporting Kansas City will look to knock out Western Conference winner St. Louis City FC. Sporting KC shocked St. Louis with a 4-1 win in the first match at St. Louis, and can finish the job at home in Kansas City. The result won’t affect whether Orlando City hosts the MLS Cup final if the club makes it that far. If you need an update on the playoffs so far, you can check this out. On a side note, Sporting KC’s Gadi Kinda was fined for simulation.

Gotta Maximize that Messi Money

If you are like me, you were hoping that since Inter Miami didn’t make the playoffs we wouldn’t have to hear about Miami or Messi until at least the off-season. Unfortunately, we’re not that lucky. In an effort to maximize the amount of money MLS can squeeze back out of that ridiculous Messi deal, New York City FC — also out of the playoffs — will play a friendly against Miami that is being marketed at Noche d’Or in celebration of Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or win.

In the least surprising news, it looks like MLS is going to allegedly mess with the roster regulations to allow Luis Suarez to join Messi in Miami. I’m curious how much this will cost the rest of the league, and/or what mechanisms Inter Miami will be able to employ that other clubs cannot.

Portland Drama

The Portland Timbers might not be in the playoffs, but the club is still making waves as it looks like the Portland Timbers will be hiring former Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville to take over for the departed Gio Savarese.

The Timbers Army isn’t happy about the hire, and not just because Neville last coached at Inter Miami.

Free Kicks

• Chicharito Hernández will be leaving the LA Galaxy as his contract was not extended. Perhaps he’d like to give it a go with the Lions this time around.

• VfL Wolfsburg is the first European club to invest in an NIL (Name Image Likeness) program. The club signed JaNiya Stevens, a junior forward soccer player from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to the StrongHER U program.
• Erik ten Hag called Marcus Rashford’s night out following the 3-0 derby loss to Manchester City “unacceptable.” Rashford has been allegedly disciplined and has apologized.
• There is a changing of the guard in which entities will be organizing the Ballon d’Or starting in 2024.

• USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso may be headed to Real Betis in La Liga.

That will do it for today. Please check back for our coverage of Orlando City’s upcoming match against Nashville SC.