Lion Links: 11/9/23

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’m still riding the high from Orlando’s playoff victory earlier this week. It’s definitely helped time fly by for me a bit, with the weekend right around the corner. I don’t have too many plans this weekend beyond a few trial runs of Thanksgiving dishes to figure out what I’m making this year. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando City’s Win Inspires Confidence Moving Forward

Orlando had a tough test in the first round against a Nashville SC side that plays a defensive style that can give opponents headaches in tournament settings. The Lions passed that test with flying colors, taking Nashville down with a pair of 1-0 victories to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. Head Coach Oscar Pareja has molded this team into a true contender that’s proven throughout the year that it can take control of games and grind out results. Whether they play the Columbus Crew or Atlanta United next, the Lions look up to the task of making some more club history during a fantastic year.

Orlando City Reaches Top 10 of Concacaf Club Rankings

The Lions have only lost one game since the Leagues Cup and that likely helped them place 10th in the latest Concacaf club rankings. Not only did the Lions beat Nashville, which was previously in the top 10 for its performance in the Leagues Cup, but they also picked up big victories over FC Cincinnati, St. Louis, and the Columbus Crew. Orlando is one of three MLS teams in the top 10 alongside LAFC and the Philadelphia Union, with the other seven teams being from Mexico. Orlando’s already clinched a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, so this is a nice feather in its cap as the postseason goes on.

Charlotte FC Parts Ways With Christian Lattanzio

Christian Lattanzio will not return as Charlotte FC’s head coach next year. He helped Charlotte reach the postseason for the first time, albeit as a ninth seed in the expanded playoff format. Charlotte’s playoff run was brief, falling on the road to the New York Red Bulls. Lattanzio served as the team’s interim head coach last year before leading the team for the entirety of this season. Assistant coach Andy Quy won’t be with the club next year either. Charlotte will now search for its third head coach since joining the league in 2022.

Naomi Girma and Jane Campbell Win NWSL End-Of-Year Awards

San Diego Wave FC’s Naomi Girma was named NWSL Defender of the Year for the second straight season, anchoring her team’s defense to help it finish at the top of the table. Girma was defensively sound, but also excelled as a passer for the Wave to comfortably build possession. The 23-year-old also won the NWSL Rookie of the Year award last year and is one of the most talented young players in the league.

Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell received the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award after a stellar season. She played every minute of Houston’s season, recording a career-high eight clean sheets. Houston only conceded 18 goals and Campbell was a major reason why, as she faced 108 shots on target and led the league with 91 saves.

Free Kicks

• A pair of former Lions are finalists for USL Championship Awards, with Albert Dikwa a finalist for Player of the Year and Conor Donovan one for Defender of the Year.
• The New England Revolution were eliminated from the playoffs after a 1-0 loss at home to the Philadelphia Union. A red card to Mark-Anthony Kaye right before halftime was too much for the Revs to overcome.
• Minnesota United hired Khaled El-Ahmad as its sporting director and chief soccer officer. El-Ahmad joins Minnesota after serving as Barnsley’s CEO and sporting director since 2021.
• Sporting Kansas City left back Logan Ndenbe will miss the remainder of the playoffs after suffering an ACL tear. It’s a tough blow for the club, although it has a some time to figure out a game plan without Ndenbe before the Western Conference semifinals.
• In the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan all advanced to the knockout stage.
• The Netflix docuseries about the USWNT’s recent World Cup campaign will premier on Dec. 12.

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