Lion Links: 7/13/15

Yuck.

Everything about Orlando City’s 2-0 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday night was forgettable, as the Lions dropped their first game at the Citrus Bowl in over two months. A shorthanded home side missing key contributors such as Kaká, Brek Shea, Darwin Ceren and Cyle Larin (or in other words,”the offense”) struggled to threaten FC Dallas and squandered opportunities when they did.

But with an international friendly upcoming against Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, the Lions don’t have much time to sulk. So let’s get ready to take it to the Baggies with your Monday morning Lion Links.

Recapping the Loss Against FC Dallas

As always, The Mane Land’s got you covered with tons of Orlando City post-game coverage. Not a fun one to relive, but let’s get through this together with…

• A recap of the Lions 2-0 loss to FC Dallas and the referees

• Player grades and our Man of the Match

• Photographs from the sideline, courtesy of Nick Leyva

• Five takeaways and other notes from a frustrating night at the Citrus Bowl

• Reaction from our friends at Big D Soccer. They’re pretty excited about that penalty kick

Chicharito Watch Continues…

It’s the rumor that won’t go away, and it’s one your probably a little sick of hearing by now. But until Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez signs with a club, the Mexican striker’s name will continue to be connected with Orlando City. Considering he’s played with some little clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, all the speculation isn’t necessarily unwarranted, but it’s gone on for weeks now without anything all that substantive on where Chicharito may end up.

The good news is that we know a little bit more about this situation than we did before the weekend began. The Mane Land put together a primer on the Chicharito rumors to get you up to speed if you haven’t been following this transfer saga from the beginning.

ESPNFC confirmed Orlando City’s interest in bringing in Chicharito in a piece that ran early Sunday morning, so there’s clearly something concrete behind this rumor.

But the real news this weekend came from Orlando City majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva, who confirmed to the assembled media at Saturday’s match that the club is in talks with Chicharito and his representatives to bring the Mexican striker aboard.

“The less we talk about this situation right now is better, because we are in the middle of a negotiation, so we hope in one or two weeks to be able to talk about this…to talk about Chicharito in a different way.”

The largest hurdle appears to be the player’s asking price, with Chicharito reportedly seeking north of $10 million per year in salary. That would make him the highest-paid player in MLS and give Orlando City two of the most expensive players in the league, with Kaká on an annual salary of over $7 million.

Will Orlando City be willing to break the bank for Chicharito? Be sure to check back with The Mane Land for the latest on this ongoing summer saga.

Gerrard Goes 45 Minutes in Galaxy Debut

Stevie G made his debut with the LA Galaxy on Saturday night, going 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Club America as part of the International Champions Cup (easily the most important-sounding series of friendlies in the world).

It was an impressive start for Gerrard, who hasn’t played since his final match with Liverpool, as he nearly found the back of the net and got involved in the Galaxy attack during the first half. Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena praised the performance of his new superstar, but cautioned that it may take some time for Gerrard to integrate himself within the team.

The game was played in front of a sellout crowd that included such luminaries as Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. It’s not quite the Beckham-level fervor that engulfed Los Angeles when the Galaxy landed the league’s first Designated Player, but it was still a fitting spectacle for the latest European legend to join MLS.

USMNT-Brazil Friendly to Follow Gold Cup, According to Report

The U.S. could face another tough South American opponent this fall, with the Selecao rumored as a possible friendly opponent for the USMNT. According to the Boston Globe, the match will be played on Sept. 8 at Gillette Stadium.

While U.S. Soccer declined to comment on the report and hasn’t officially announced the match, it makes sense on paper. Brazil will already be playing a pair of friendlies in the United States this fall, with a match against Argentina already announced. Brazil will also play an opponent yet to be named, with many speculating it could be against Clint Dempsey and friends.

It would the USMNT’s second game in Foxborough this year, with a Gold Cup win over Haiti taking place there on Friday.

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That’s it for today. Enjoy your Monday. And remember, we’re only two days from Orlando City’s next match!