Lion Links: 12/14/23

Good morning! It’s been a bit weird not having Orlando soccer matches to look forward to for the rest of the year, but the off-season carries its own kind of excitement due to all of the transfer news and various drafts. I’m looking forward to diving into all of the collegiate players who could end up playing in Orlando in 2024. For now though, let’s get to today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Will Face Cavalry FC in Concacaf Champions Cup

The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup bracket is set and Orlando’s first match of the tournament will be against Cavalry FC. It will be Orlando’s first ever match against a team from the Canadian Premier League. Although not the most difficult opponent Orlando could have drawn, Cavalry won’t be a pushover by any means and qualified for the tournament by winning the Canadian Premier League Shield. Having to play in Canada in February could be a challenge, but the Lions have what it takes to get the job done in the home-and-away series. If Orlando makes it to the round of 16, it will take on whichever team advances between Tigres and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Angelina Joins Orlando Pride On Deal Through 2026

The Orlando Pride signed Brazilian midfielder Angelina Alonso Costantino to a three-year deal that will keep her in purple through 2026. Known commonly as Angelina, she has considerable potential but has not played much over the past two seasons with OL Reign due to an ACL injury she suffered in the summer of 2022. Angelina has featured regularly with Brazil as well, so she will already have some rapport with Marta, Adriana, and Rafaelle in Orlando. Her addition also helps fill the void left by Mikayla Cluff’s departure to Utah last month. The club also teased that another Brazilian player is coming to Orlando, with an announcement expected today.

Getting Ready for the NWSL Expansion Draft

Many teams followed the Pride’s lead and made trades for protection in tomorrow night’s NWSL Expansion Draft. The Pride, Washington Spirit, Kansas City Current, Portland Thorns, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Angel City FC, and Houston Dash all have full protection, while the North Carolina Courage, Racing Louisville, and San Diego Wave have partial protection. The lists of unprotected players from teams without full protection include a few interesting names as well. Former Pride players Rachel Hill and Meggie Dougherty Howard were both left unprotected by the Wave. The Reign left Jess Fishlock unprotected, but it would be a bold move for one of the expansion sides to take her after she’s played with the same team since the league’s inaugural season in 2013.

Champions League Group Stage Comes to a Close

All eyes were on Group F in the final day of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League, and it delivered on the drama. Borussia Dortmund claimed the top spot in the group by drawing 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain, with the French club also advancing to the knockout stage. PSG was helped by AC Milan’s 2-1 win against Newcastle United, with Christian Pulisic scoring the equalizer to spark the comeback. Milan qualified for the Europa League as a result.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid won 2-0 against Lazio to finish atop its group, Porto claimed a spot in the next round after beating Shakhtar Donetsk, 5-3, and Celtic won its first Champions League game in six years thanks to a late winner against Feyenoord in a 2-1 result.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City draft picks Duncan McGuire, Daryl Dike, and Kamal Miller were all praised as great draft selections in recent years.
• Bruce Arena, who resigned as the New England Revolution’s head coach and sporting director in September after an investigation, has reportedly been reinstated by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
• The New York Red Bulls will reportedly choose Sandro Schwarz as their next head coach.

• Defender Steven Beitashour is retiring after 14 years in MLS that included winning the Supporters Shield with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012 and the MLS Cup with Toronto FC in 2017.
• San Diego FC made its first signing, inking 17-year-old goalkeeper Duran Ferree to a deal through 2027, with an option for 2028 as well. Ferree is a San Diego native and represented the U.S. in this year’s U-17 World Cup.
• Nashville SC racked up $825,000 in General Allocation Money by selling a total of five international roster spots in trades with New York City FC, Charlotte FC, and St. Louis City.

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