How’s it going, Mane Landers? Apart from working, I’ve spent most of the week so far getting some reading done and subjecting my cat to whatever pet costumes I can get my hands on in preparation for next month. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s first all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Riyon Tori!

Alex Freeman Praised as a Top Young Player

This year’s MLS 22 Under 22 list celebrating the league’s best young players will come out on Oct. 8, and Orlando City right back Alex Freeman is expected to earn high praise. He earned second place on a list of top prospects for a stellar year in Orlando that has included five goals and five assists so far. From crashing the box offensively to holding his own on the defensive end of things, Freeman has done well to claim a starting spot for the Lions.

Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas was the only player to finish higher than Freeman on the list. The 20-year-old has been a regular starter for the Sounders over the past two years and has three goals and five assists to his name this season. We’ll see who ends up finishing atop the official 22 Under 22 list in a couple of weeks.

Orlando Pride Prepare For San Diego

The Orlando Pride return to action on Friday in a crucial match against the San Diego Wave. Only two points separate the two teams as they free fall down the league standings amid winless streaks. It’s the first of three straight road games for the Pride, with a Concacaf W Champions Cup match against Club America on Tuesday sandwiched between games against the Wave and Houston Dash. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the team’s preparations heading into this road trip, as well as the importance of capitalizing on starting strong to gain a foothold in the match.

U-20 World Cup Begins This Weekend

The FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off Saturday in Chile and it should be a good tournament as young talent across the globe comes together to showcase their skills. The U.S. was drawn into Group E with France, South Africa, and debutant New Caledonia. While no Orlando City players were called up for us to root for, there are still plenty of MLS players in action. ESPN detailed a player to watch from each team, with Parma’s Benjamin Cremaschi earning the distinction for the U.S. A pair of MLS players in Group B could also make some noise, as New York Red Bulls midfielder Rafael Mosquera and CF Montreal winger Hennadii Synchuk are notable players called up by Panama and Ukraine, respectively.

Carabao Cup’s Fourth Round is Set

The third round of this year’s Carabao Cup came to a close, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, and Newcastle all advancing past their opponents from England’s third division. There are now 16 teams remaining, and the fourth-round draw unveiled some intriguing matchups on the horizon. Newcastle’s title defense will be put to the test when it hosts Tottenham, Liverpool will take on Crystal Palace, and Grimsby Town will look to keep its Cinderella run going at home against Brentford. There’s also an enticing match between Welsh teams, as Wrexham will host Cardiff City. It’s still a bit surreal that Wrexham won’t be the underdog in that match.

Free Kicks

• Columbus Crew forward Wessam Abou Ali will reportedly miss the remainder of the regular season due to an ankle injury. It’s a tough blow to the Crew’s playoff hopes, as the Designated Player has scored in each of the past three games.
• Giovanni Reyna may not play for Borussia Monchengladbach this weekend due to a thigh injury that kept him out of training on Wednesday.
• Here’s an interesting dive into the impact U.S. ownership of English soccer clubs is having on the soccer landscape across the pond.
• CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez directly presented the idea of a 64-team 2030 World Cup to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This could be huge news for Vanuatu.

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