Lion Links: 10/1/25

Welcome to Wednesday and October, Mane Landers. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some cooler weather. It’s supposed to arrive in October, right? Right?! I’m willing to deal with the pumpkin spice of it all if I can just wear a light jacket and still be comfortable. That’s enough grumbling from this old man. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing OCB/Orlando City defender Zakaria Taifi a happy 20th birthday.

Pride Fall to Club America

The Orlando Pride gave up an early goal to Club America in Concacaf W Champions Cup Group A play Tuesday night in Mexico. That was all it took, although America added another in the second half to defeat the Pride 2-0. Seb Hines rotated heavily to start the match given the amount of travel for Orlando this week. As has happened too often, the Pride were unable to generate any offense and suffered their first loss of the tournament. Orlando will likely need to beat Pachuca in the final group game to advance in the competition as Club America clinched the group.

Freeman’s Rising Stock

Alex Freeman is having quite a year. He took the starting right back spot from Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and did not give it back. He earned his first USMNT call-ups and made himself a mainstay for Mauricio Pochettino. He is Orlando City’s leading scorer behind the Lions’ three Designated Players. He is getting all the attention he deserves for his contributions for club and country, including for the 22 Under 22 rankings.

Orlando City International Call-ups

The Venezuelan National Team called up Javier Otero and Gustavo Caraballo for the friendlies on Oct. 10 and 14 against Argentina and Belize, respectively.

While it’s not Otero’s first call-up it is the first senior team call up for Caraballo. The two will be unavailable for Orlando City’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 11. Peru doesn’t have a match scheduled for the window, not playing again until Nov. 12, so El Pulpo should be in net, but Carlos Mercado of OCB will likely be on the bench for the Lions.

USMNT News

There are plenty of USMNT players in action abroad this week. Yunas Musah earned the corner kick that resulted in Mario Pasalic’s winner for Atalanta’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Club Brugge. Tim Weah also appeared in Marseille’s 4-0 home win over Ajax. All these minutes are important as the USMNT prepares for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

• Remember Tesho Akindele? Pepperidge Farms remembers. The former Orlando City forward is making a name for himself outside of soccer.
• Former Orlando Pride defender Ali Riley has announced her retirement from international and club soccer. We wish her well as she moves onto whatever is next.
• The Portland Thorns traded midfielder Hina Sugita to Angel City FC for defender M.A. Vignola and $600,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
• Who will be Brazil’s new starting No. 9? There are a bevy of players in just the English Premier League in contention for the spot.
• NYCFC’s sporting director David Lee is reportedly heading to Sporting Kansas City to be the club’s new chief soccer officer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend.