Sports
Charlotte FC has goalkeeping to lean on in Round One match with hot Orlando City
Oct 19, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina (1) celebrates after the match against D.C. United at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Orlando City was a tough team to beat over the second half of the season. They’ll look to maintain that success when they host Charlotte FC in the opening match of their best-of-three Round One series of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday.
The Lions (15-12-7, 52 points) went on an 11-4-1 run from June 22 through the end of the season to finish fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference table. They allowed more than two goals only three times during that span and held opponents to one goal or fewer in each of their 11 wins save one, including a three-match shutout streak from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18.
That stretch was preceded by a season-high five-match winless run (0-3-2).
“There’s such a good banter around all the team, and I think it’s the best thing in the world,” midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsson told the team website. “When you’re with a group and you’re in their locker room and everybody’s laughing, I feel like we’re all more relaxed. Of course, there’s a tension in the air because it’s the playoffs, but everybody’s relaxed and ready for it.”
Orlando finished ninth in MLS with 56 goals, led by 14 from Facundo Torres and 10 off the foot of Duncan McGuire. Torres’ total matched a career-high for the Uruguayan.
This year marks a fifth straight postseason appearance for Orlando City, all under the guidance of coach Oscar Pareja.
Charlotte (14-11-9, 51 points) enters the series having gone 4-0-1 over its final five matches to close out the season. Three of those wins were clean sheets, including the last two of the campaign.
The club finished the season having conceded the second-fewest goals in MLS, with 37, a notable drop from the 52 allowed in 2023. A large part of that comes from the play of goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, whose 121 saves in the regular season were tied for third-most in the league.
“I think he’s the biggest turnaround that people have seen, in terms of how many goals we conceded last season to how many goals we’ve conceded this season,” coach Dean Smith said. “And he’s been a massive part of that. Twelve clean sheets, he’s outstanding. And he’s been pivotal for us.”
After missing the first part of the 2023 season recovering from back surgery, Kahlina has enjoyed a healthy 2024, playing every minute for Charlotte FC.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
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