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PawedCast Episode 63: NYCFC Review and Montreal Impact Preview

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It's been a minute since we've been able to celebrate Orlando City winning all three points with you, constant listener, but we get to do just that this week after the Lions dispatched New York City FC, 2-1, over the weekend. Forgive us if we go in-depth into the match. We didn't have a guest this week and still gave you more than an hour of our takes on the Lions and their continued mastery of their fellow 2015 expansion club. 

We also talked Orlando Pride, who unfortunately saw the wrong end of a 2-1 score line at home against the Washington Spirit last Friday night. Not all of the Olympians have returned yet, and the Pride attack was a bit toothless against the NWSL's top club. The playoffs are a remote dream now for the Pride but Tom Sermanni is bringing in reinforcements anyway, in the form of forward Lisa De Vanna and defender McKenzie Berryhill. 

And we're also talking Orlando City B, the club's only team that is currently above the playoff line. Can OCB maintain the spot with just one home game remaining in the last five matches? The young Lions' form hasn't been great since Tony Rocha and Mikey Ambrose were promoted to the senior squad, and things won't be easy with Pierre Da Silva on international duty.

We also talk about the international break, with Cyle Larin and Kevin Molino going off to represent their countries, and what it means for the Montreal match. And who can resist a little USMNT talk? Not us, apparently.

We leave you with this week's key match-ups and score predictions.

0:13- A full Orlando City-NYCFC breakdown, our Man of the Match picks, Kaká and MPG, a new center back pairing and more!

26:30- Pride talk. The loss to Washington hurts, but it's still been a fun expansion year. Bring on the newbies!

31:51- OCB-Richmond and how the young Lions can make the playoffs.

37:43- USMNT and the international break.

54:15- Our key match-ups and score predictions for Orlando City at Montreal Impact.

That’ll do it for another week. We’ll be back to break down the Montreal match and look ahead to the LA Galaxy!

Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 69: Ally Watt Interview, Chicago Rewind, Current Preview, and More

The Pride get a playoff win and move into the semifinals with an offensive outburst against the Red Stars.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride made it two wins in a row with a 4-1 home victory over the Chicago Red Stars. More importantly, the Pride got their first-ever NWSL playoff victory in their first-ever home postseason game. Barbra Banda returned to the scoresheet in a big way, netting a brace that could have been four or five goals the way she was creating chances. Orlando had a couple of goals overturned and hit the post twice, saving Chicago from a true playoff beating.

It was good to see the offense back, but the defense also did well, not allowing a first-half shot and only giving up a goal on one of the sillier mistakes of the season. We break down the match, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

After our match rewind, we welcome Orlando Pride forward Ally Watt to the show. Ally was generous with her time and spoke about the Pride’s season, the Chicago game, the closeness the players feel for one another, the upcoming clash with Kansas City, and much more. Big thanks to Ally for her time.

Our mailbagbox this week included some jubilation as well as questions about Bingo cards, Haley McCutcheon, Ally Watt as a starter, Summer Yates, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

After the mailbagbox, we previewed the upcoming NWSL semifinal match against the Kansas City Current. The Pride will have to try to slow down Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga, while respecting the Current midfield and looking for a way to break through a defense that has become stingy over the last two months of the season. We provide our key matchups and try to predict the final score.


Here’s how Episode 69 went down:

0:15 – Orlando picked up its first postseason win by destroying the Chicago Red Stars. It was only 4-1 but could have been so much more lopsided.

15:53 Ally Watt jumps on the call to talk about the playoffs and the Orlando Pride in the playoffs.

41:17 – Our mailbagbox has comments as well as questions, and we take a look ahead to Sunday’s playoff semifinal showdown against the Current.

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Podcasts

PawedCast Episode 455: Charlotte FC Rewind, Penalty Shootouts, Listener Mail, and More

The Lions level it late and take over in penalties to advance in the playoffs. Oh, and Miami lost.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is still struggling to score playoff goals, but at least the Lions remembered how to score playoff penalties — eventually. After outplaying Charlotte but falling behind late, the Lions made one critical play in stoppage time to draw a penalty, finished a rebound of that saved penalty, and then went HAM from the spot in the shootout. Helping the effort was goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who put two of Charlotte’s three shooters in a sleeper hold and turned out the lights on the visitors’ playoff aspirations.

We break down the shootout win vs. Charlotte, check our score predictions from the last show, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about the growth of Major League Soccer and how high it might reach, penalty shootouts, reactions to penalties, and more. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.

With the international break looming, we don’t have a preview for you this week, but we can do that next week as we brace for Atlanta.

Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.


Here’s how No. 455 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City had a hard time scoring against Charlotte despite a good performance, but the Lions still managed to find a way to claw back into the game and win in penalties.

34:04 – The mailbagbox is full, and as we answer our listeners’ questions, our hearts are full as well.

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Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 68: Seattle Rewind, Chicago Playoff Preview, and More

The Pride return to their winning ways but must face a traditionally difficult team to kick off their 2024 playoff run.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride returned home over the weekend and returned to their winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Reign. Although Barbra Banda still isn’t scoring goals, three of her teammates did so, including Marta, who made her mark on the match despite it not being her best outing of the season. The defense is still a bit of a concern, but it did just about enough to get the job done.

We look back at the match and our score predictions to see how well we prognosticated the proceedings.

Our mailbagbox this week included my belated reaction to “Hot to Go” and asked about the worst rule in soccer, broadcasters who don’t seem to favor the Pride, and whether Orlando’s defense can regain its form. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

After the mailbagbox, we remembered that we hadn’t selected a Player of the Match against Seattle, so we rectified that.

Finally, we previewed the upcoming playoff game against the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride will have to avoid switching off defensively and will have to be clinical on the attacking end in order to advance. Orlando has historically struggled at home against Chicago, but there’s no better time to start changing fortunes.


Here’s how Episode 68 went down:

0:15 – Orlando is back in the win column, finishing the season without a home loss. The Pride will try to keep that streak alive Friday vs. Chicago.

21:19 Our mailbagbox is asking about horrible soccer rules and all manner of things.

37:21 – Our look ahead to Friday night’s playoff opener against the Red Stars.

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