Orlando City looked a little off Saturday against Atlanta United in the final match of the regular season. The Lions had plenty of chances but it was the defensive lapses early that made the difference in a 2-1 home loss. Still, it appeared as if Duncan McGuire had provided another Cardiac Cats moment, only for the ugly spectre of video review to deliver the sucker punch that paved Atlanta’s way into the postseason.

We didn’t enjoy talking about this game at all, but we discussed all the key talking points, and if you’re wondering about our predictions, it didn’t even occur to us to check them until almost the end of the show. We did, however, make our unanimous decision for Man of the Match.

This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about Don Garber and which OCB iron man might someday be one for the MLS squad. 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.

After the mailbagbox, we looked back at OCB’s road playoff game at Chicago Fire II. The Young Lions continue to look for their first-ever postseason win after a 1-1 draw and a 5-4 penalty shootout loss. A bad decision by a center back going forward gave the hosts their only goal and ultimately contributed to the end of OCB’s 2024 season.

Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City’s series with Charlotte FC, giving you the tale of the tape. The bottom line is the North Carolina-based side is great defensively, so Orlando will need to find its shooting boots to survive a best-of-three series. We provided our key matchups and score predictions for Sunday’s opener in Orlando.

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. 452 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City was not good and neither was video review on Saturday.

27:27 – The mailbagbox asks about stuff and we provide answers.

37:33– OCB is out of the playoffs after another shootout loss and we preview the senior Lions against Charlotte in the MLS postseason.

Orlando City and OCB were both off over the weekend during the men’s international break. However, not all of the Lions were off. We briefly discuss Pedro Gallese and Peru getting the better of Facundo Torres’ Uruguay on Friday. We also touched on Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT managerial debut. But the main point of discussion for the first segment was OCB.

The Young Lions are headed north to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire FC II on Sunday as the MLS NEXT Pro postseason gets underway. Orlando got the better of the Fire’s developmental squad recently in the only meeting of the season between the teams. Chicago, however, is a much better home team and that previous meeting was in Kissimmee. The Young Lions will need a heroic road effort to claim the club’s first-ever playoff win.

This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about Oscar Pareja’s toughest choice for Saturday’s starting XI and a trivia question about the Lion with the fewest minutes this season. 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.

After the mailbagbox, we busted out our Atlanta hate and tried to figure out what might happen on Decision Day. Can the Lions get the better of a team that has been a tremendous pain in their collective rear ends and send them packing into the off-season? We preview the game, choose our key matchups, and make our final score predictions.

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. 451 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City players’ national teams faced off, the new USMNT coach debuts, and OCB is set to head to Chicago for its postseason opener.

12:21 – The mailbagbox gives us a regular question and a trivia question.

27:44– The Lions have a chance to solidify a top-four spot in the standings and kill off Atlanta’s season. Our preview.

Just one game after clinching the 2024 NWSL Shield, the Orlando Pride gave some starters a much-needed rest. While lineup changes have not prevented the Pride from getting positive results throughout the season, this time it was different. There were too many new faces in the lineup and the players attached to those faces did not perform well against what had been a struggling Portland Thorns side — but a proud franchise desperate to reach the postseason for its retiring captain. The venue, the surface, the crowd, the circumstances, and the rotation were too much for Orlando to overcome in their totality. Even the insertion of key starters in the second half couldn’t turn the tide in a 2-0 road loss.

Still, one loss may teach the team more than all the wins and draws that came before it. That will be the hope of Seb Hines as his team approaches the postseason as the league’s top seed.

For the first time all season, we look back on a Pride loss. We also check our score predictions from last week, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

Our mailbagbox this week asked us about electrical stuff, songs, which teams will make the playoffs, 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 spent some time digesting the (awful) name of the new NWSL franchise in Boston. We also discussed some Pride international call-ups.

Finally, we looked ahead to the Pride’s matchup Sunday at Gotham FC. Last years champs have a defense like Orlando’s as well as a good offense and Gotham will be seeking revenge for its recent loss at Inter&Co Stadium. We give the two teams’ tale of the tape, select our key matchups, and make our score predictions.

Here’s how Episode 65 went down:

0:15 – The Pride went west and rested some starters. Things went…poorly.

23:51 – Our mailbagbox is both soccer-related and random. Plus, a bad team name and more Pride news.

51:45 – The Pride look to get back on track against Gotham FC on the road.