PawedCast Episode 246: D.C. & Spirit Rewind, Toronto FC and Pride-Courage Previews, Wilf Family Talk, and More

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Orlando City set a new MLS club best by going unbeaten in five matches to start the season with Sunday night’s 1-0 win at D.C. United. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but sometimes that’s what you need to do on the road. The Lions looked lively in the first half but after Mauricio Pereyra’s early goal just couldn’t find that final touch to double the lead, leaving the game there for United to take. D.C. came out flying in the second half and Oscar Pareja made a tactical change in an effort to put more defenders in the way, hoping for a clean outlet to hit the hosts in transition. That never materialized, but the defending was superb, as City allowed only 13 shots and just one on target.

Dave and I break down the game, give our Man of the Match selections, and laud the play of that back line. We also had a fun chat about Hernan Losada’s salty post-match comments, which do well to deflect some of the criticism that could be leveled against him and his team, but also just is dumb on the surface. Plus, full houses are coming soon to Exploria Stadium! Is it too soon for that? Should there be special sections for vaccinated folks? We discuss.

We are joined this week by a pair of guests. The first was Chris Gates from the Daily Norseman, the SBN site covering the Minnesota Vikings. Chris fills us in on what kind of owners the Wilf family have been in the Twin Cities, which might lend some clues as to what we might expect when they take over Orlando City.

Our second guest is Mitchell Tierney from Waking the Red. Mitchell helps us preview Saturday night’s home match against Toronto FC — the third-straight opponent the Lions didn’t face in 2020. We thank Mitchell for his insight into the Reds and what “Orlando’s other team” may do Saturday night.

The Pride kicked off their season at home against the Washington Spirit and they rescued a 1-1 draw in a match that was evenly played but it seemed like Orlando wasted some golden chances. We’ve got some Marta talk and we also look ahead to the Pride’s upcoming trip to play the North Carolina Courage.

We’ve got an update from Daryl Dike’s loan spell as his Barnsley FC side opened up its promotion playoff run. We also had to discuss the Columbus Crew coming to their senses and backing their rebrand way the heck up. Plus, a call-up for an Orlando Homegrown and we dive once again into our mailbag to answer your questions.

Then we get to our key match-ups and score predictions for Orlando City vs. Toronto FC this weekend.

If there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the next show, just ask by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.

That’s all for this week.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!

Here’s how show No. 246 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City wins on the road for the first time in 2021 and we’re talking about what the Lions did right and wrong. Plus, our MotM, a soon-to-be-full Exploria, and more.

35:34 – Our first guest knows a lot more about the Wilf family owning his team than we do, so we ask him about it.

48:55 – A Toronto FC preview from a guy who knows the Reds better than we do, and he tells us everything we need to know, so someone just has to get this podcast to Oscar Pareja and the Lions will be set!

1:05:30 – The Orlando Pride earn a point in the season opener, Marta’s play so far in 2021, Daryl Dike’s playoff run, the Crew walk back their rebrand, another fun mailbag, and, finally, our key match-ups and score predictions.