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PawedCast Episode 255: Toronto Rewind, Pride-Thorns, Philly & NYCFC Previews, Mueller’s Exit, Wilfs Enter, and More

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Orlando City ended its losing streak in Toronto but extended a winless skid to three matches after managing only a 1-1 road draw. It wasn’t a terrible result and one point sure beats none, but the Lions still don’t quite seem back on track yet. Still, we’ve got a lot to say about what happened in Canada on Saturday. We also pick our Man of the Match and it’s unanimous again this week.

Before we get to that, however, news broke as we were just getting set to record that Chris Mueller is leaving Orlando City at the end of the season on a free transfer. This is obviously not an ideal situation and the club did try to negotiate a deal with Cash, but alas, a fan favorite will be heading to Europe. You’re up next, Silvester van der Water!

The long-awaited new Orlando City overlords are officially in place as the Wilf family’s ownership of the club was announced Wednesday. We look forward to seeing how their stewardship of the club unfolds and if they really will spend some money on talent to compete with the top clubs in MLS and the NWSL.

The Orlando Pride appear to be in free fall after a 2-1 loss in Portland that was nowhere near as close as the final score indicates. The Pride were out-shot 20-6 and Ashlyn Harris again won NWSL Save of the Week for a penalty kick save that prevented the result from being worse on the road. Meanwhile, Manchester United is courting Marc Skinner, which can’t be helping anything at the moment. Can the Pride right the ship? It doesn’t feel like it right now but we certainly hope so.

Matt Ralph from Brotherly Game stopped by to help us preview the Philadelphia Union’s visit to Exploria Stadium tonight. Big thanks to Matt for his expertise on the Union and we look forward to seeing how our key match-ups and score predictions compare to his when it’s all said and done.

International soccer is in full swing. The USMNT played poorly and got a result. The USWNT played even worse and did not. The men now enter the Gold Cup knockout round against a Jamaica side that I watched in person three times in the last week or so. The women have to regroup and beat New Zealand and Australia to assure themselves of a spot in the knockout round of the Olympic tournament. Daryl Dike and Alex Morgan both started this week but neither dented the score sheet.

This week’s mailbag wants to know about Josef Martinez in Atlanta Orlando, what to do with season tickets when you don’t live within a thousand miles of Exploria, and more. 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.

We close the show with our key match-ups and score predictions for both Philadelphia tonight and the trip to New York City FC this weekend.

That’s all for this week.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!


Here’s how No. 255 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City earned a hard-fought road point and you can get a pretty good nap during Nani’s penalty run-ups. Also the Pride are not good at the moment.

52:02 – Matt Ralph joins the fun and gives us some in-depth background on the Union ahead of tonight’s match.

1:20:05 – The Gold Cup, the Olympics, the Florida Cup, our mailbag, and prediction time for both Orlando City games coming up.

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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