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PawedCast Episode 257: Atlanta Rewind, Pride-Courage, National Teams, Miami & Cincy Previews, and More

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Orlando City made it six straight against rival Atlanta United without a loss (3-0-3) on Friday night, with an emotional come-from-behind victory in Homegrown goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar’s MLS debut. Silvester van der Water came off the bench to spark the comeback and the Lions forced Josef Martinez to make sad faces on national television, which is always a good thing. We break down the match and give you our Man of the Match selection, which is unanimous.

The Orlando Pride looked much more organized under interim coach Becky Burleigh in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the North Carolina Courage. Sydney Leroux had the goal and the team played well at times, although there still are some things to iron out to get the Pride playing as they did in the season’s opening weeks. We dive into that match as well as the players’ postgame comments, which were very telling.

We may be used to the United States Men’s National Team disappointing us while the USWNT gets results, but those roles were reversed over the past few days. We look back at the USMNT’s Gold Cup final victory over Mexico and what it means for the program moving forward. Then we look at how the USWNT flamed out of gold medal contention at the Olympics.

The Florida Cup returned to Orlando this past week and I give a brief overview of the proceedings from last Wednesday. It was kind of weird being back in Orlando City’s old home for the first time in five years.

This week’s mailbag wants to know about our all-time Orlando City XI, places to visit in Cincinnati, Concacaf’s choice of stadiums, 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 Inter Miami tonight and FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

That’s all for this week.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!


Here’s how No. 257 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City got the dub and it wasn’t easy. The Lions showed resiliency and van der Water was the catalyst the team needed.

38:01 – The Orlando Pride took a step in the right direction in Becky Burleigh’s debut, but what did those postgame comments really mean? Plus, the USMNT and USWNT might be going in opposite directions, and the Florida Cup was fun (again).

1:15:03 – Our mailbag, and prediction time for Orlando City against Miami and at Cincinnati.

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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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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