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PawedCast Episode 312: Atlanta & Toronto Rewinds, Pride-Louisville, OCB Closes Season, and More

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Orlando City had a pair of split results at home since our last show, with a good performance overall but a severe lack of finishing in a 1-0 loss to Atlanta United during another wet, weather-delayed, midweek match. The Lions could just about have put the Five Stripes’ playoff chances on life support but instead Atlanta is knocking on the door and Orlando has more to do if it wants to both clinch and perhaps challenge for a home postseason match. We break down the loss and select our Man of the Match.

Things went much more to our liking on Saturday with Toronto FC coming to town looking to keep its faint playoff hopes alive. Instead, this time the Lions stuck the dagger in and eliminated the Reds with a 4-0 beatdown at home to go into the international break on a high note. It was Orlando’s biggest regular-season win of the season and biggest ever win over Toronto. We were unanimous again in our Man of the Match selection and it wasn’t Facundo Torres, even though he made the MLS Team of the Week, which can be stupid, for reasons we explain on the show.

The Pride fell out of playoff contention with a third straight loss and second consecutive via shutout despite having some glorious early scoring chances at Louisville. The team gave it a valiant effort under Interim Head Coach Seb Hines but fizzled at the end of the season as the Pride have done in six of their seven seasons of existence. We discuss the road loss to Racing Louisville and prepare for the worst with North Carolina and San Diego Wave FC coming in to try to feast on the scraps this week.

OCB’s season was figuratively over before, but now it is literally over after the Young Lions blew a 1-0 lead late and lost 2-1 at home to Toronto FC II on Decision Day to close out their first MLS Next Pro season. While OCB can’t hurt us anymore, it will be interesting to keep an eye on what happens with the players this off-season and if any Homegrown signings take place. Jack Lynn was shipped off to San Antonio in the USL Championship, where we hope he gets some playing time at the second tier level.

This week’s mailbag asked us to draft basketball teams from the Avengers and Justice League members, wanted us to describe MLS, and gave us the keys to a time machine. 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.

With the Lions off this weekend, there were no key match-ups or predictions for Orlando City this week.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!


Here’s how No. 312 went down:

0:15 – The Lions suffered a loss but then got a win, so it was an even week and the team got a few points closer to the postseason but there is still a lot of work to do in the final three games of the season.

32:08 – The Pride and OCB continued to be bad this week and we are not pleased with this development (or lack of any development).

55:00 – We open the mail and for some reason, I had to pick last in a draft for no apparent reason just days after my birthday. Come on!

Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 25: Viviana Villacorta’s Injury, the USWNT, NWSL Expansion, Angel City Preview, and More

Bad news for a Pride midfielder, the USWNT gets the sweep, a new team in Boston, and our Angel City predictions.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Sadly, the season has come to an end prematurely for one Pride midfielder. Orlando’s Viviana Villacorta will miss the rest of 2023 with a torn ACL. This is the third season to end early for her due to injury and you have to feel for a young player who blossomed quite a bit this season. We discuss Villacorta’s injury and what it means for the Pride.

With no Pride match to recap, we touched on the United States Women’s National Team and its sweep of South Africa in a pair of friendlies without allowing a goal. We also waxed nostalgiac about the retirements of Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe, who have been icons with the squad during an extremely successful period.

This week’s mailbagbox asked us questions about Carrie Lawrence and Adriana. 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.

Following our mailbagbox activities, we turned our attention to a new NWSL team coming to Boston in 2026, the impending free agents on the Orlando Pride, and our key matchups and score predictions for the Pride’s trip to play Angel City FC.


Here’s how Episode 25 went down:

0:15 – Viviana Villacorta’s season again ends early due to injury and the USWNT racks up two more shutout victories.

16:18 – Our mailbagbox questions are still fresh a week later!

33:50 – Boston gets an expansion franchise, the Pride’s free agents, and a look ahead at Angel City.

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Podcasts

PawedCast Episode 378: Inter Miami Rewind, OCB Wins on Decision Day, Jack Lynn’s Golden Boot Chase, and More

The Lions draw the Herons at home hours after OCB’s Jack Lynn secures a share of the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City didn’t have to face Inter Miami’s “big three” of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, but still fell behind and had to have a Duncan McGuire cannon shot to rescue a point at home. It wasn’t that the Lions played poorly per se, it was just that they struggled to put chances away, which can happen during the season. Miami did the same a time or two, and ultimately both teams looked like tired groups that were playing on short rest again. (They were.)

On this episode, we break down Orlando City’s 1-1 draw, with the curious and gutless officiating that once again helped the Herons keep 11 men on the pitch — something Tomas Aviles was determined to prevent in his 45 minutes of wearing the ugly, pink uniform on Sunday night. We also make our selections for Man of the Match (we were unanimous), and tell you which Lion made the MLS Team of the Matchday.

After our opening segment, we check our mailbagbox, only to find it surprisingly empty. 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.

OCB closed its MLS NEXT Pro regular season with a 2-1 win at home over FC Cincinnati. We discuss the Young Lions’ victory and dive into Jack Lynn’s wild pursuit of the league’s Golden Boot. He ended up getting it, but some odd things happened to keep him from having to share it with two other players.


Here’s how No. 378 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City didn’t win against Inter Miami, but the Lions also didn’t lose.

20:47 – Our mailbagbox is empty, and we discuss OCB’s win on Decision Day and Jack Lynn’s pursuit of the Golden Boot.

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Podcasts

PawedCast Episode 377: NYCFC Rewind, Inter Miami Preview, and More

A look back at a forgettable game and a look ahead at one the fans have been waiting for.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

As special and memorable as Saturday’s win over the Columbus Crew was, Wednesday’s match at New York City FC was the polar opposite. The Lions played one of their most forgettable games of the season in a lethargic 2-0 loss on the road. The Pigeons played well, so give them credit, but that was not the Orlando City we’re used to seeing. The Lions lacked ideas, urgency, energy, and — perhaps most of all — the ability/desire to track attacking players defensively.

The Lions simply were unworthy of bringing three points home from New York City during the midweek.

That said, the team’s body of work on the season was rewarded with the Lions’ fourth postseason berth in as many years. We break down a game we didn’t want to talk much about, check back on our score predictions, and make our unanimous pick for Man of the Match.

After that chore, we checked our mailbagbox, where we were asked about Orlando City’s biggest rival. 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.

OCB will close the regular season with a home match, looking to secure fifth in the Eastern Conference when FC Cincinnati 2 visits Kissimmee on Sunday afternoon.

Finally, we previewed Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, discussing our key matchups and score predictions and voicing some concerns that the NYCFC loss doesn’t turn into two.


Here’s how No. 377 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City and Ramiro Enrique went from high to low in just three days.

20:47 – Our mailbagbox and Orlando City B’s task in the regular-season finale.

34:29 – Our key matchups and score predictions for Inter Miami’s visit on Sunday.

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