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PawedCast Episode 289: LAFC Rewind, Pride-Gotham, Pride-Spirit, OCB, World Cup, Chicago Preview, and More

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Orlando City has probably not looked as fluid and dangerous in a game and still lost as it did on Saturday night when LAFC handed the Lions a 4-2 loss at home. Things didn’t go as planned and that included a chalked off opening goal by Alexandre Pato, a serious-looking injury to Antonio Carlos, some defensive lapses that allowed the visitors to score on their scarce opportunities, and some big saves down the stretch from the opposing goalkeeper. The Lions deserved to take something from the game, but — much like Spaulding Smails in Caddyshack — they’ll get nothing and like it. We break down the game, the goals, and the calls, and give our Man of the Match picks.

The Pride lost both matches since our last show and, while they looked good in one of them, they looked mostly bad in the other. On top of that, they’re dealing with the loss of Marta for the season, the loss of goalkeeper Erin McLeod for at least a month, and a team that is still not threatening opposing goalkeepers enough. We give our thoughts on where the Pride are, how they can best use this international break, and what we are expecting as the regular season approaches.

OCB finished its home stand unbeaten and followed a 2-2 draw against New York City FC II on Sunday with the Young Lions’ first ever postgame shootout victory, snaring an extra point in the standings in MLS NEXT Pro’s experimental system. Jack Lynn again had a direct goal involvement and is getting valuable minutes with the reserve side. He may be needed by the MLS team at some point this season, so it’s good to see him being active in the attack.

The USMNT lost the battle in Costa Rica but won the World Cup qualifying war, by punching a ticket to Qatar this winter. It was an uphill battle with so many key injuries, but the Yanks got to where they need to be and now find themselves in a group that they are capable of getting out of if they play to their potential.

This week’s mailbag was interested in finding a nickname for Ercan Kara and goal celebrations. 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.

And we closed the show by giving our key match-ups and score predictions for Saturday’s home match against the Chicago Fire.

Stay safe and enjoy the show!


Here’s how No. 289 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City fell hard at home with a final score that doesn’t tell the full story. But the Lions, like any team, can’t make silly mistakes against a team with as good an attack as LAFC has.

32:20 – It’s hard out here for a Pride fan. A good performance and a bad performance this past week yielded the same ultimate result. Will there be reinforcements coming to bolster the squad? Dare to dream, I say.

53:42 – OCB made it two results out of two matches, the USMNT accomplished its objective, we wade into our mailbag, and our predictions and key match-ups for the Fire on Saturday.

Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 80: San Diego Wave Rewind, Listener Mail, and More

The Pride move to 3-0-0 on the season after a difficult home match against the Wave.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride made it three wins in three attempts Saturday afternoon on a hot day at Inter&Co Stadium. While the opponents didn’t offer up the usual own goal this week, the Pride needed both a Haley McCutcheon goal and a Marta penalty — taken a second time after hitting the post as Kailen Sheridan left her line early — to get the dub against the San Diego Wave this week. While it wasn’t a crisp performance, it was another win, and you can’t be too unhappy with wins.

We break down the talking points from Orlando’s win over the Wave, check back on our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

The international break is now upon us, and a couple of Pride players might face each other in this window when the United States Women’s National Team faces Brazil.

This week’s mailbagbox wants to know about Haley McCutcheon’s goal celebration music, players not named Emily Sams suiting up for the USWNT, an interesting hypothetical involving either Kerry Abello or Marta, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. 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.

With no Orlando Pride match to preview this week, the show ends after the mailbagbox, but it was a lengthy one, at least (both this episode, all things considered, and the mailbagbox segment itself). We’ll be back next week to get you ready for the Pride’s trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Reign.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.


Here’s how Episode 80 went down:

0:15 – The Pride played better against San Diego than they did at Gotham, but it still wasn’t as good as Orlando is capable of playing. We’ll gladly take the win, though.

25:46 – The mailbagbox has plenty of questions this week.

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Podcasts

PawedCast Episode 471: LA Galaxy Rewind, Philadelphia Preview, and More

The Lions get an improbable win, OCB preps for Chattanooga, and OCSC heads to Philly.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City brought three improbable points home from Los Angeles after a wild finish between the Lions and the Galaxy turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 road victory. Another defensive lapse on a possibly offside goal early in the match looked like it might end up being decisive until Eduard Atuesta had his foot stepped on in the box late in the second half. Martin Ojeda dispatched the penalty, and it was game on, with Luis Muriel scoring a crazy winner that John McCarthy failed to handle cleanly. Whatever mojo was working, the Lions will gladly accept the win and move on.

We look back at our score predictions, discuss the critical plays and players in the game, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

The mailbagbox asks about Rafael Santos and Ivan Angulo, whether David Brekalo has a future at left back, whether one of our writers will become a podcast guest, 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.

OCB has a trip to face Chattanooga FC Saturday night, which is a shame, because the Young Lions will start their game just 30 minutes before the MLS side kicks off. We look briefly at the matchup.

Orlando City will head north to wrap up the regular-season series against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. The Lions will need to continue to tighten up the defense against one of the league’s most dangerous attacks so far in 2025. The Union will be eager to get back on track after suffering a loss to Miami. We look at the history of the series, select our key matchups in the game, and make our 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. 471 went down:

0:15 – The Lions fall behind on a goal that looked offside, but drew a penalty late and then won the game on a crazy free kick blunder.

31:42– The mailbagbox is intrigued by Brekalo at left back.

50:03 – OCB heads to Chattanooga, while the senior squad seeks revenge in Philadelphia.

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Podcasts

SkoPurp Soccer Episode 79: Gotham FC Rewind, San Diego Wave Preview, and More

The Pride win their first road match of the year and return home to face the Wave.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride apparently won’t win every game as easily as they did the season opener, but a 2-0 road win at NJ/NY Gotham FC is a good result every time. The Pride struggled with turning the ball over and had difficulty creating clear-cut scoring chances, but an own goal and a Marta penalty at opposite ends of the first half turned the tide in Orlando’s favor.

We discuss the key moments in the match, look back to see how we did with our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

This week’s mailbagbox wants to know if the salary cap will go away when the next NWSL collective bargaining agreement is reached and whether a Gotham own goal was preventative medicine designed to stop the fatality opponents suffer when Haley McCutcheon scores the first Pride goal. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. 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.

Finally, the Pride get set to welcome the San Diego Wave to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Wave have been a thorn in the Pride’s side when they’ve visited Orlando in the past, while things have been easier for the Pride in San Diego in the brief series history. We look at the two combatants, provide our key matchups, and make our score predictions.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.


Here’s how Episode 79 went down:

0:15 – The Pride were not the better side in the run of play but still come home with a 2-0 victory. That’s a good sign.

23:19 – The mailbagbox believes the Gotham own goal was a player playing three-dimensional chess instead of checkers.

36:53 – The Wave come to town and have been a tough out at home for the Pride. We preview!

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