The Orlando Pride had the weekend off for the international break, but that’s the team as a whole. Nine players from the roster were away with their national teams as we recorded this week’s episode, and we talked a bit about the first match from each player’s perspective to kick off the show.

Afterwards, we dove straight into this week’s mailbagbox, which provided a clarification from last week, asked about McKinley Crone getting some starts, 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.

Finally, we discussed the Pride’s game Saturday against the Houston Dash. The Houston-based club has been better away from home than in its own stadium this season, and Orlando can’t be complacent, because the NWSL is unforgiving. So, the returning internationals have to recover as quickly as possible and get ready to face a Dash side that has been problematic over the years. We discuss the all-time series, the tale of the tape, our key matchups for the game, and our score predictions.

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Here’s how Episode 89 went down:

0:15 – A look at the Pride players on international duty and then straight into the mailbagbox!

20:57 – The Houston Dash visit this weekend and they are better on the road than at home this season. We preview!

Orlando City’s 12-game unbeaten run came to a screeching halt just minutes after a silly red card on Cesar Araujo in Atlanta that turned a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 loss. Araujo may not be completely at fault for the loss, but the Lions seemed in control until the sending off of their best defensive midfielder, and once Atlanta got level, the Five Stripes smelled the blood in the water. Oscar Pareja was also shown the door before the end of that match, and the club’s lack of composure was frustrating to watch.

That loss stung, but things got worse when the hangover continued into Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Fire, in which Pedro Gallese allowed his worst goal in his Orlando City career, then the defense fell asleep for a span of less than two minutes to give Chicago complete control of the game. The Lions fought hard until the end, but could get no closer than 3-1.

We hit the major talking points of both losses, looked back at our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Man of the Match for each of the two games last week. Orlando City is mercifully off until June 14, when the Lions will take off for the Rockies to face the Colorado Rapids.

We also touched on the Lions who will represent their countries during the current men’s international window.

The mailbagbox asked about the atmosphere and attendance at Inter&Co Stadium, Apple TV’s Your Friends and Neighbors, Rodrigo Schlegel’s future, 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.

Following the mailbagbox segment, we looked back at OCB’s strong performance against Eastern Conference-leading Chattanooga FC on Sunday night. The Young Lions were without several regular starters who are away on international duty, but they fought hard and played a good Chattanooga side to a standstill for more than 90 minutes before finding a late winner in stoppage time to take all three points. We previewed OCB’s match Friday night at Huntsville City and discussed the Young Lions who are away representing their countries.

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.

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 No. 483 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City was its own worst enemy in the final 15 minutes at Atlanta and the first 32 minutes against Chicago. We’re recapping, but we don’t have to like it.

27:49– Mailbagbox, take us away!

52:18 – With no senior team match this weekend, we give OCB deserved props for its win over Chattanooga FC and look ahead to the Young Lions’ trip to Huntsville City.

The Orlando Pride stopped their skid with a 3-1 win at Utah, but it was far from a crisp performance, even if they outplayed the Royals in the first half. The second half was about managing things and fighting the effects of the altitude, but there wasn’t much to say about it other than it took place and no more goals were scored. Friday’s performance was a step in the right direction entering the international break, but more must be done to prepare for tougher games ahead.

Barbra Banda scored the first hat trick in club history to lead the way, and the only other true threat to the goal was Ally Watt — off the rebound of a saved Banda shot. The offense still needs some work, and not all defenses will allow Banda the acres of space the Royals provided for the star striker to run into. Still, it was a win by multiple goals on the road, and that’s always a good thing.

We break down Orlando’s win on Friday in Utah, look back at our surprisingly accurate (for one of us) score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match. I know you’ll be shocked by our decision on that front.

There are a couple more Orlando players on their way to their national teams, as Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were named to the USWNT for the upcoming window. Will Emma Hayes finally give Sams some minutes? Will Abello get a runout for the senior team? We’ll see.

This week’s mailbagbox wants to know about the Pride’s chances if Banda and Marta play average soccer, what will happen if and when Rafaelle is fully healthy, our thoughts on Mystery Science Theater 3000, something about furries, 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.

Following our mailbagbox segment, we finished! There is no Pride game this weekend, but they’ll be back in early June with a home game against the Houston Dash. We’ll preview that for you next week.

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 88 went down:

0:15 – It’s Bandamonium as the Bandawagon pulls out of the station following the Zambian’s three-goal performance at Utah.

18:19 – The mailbagbox has an unorthodox selection for Player of the Match.