The Orlando Pride returned from their road trip and found out there’s no place like home. The team returned to a massive crowd and celebrated with a three-goal performance and a 3-1 win over the visiting Houston Dash, completing a sweep of the season series. Three different players scored for the Pride, and one of them wasn’t Barbra Banda, but the Zambian international did pick up an assist. The win put the Pride on the brink of claiming the 2024 NWSL Shield, but there are some big obstacles still in the way.

We broke down the game, checked our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Player of the Match.

Our mailbagbox this week asked us about hockey rules in soccer, mascots for the Pride, Viviana Villacorta, 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 looked ahead to Orlando’s home match Sunday against the second-place Washington Spirit. The Pride would claim their first trophy with a win and lock up home field in the playoffs (until the final). We discuss the Spirit in detail, preview the game, and provide our key matchups and score predictions.

Here’s how Episode 63 went down:

0:15 – The Pride put a crooked number on the scoreboard and got another win, although Barbra Banda still isn’t back to scoring regularly.

19:52 – Our mailbagbox asks us for answers and provides answers for others’ questions.

36:20 – The Pride get ready for a massive match against the Spirit. Our preview.

Orlando City bounced back from its loss in Columbus in a big way, dominating host FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium en route to the Lions’ first-ever victory in that building. The men in purple built a 3-0 lead and weathered a late onslaught by Dallas in a 3-1 game that could have been a laugher if Duncan McGuire had been a bit more lethal down the stretch. Still, Orlando played a great road game and got the job done in Big D.

We broke down the win, looked back at our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode’s mailbagbox asked us to choose from three things that were equally great and wanted to know what it’s like to cover an Orlando City game. 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.

After the mailbagbox, we looked ahead to an important game for OCB on the road Sunday against FC Cincinnati 2. The Young Lions could finish anywhere from third to eighth in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, but a strong game could see OCB host a playoff game. A poor outing could mean another difficult trip north for the Young Lions in the postseason.

Finally, we looked ahead to Wednesday’s home match against the Philadelphia Union. The Lions are in a position to go for a rare season sweep of the Union, which can put the ball in the net with the best of them. Orlando will need to stay organized and composed defensively and look for opportunities to strike. We provide our key matchups and 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. 448 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City dominated Dallas, even if things got a little dicey near the end.

27:46 – The mailbagbox calls and OCB hits the road looking for three more points.

51:46– The Lions return home to host the Union Wednesday. Our preview.

The Orlando Pride visited Bay FC for the first time and ended up getting a season sweep of the expansion side by identical 1-0 scorelines. The match was anything but easy and the Pride’s offensive struggles continue since the restart of league play, but Barbra Banda’s header was enough to get a road win, opening up a little breathing room in the shield race with five games remaining. Orlando’s list of club and league records continues to grow.

We broke down the game, checked our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Player of the Match.

Our mailbagbox this week asked us about songs to enjoy the 2024 Pride by and Evelina Duljan. We also got a fun fact from one of our listeners about that Kerry Abello commercial. 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 discussed the U-20 USWNT winning the third-place match after failing to score in a tightly played semifinal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Ally Lemos brings home a medal after a solid run in the competition.

Finally, we look ahead to Orlando’s home match Saturday against the Houston Dash. It won’t be easy to score goals, as it never is against the Dash, but the Pride will look to try to continue setting the pace in the NWSL. We previewed the game and provided our key matchups and score predictions.

Here’s how Episode 62 went down:

0:15 – The Pride is still struggling to score goals but got enough to get past Bay FC on the road.

15:12 – Our mailbagbox asks us for playlist ideas and the U-20 USWNT picked up a medal.

26:18 – The Pride get ready for a rematch with the Houston Dash.