Podcasts
PawedCast Episode 373: Charlotte Rewind, Transfer Rumors, Cincinnati Preview, and More
We’re joined by Geoff Tebbetts of Cincinnati Soccer Talk to preview Orlando City’s trip to Cincinnati.

Orlando City fell into the proverbial trap. With St. Louis City in the rearview mirror and a trip to league-leading Cincinnati looming this weekend, the match in Charlotte against a team that’s below the playoff line always looked like a trap game, even taking into account the Lions should have been out for revenge against a team that beat them at home in regular-season play and knocked them out of the U.S. Open Cup earlier this year.
Charlotte came out with a great deal of energy and Orlando City struggled to match it. The Lions eventually settled into the game and created some of the game’s best scoring chances, but struggled to finish when they stayed onside. A late penalty seemed to hand all the points to Charlotte again, but a little fortune fell Orlando City’s way when a long-range Martin Ojeda set piece fell kindly after clearing every player on the pitch, allowing the Lions to escape with a hard-fought road point. We’ve got the full game breakdown and our selections for Man of the Match.
Following our recap, we break down the reports of Samsunspor’s interest in Ercan Kara and what that means for Orlando City through the rest of 2023.
Geoff Tebbetts from Cincinnati Soccer Talk joined us to help us prepare for Orlando City’s trip to southwestern Ohio this Saturday to face the Supporters’ Shield leaders, FC Cincinnati. The Lions last saw FCC early in the season when the teams played to a 0-0 draw at Exploria Stadium. Geoff is the host of their Jersey Swap podcast and he did a great job of catching us up on the latest happenings in Cincy.
Our mailbagbox was a bit light for this episode but we can only answer the questions you send us, and you asked us about Ercan Kara and about Folarin Balogun going to Monaco. 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 has a tall task ahead on Sunday and the Young Lions will probably have to face Crown Legacy without the likes of Jack Lynn, Abdi Salim, and potentially Thomas Williams. That’s not ideal.
Finally, we discussed Saturday’s matchup between Orlando City and FC Cincinnati. We’ve got our key matchups and score predictions for you.
Here’s how No. 373 went down:
0:15 – The Lions struggled in the attack but scratched back to earn a point in Charlotte.
35:54 – We welcome Geoff from Cincinnati Soccer Talk to preview the Lions’ trip to face the Supporters’ Shield leaders.
54:06 – A look in the mailbagbox, OCB to face Crown Legacy without some key players, and our key matchups and score predictions for the Lions’ trip to Cincinnati.
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.

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.
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.

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.
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.

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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