The Lions went north of the border without backup goalkeeper Javier Otero and fell behind early, but Orlando City came back before halftime and held on for a crucial road victory against a struggling Toronto FC side. We discussed why Otero wasn’t with the team and the necessity of signing Carlos Mercado to a short-term contract.

It was good to get back in the win column, and to see good contributions from Designated Players Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda, while the strikers struggled in this one. We break down the victory in Canada, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

We also discussed OCB’s upcoming match at home against Carolina.

This week’s mailbagbox is interested in our opinions on whether Oscar Pareja’s seat is hot and whether it should be. 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 back at the USMNT’s exit from Copa America and the insanity surrounding the match referee for the loss to Uruguay. We also talked about a couple of big names who could be offered Gregg Berhalter’s job.

Kaká will be honored Saturday by Orlando City, becoming the first player immortalized in the team’s Legends Terrace. We banter about why this is good and who else might join him (eventually).

Finally, we previewed Orlando City’s looming home game against D.C. United, offering up our key matchups and making 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. 430 went down:

0:15 – The Lions played a good first half (after the fifth minute) but didn’t do much in the second, and OCB prepares for Carolina.

22:59 – Our mailbagbox segment and the USMNT crashes out of the Copa America.

44:54 – Orlando City will honor Kaká Saturday and our preview of D.C. United’s visit.

The Lions headed north to the baseball diamond at Yankee Stadium and things…did not go well. An early goal conceded, a horrific injury to players from both teams that should never have happened, a complete collapse in first-half stoppage time, and a comeback attempt that fell a bit short all combined to not be a very good time for Orlando City fans. The Lions at least kept fighting, even though the hole was too deep from which to dig out.

We break down the not-fun game against New York City FC, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

OCB faced an Atlanta United 2 team low in the table in the midweek and captured just two points. The Young Lions scored first, wasted a number of good opportunities to build on their lead, and gave up the equalizer and a go-ahead goal. But in true OCB fashion, Favian Loyola scored at the death to earn a point, and OCB actually turned in a good shootout performance to grab two points in a home game that should have produced three.

This week’s mailbagbox wants to know what Orlando City will do in the transfer window this summer and how we get happy again after the Lions make us sad. 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 back at the USMNT’s loss to Panama after Timothy Weah lost his temper, his mind, and (probably) the Americans’ shot at advancing (we recorded the show and I wrote this text before the Uruguay match).

Duncan McGuire still wants to leave and we discussed how his situation may play out and how it’s different than some of the other untidy exits that draft picks have made when departing Orlando.

We also discussed the arrival of some missing Lions (and just in time).

Finally, we previewed Orlando City’s midweek match at Toronto, providing our key matchups and score predictions for a visit to the Reds’ house.

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. 429 went down:

0:15 – Losing 4-2 is less fun than winning 4-2.

18:33 – Our mailbagbox, Tim Weah ruins Copa America, Duncan still wants to leave, and the Lions get some reinforcements back.

42:06 – Orlando City is set to head north of the border to Canada during the July 4 holiday midweek.

The Orlando Pride did some heavy editing to the club record book on Friday when the Utah Royals visited. In front of nearly 10,000 fans, the Pride put the visitors to the sword, beating Utah 6-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. Led by braces from Barbra Banda and Marta, the Pride set several new team marks, including most goals, biggest margin of victory, largest shutout win, and most-attended game that wasn’t a home opener. Banda set a new record for braces in a season and equaled a club best with four goal contributions in a match. It was a joy to behold.

We break down the match, check our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

Our mailbagbox this week had questions about the international slot limit, the Olympics impacting player availability, and much 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.

Finally, the Pride head west to face Angel City on the Road Sunday. The teams played to a draw in Orlando early in the season, but a lot has changed since that matchup. Can Orlando continue its winning ways in Los Angeles? We’ve got our key matchups for the match and our final score predictions.

Here’s how Episode 49 went down:

0:15 – The Pride take the Utah Royals to the woodshed and it could have been worse than the 6-0 final result.

20:29 – The mailbagbox beckons and one listener assigned us homework that we didn’t do.

39:37 – The Pride get ready to head west to California to take on several ex-Pride players. Our preview.