The Orlando Pride returned to action after the international break and left it late before dispatching the Houston Dash 1-0. Cori Dyke was the improbable hero, scoring deep in stoppage time to snare all three points for the hometown Pride. A goal to win it late is better than no goal at all, especially when that goal is the game winner. It nearly wasn’t, as Anna Moorhouse was saved blushes for a mistake by an offside flag, but in the end, even ugly wins are wins.

We look back at the key moments in the match, check our score predictions, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

We also discussed Marta and Angelina being selected for Brazil’s Copa America Femenina roster.

Afterwards, we jumped into this week’s mailbagbox, which wanted to know about a listener’s outfit, whether the Pride can just for once make things easy on themselves, 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 previewed the Pride’s upcoming Friday match against Bay FC. We look at both teams’ 2025 seasons so far, break down the short series history, provide our key matchups for the game, and make our final 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 90 went down:

0:15 – A look back at a wild finish that prevented a meh 0-0 draw against Houston.

23:17 – The mailbagbox is always a nice cherry on top of a Pride victory.

39:48 – A look ahead at the Pride’s second-ever trip to play Bay FC.

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.

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 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.