Orlando City bounced back from conceding late in a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United at home to crush Atlanta United 4-1 at home. The rematch between the Eastern Conference rivals turned into a rout as the Lions built a 4-0 halftime lead and saw the match out in the second half to advance to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. It was a big night for the likes of Tiago, Griffin Dorsey, Braian Ojeda, and others.

We break down the match, discuss the many goals and breakaway opportunities, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

After our game rewind, we touched on Marco Pasalic being named to Croatia’s World Cup squad. Congrats to Orlando City’s right winger!

Our mailbagbox asked us about spying. 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 discussed Orlando City B’s upcoming match against Inter Miami II on Sunday. The Young Lions are much higher in the table but in a rivalry match, anything can happen — especially in an OCB rivalry match.

Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City’s final match before the World Cup break. The Lions head north to face FC Cincinnati on Saturday. There will be a lot of heavy legs and possibly a bit of a letdown emotionally after a charged win over rival Atlanta in a knockout game. We discuss the series history, provide our key matchups, and make our final 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.

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Here’s how No. 534 went down:

0:15 – The Lions destroyed Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. It was fun!

25:02 – Our mailbagbox is small and surveillance-related.

32:06 – OCB hosts rival Miami while the senior Lions head for Cincy in a weekend filled with Orlando soccer.

The Orlando Pride suffered through a miserable week on the road, losing to both 2026 NWSL expansion teams — Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC — conceding penalties in each match, continuing to get no goals in the run of play by anyone not named Barbra Banda, and sustaining even more injuries.

We discuss the two losses, look back at our score predictions, make our selections for Player of the Match for each game, and try to figure out what is going on with the midfield and how some players who showed such promise in 2024 no longer look like the same people out there on the pitch. We’re not ruling out an Invasion of the Body Snatchers scenario.

This week’s mailbagbox asked about Kerry Abello firing off a flip throw in her return from injury, what area of need Caitlin Carducci most needs to address to help the Pride, 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.

After the mailbagbox, we look ahead to the team’s upcoming trip to San Diego to play the Wave. Although the California sun has been kind to the Pride the last few years, the 2026 squad seems far too out of sorts to compete with a team that beat Washington despite not having some of its key players. But you never know what might happen when soccer boot meets soccer ball.

We look at the series history, discuss the teams’ places in the league, provide our key matchups, 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 123 went down:

0:15 – Orlando went on the road, suffered more injuries, and got swept by the two NWSL expansion teams in an awful week.

20:18 – The mailbagbox is quite smitten with Kerry Abello’s flip throw, and who could blame it?

31:57 – The Pride go back on the road to face the San Diego Wave, the league’s best team at the moment.

Orlando City played two teams lower in the standings over the past week and came away with four of six possible points, but somehow those points seemed tarnished a bit. The Lions blew a two-goal, second-half lead against the Union but managed a goal at the death to claim all three points against the Eastern Conference’s worst team. Although Martin Ojeda could have put the match away before halftime on a more clinical night and the low-scoring Union managed three goals in 45 minutes after just 10 goals entering the match, a win is a win.

Atlanta United came to town Saturday for the first of two meetings in three days and while Orlando was better defensively, the Lions didn’t generate much and looked tired and worn down against the fresher Five Stripes. Another late goal conceded by Orlando allowed the visitors to steal two points from City and take one for themselves.

We look back at both matches, check our score predictions, and name our selections for Man of the Match.

Our mailbagbox asked us about the next breakout player from OCB to the first team and Orlando City’s needs after Antoine Griezmann arrives. 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 discussed Orlando City B’s 1-0 loss at the death at New England Revolution II. The Young Lions were just moments away from at least one point and possibly two, but a collision between two defenders handed the Revs their chance to win. They took it.

Finally, we looked forward to tonight’s rematch between the Lions and Five Stripes. The U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals matchup gives Orlando a chance to avenge the late goal on Saturday and advance to the semifinals.

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. 533 went down:

0:15 – The Lions weren’t convincing doing it but they managed to add four points to their season total against Philadelphia and Atlanta.

25:11 – Our mailbagbox is forward thinking in terms of the roster.

33:35 – OCB can’t keep it rolling at New England and we get ready for the second round of Orlando City-Atlanta United.