For one night (at least) the Orlando Pride resembled the 2024 team. The Pride played with energy, grit, and purpose in a 3-1 win over the visiting Houston Dash in a weather-delayed Sunday night tilt over Labor Day weekend, with interim head coach Yolanda Thomas getting a victory in her first match in charge. It was far from a perfect performance, but just playing with the spirit the team displayed on Sunday would keep this team in most games and give it a chance to win. Barbra Banda was a major factor in all three Orlando goals, forcing an own goal, scoring a penalty, and setting up Haley McCutcheon’s impressive strike. Cosette Morche came up with a few huge saves on the other end to preserve the lead.

We break down the match as fully re-energized spectators and podcasters after seeing that performance, look back at our score predictions, and make our picks for Player of the Match.

This week’s mailbagbox asked about coaches, points necessary for Thomas to get the full-time job offer, a women’s U.S. Open Cup, 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 looked ahead to Friday’s visit to Kansas City as the Pride play the return fixture against the Current. Prior to Houston, the Current were the last team Orlando had scored multiple goals against. If the Pride can play with the fire they showed against the Dash, they could be a threat to be the first visiting team to win in CPKC Stadium in 2026.

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Here’s how Episode 137 went down:

0:15 – The Pride win their first game under Yolanda Thomas and play like they have something to prove, which…they do.

21:56 – The mailbagbox advises against putting any one person over the club.

43:52 – The second meeting with Kansas City is Friday, and the Pride will hope to play as well as they did in the first meeting.

Orlando City met San Diego FC for the first time on Saturday. The Lions needed to come away with all three points at home in a tight race in the Eastern Conference, and Antoine Griezmann’s first-half goal made sure they did just that. It wasn’t always the prettiest game, and Orlando should definitely have scored more than once, but a win at this stage of the season is valuable regardless of how it comes. We break down the key moments and players, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

Our mailbagbox asked us about Luis Otavio, Chris Mueller, 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.

After the mailbagbox, we discuss OCB’s road win over Inter Miami II and look ahead to Sunday’s meeting with Toronto FC II. The Young Lions have just two games left and a lot of work to do to finish above the playoff line. Were the last two games a momentary blip or an actual trend? We’ll find out over the next two weeks.

Finally, we look ahead to two opponents this week. The Lions must travel to rival Atlanta in the midweek before coming home to host Toronto. Both teams have played better recently, and nothing is ever easy in MLS. We look at the series history for both opponents, review the tale of the tape(s), 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.

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. 550 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City might have learned something from the four-minute defensive lapse at Minnesota, because the Lions gave San Diego nothing on Saturday.

21:21 – The mailbagbox gets player specific this week.

33:07 – OCB crushes Inter Miami II, and the senior Lions have two quick turnarounds with games at Atlanta and at home against Toronto FC. We’ve got your previews.

Orlando City went to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and somehow found itself up two goals past the hour mark despite only mustering two shot attempts in that time. However, the game normalized as Minnesota United scored three times in a four-minute span and appeared headed to a win that would have been painful for the Lions. Tyrese Spicer had other plans, however, as he scored in stoppage time to snatch a late point for Orlando. We look back at a crazy game against the Loons, reflect on our score predictions, and make our unanimous selections for Man of the Match.

Our mailbagbox asked us new fan questions about rivalries as well as old fan questions about squad rotation during fixture congestion, Orlando City’s insane rate of conceding goals, 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.

After the mailbagbox, we discuss a surprise victory for an OCB squad that had been floundering and looked completely out of sorts for weeks. The Young Lions may have one more run in them, and they’ll need it as they are below the playoff line with three matches remaining.

Finally, we look ahead to the first-ever meeting between Orlando City and San Diego FC. The blandly named California side has some excellent attacking players and has been a success since entering MLS just two years ago (it feels like longer!). We break down the tale of the tape between the teams, provide our key matchups, and try to predict the final score.

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. 549 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City blew a two-goal lead, fell behind late, and then equalized in stoppage time in a crazy game at Minnesota. It’s a draw that should have been a loss that should have been a win.

26:21 – The mailbagbox makes up for last week’s oversight.

48:58 – OCB beats the top team in the conference to snap a five-game losing streak and the senior Lions prepare to face San Diego FC for the first time ever.