Orlando City and OCB were both off over the weekend during the men’s international break. However, not all of the Lions were off. We briefly discuss Pedro Gallese and Peru getting the better of Facundo Torres’ Uruguay on Friday. We also touched on Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT managerial debut. But the main point of discussion for the first segment was OCB.

The Young Lions are headed north to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire FC II on Sunday as the MLS NEXT Pro postseason gets underway. Orlando got the better of the Fire’s developmental squad recently in the only meeting of the season between the teams. Chicago, however, is a much better home team and that previous meeting was in Kissimmee. The Young Lions will need a heroic road effort to claim the club’s first-ever playoff win.

This episode’s mailbagbox asked us about Oscar Pareja’s toughest choice for Saturday’s starting XI and a trivia question about the Lion with the fewest minutes this season. 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 busted out our Atlanta hate and tried to figure out what might happen on Decision Day. Can the Lions get the better of a team that has been a tremendous pain in their collective rear ends and send them packing into the off-season? We preview the game, choose 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.

Here’s how No. 451 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City players’ national teams faced off, the new USMNT coach debuts, and OCB is set to head to Chicago for its postseason opener.

12:21 – The mailbagbox gives us a regular question and a trivia question.

27:44– The Lions have a chance to solidify a top-four spot in the standings and kill off Atlanta’s season. Our preview.

Just one game after clinching the 2024 NWSL Shield, the Orlando Pride gave some starters a much-needed rest. While lineup changes have not prevented the Pride from getting positive results throughout the season, this time it was different. There were too many new faces in the lineup and the players attached to those faces did not perform well against what had been a struggling Portland Thorns side — but a proud franchise desperate to reach the postseason for its retiring captain. The venue, the surface, the crowd, the circumstances, and the rotation were too much for Orlando to overcome in their totality. Even the insertion of key starters in the second half couldn’t turn the tide in a 2-0 road loss.

Still, one loss may teach the team more than all the wins and draws that came before it. That will be the hope of Seb Hines as his team approaches the postseason as the league’s top seed.

For the first time all season, we look back on a Pride loss. We also check our score predictions from last week, and make our selections for Player of the Match.

Our mailbagbox this week asked us about electrical stuff, songs, which teams will make the playoffs, and 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.

After the mailbagbox, we spent some time digesting the (awful) name of the new NWSL franchise in Boston. We also discussed some Pride international call-ups.

Finally, we looked ahead to the Pride’s matchup Sunday at Gotham FC. Last years champs have a defense like Orlando’s as well as a good offense and Gotham will be seeking revenge for its recent loss at Inter&Co Stadium. We give the two teams’ tale of the tape, select our key matchups, and make our score predictions.

Here’s how Episode 65 went down:

0:15 – The Pride went west and rested some starters. Things went…poorly.

23:51 – Our mailbagbox is both soccer-related and random. Plus, a bad team name and more Pride news.

51:45 – The Pride look to get back on track against Gotham FC on the road.

Orlando City won its third straight game and its sixth in the last seven, doing its part to try to lock down home field for the best-of-three, first-round playoff series. However, since Nashville could not take points from New York City FC on Sunday, the Lions will have to try to clinch the fourth spot on Decision Day against rival Atlanta. Ramiro Enrique had a big night in southwest Ohio, as did Cincy native Kyle Smith and left wing Ivan Angulo, and it was good to see Orlando City beat a contender on the road as the playoffs approach. FC Cincinnati is a team Orlando could see again in the postseason if the men in purple can keep getting results.

We broke down the Lions’ road victory, looked back at our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Man of the Match (which were unanimous).

This episode’s mailbagbox proposed a donation for the site based on how well we answered a trivia question. Let’s just say we didn’t get the top prize. We also answered a spooky season-themed question. 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 OCB’s Sunday afternoon matchup with FC Cincinnati 2. The scoreline was the same one the senior teams finished with, but this time Orlando was not on the good side of it. It wasn’t a good outing by the Young Lions, who gave up two early goals and could never find their footing, even though they were better in the second half. As a result, OCB will travel to Chicago Fire II in the playoffs rather than hosting a team of its choosing.

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. 450 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City took care of business Saturday night but Nashville offered no help against NYCFC.

19:47 – The mailbagbox offers us money for answering a trivia question in three tries. That’s new.

39:52– The Young Lions also played at Cincinnati but it was a poor performance and as a result they missed out on a postseason home game.