The Mane Land PawedCast

Orlando City picked up its second consecutive home shutout win and third win on the bounce, extending its unbeaten run in the process with a 3-0 blanking of Toronto FC on Saturday. It was an important win, as the Lions had to rotate some players to prepare for Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at Columbus, and the kids were more than all right. So was Antoine Griezmann, who scored for the fifth consecutive match, leading to a halftime advantage. Harvey Sarajian and Ivan Angulo put the game to bed late, but there were other good opportunities and although they went wanting, so did all of Toronto's chances. We break down a solid home win over a streaking Toronto club, look back at our score predictions, and make our selections for Man of the Match. Our mailbagbox asked us about Griezmann, our go-to, fast-casual Mexican food orders,Tiago, 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 home win over Toronto FC II on Sunday, in which Sarajian made it two straight nights with a goal in a professional soccer match. He chipped in an assist on Sunday for good measure as the Young Lions won 3-1 and climbed into a playoff position with one match remaining. OCB can finish anywhere from third to 11th in the Eastern Conference standings depending on Decision Day results Sunday, but a win over Atlanta United 2 would ensure a postseason berth. Finally, we look ahead to two more opponents this week. The Lions will face the Crew on the road, where wins aren't easy to come by. That game could lead to a home USOC final match if things go well, but the Crew have improved and will be a difficult out. The Lions will then proceed to New England to face a rejuvenated Revolution side that currently occupies third spot in the Eastern Conference. That match takes place in the house of horrors they call Gillette Stadium. We provide our key matchups and score predictions for the latter after reviewing the series history against both clubs. 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. 551 went down: 0:15 – Orlando City extended its streak at the expense of Toronto's. 20:54 – The mailbagbox has had its expectations exceeded. 33:15 – OCB rolls into Decision Day while the senior Lions prepare for two massive matches in the team's pursuit of a trophy and a playoff spot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orlando City again played a pair of matches in between episodes of our podcast (sorry, PawedCast), and they both ended in the same scoreline but with different results. The Lions hosted the Chicago Fire in the midweek before welcoming Real Salt Lake on Saturday. The Lions fought back from 1-0 deficits in both matches, but whereas an ill-advised and poorly timed challenge by Robin Jansson handed Robert Lewandowski the chance to put Chicago ahead in the second half, which he did, Orlando City completed the comeback Saturday against RSL, with Antoine Griezmann scoring his first MLS brace en route to an MLS Player of the Matchday award and a spot on the MLS Team of the Week. That win came after an opening 45 minutes that saw the Lions bang their heads against Real Salt Lake's low block, but the second-half subs and a more aggressive approach was the difference over the weekend. We discussed both matches, looked back at our score predictions (one of us got Saturday's match exactly right), and made our selections for Man of the Match. Our mailbagbox (Dave's birthday edition) asked us about TV shows, movies, substitutes off the bench, 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 mention OCB's lopsided loss at Atlanta United 2 and move on quickly out of a commitment to self care. Finally, we look ahead to the Lions' trip to Minnesota on Saturday. Orlando City will need to sharpen up a bit to get a road result against the Loons on the road, and it will be nice to see what some of these players can do with a full week's rest between games for a change. We looked back at the history of the series, check out where the teams are in the standings, provide our key matchups, and try our hand at predicting 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. 548 went down: 0:15 – Orlando City loses 2-1 and wins 2-1 in a span of just a few days. There were highs and lows. 31:52 – The mailbagbox wants to avoid jump scares. 43:45 – OCB loses again and the senior Lions head north to face Minnesota United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orlando City has a new third kit, and it's a good one. The Lions have already worn it once, and they looked good in it (because it's a good-looking kit). The Lions played twice since our last show, including closing out Leagues Cup with a 2-2 draw followed by a 5-3 penalty shootout win against Atletico de San Luis. Orlando City threw away a 2-0 lead late in the second half after two chances to put it away were uncharacteristically misplayed by new Designated Player Antoine Griezmann, who was perhaps a bit too unselfish and definitely was too trusting of his teammates being where he thought they should be. He'll likely adjust, but it was a rough lead to let slip away, and if we're being fair, there was no need to send him into what was essentially a meaningless game in terms of Orlando's chances of advancing through the group. We also discussed Saturday's home draw against FC Cincinnati. Both teams left the match thinking it should have been three points instead of one, but that's how it ended up. The Lions came from behind on Tyrese Spicer's goal. We look back at our score predictions and make our selections for Man of the Match. Our mailbagbox asked us about the Lions making the extra pass, where our EPL teams will finish in the table, 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 mention OCB's latest shutout loss and quickly move on for the sake of our mental health. Finally, we look ahead to the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. The Lions will have their work cut out for them against both sides on continued short rest. We looked back at the series history against both clubs, 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. 547 went down: 0:15 – Orlando City gets a new kit and a pair of draws in the span of a few days. 37:07 – The mailbagbox makes the extra, extra, extra pass. 48:00 – OCB loses again and the senior Lions will host Chicago and Real Salt Lake this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices