Orlando City split the two games on its recent road trip but played well enough to provide an unsettling amount of hope as we’ve reached the halfway mark of the MLS season. Had Brian Rowe strayed maybe two or three fewer steps from his goal on Wednesday we could be discussing four out of six points instead of three, but still, it was a decent road trip. We’re breaking down the games.

The Pride and OCB didn’t fare as well and that’s not as much fun to discuss, but discuss it we shall. The Young Lions need their current break from league play, while the Pride could use a few more internationals back in the fold after a mistake-filled home loss to Chicago.

Our national teams are getting it done so far, with the USWNT squeezing past European powers France and England to reach the World Cup final, while the USMNT didn’t look great in its first knockout stage match but still advanced to face Jamaica in the Gold Cup semifinals.

We look and see if there’s anything in the mail bag this week, and we give you our key match-ups and predictions, as the Lions prepare for a home-and-home series against the conference-leading Philadelphia Union this week.

If there’s something you want us to address on our next show, just ask by tweeting it to us @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC.

Here’s how show No. 168 went down:

0:15 - We’ve got two big games to break down after Orlando City’s trip to D.C. and Columbus and we’ll give you our picks for Man of the Match for each.

43:05 - The OCB Minute is another sad one and things don’t get much better in discussing the Pride’s 3-2 home loss to Chicago. Plus, the USMNT and USWNT progress in their respective tournaments.

1:22:38 - We answer listener mail and we give you our key match-ups and predictions for both upcoming games against the Philadelphia Union.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices