Orlando City has finally reached a conference final. The Lions struggled offensively against Atlanta United's defensive setup, but they managed to score one goal without conceding, and that's good enough for a 1-0 win over their rivals to the north. It was easily Orlando's most meaningful win in the rivalry to date — not that there have been many — and should spice up the series a bit moving forward. We look back at what was not the best game from a spectator's perspective, but finished in a way that Orlando City fans can at least be happy about, as it results in the Lions facing the New York Red Bulls in the conference final on Saturday.

We looked back at our score predictions, which Dave got exactly right, and made our selections for Man of the Match. In a defensive battle, we both went with defenders.

This week's mailbagbox, asks us whether soccer teams will adopt a revolutionary new substitution pattern, how much possession the New York Red Bulls will have on Saturday, 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 we finished answering the mail we looked ahead to the Lions' upcoming battle with the New York Red Bulls, presenting the series history, looking at the players to watch, and making our picks for the game's key matchups, before finally trying to predict the final score.

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Here’s how No. 457 went down:

0:15 – It wasn't a pretty game to watch, but the outcome was beautiful as Orlando City ousted Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

18:54 – Our mailbagbox consists of questions that are easy to answer and ones that are not as easy.

40:15 – Orlando's reward for beating a team it failed to beat in the regular season is a conference final matchup with another team it failed to beat in the regular season.

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[Note: My apologies for the audio, as Dave sounded great and I did not. Unbeknownst to me, everything was running through my external laptop microphone, so I come off a bit echoey. Longtime listeners may find that nostalgiac, taking them back to the first few seasons of the show, but to me it's no fun, and I apologize for the audio quality.]

Orlando City comes out of the international break with their most troublesome rival standing between the Lions and a spot in the Eastern Conference final. The Lions will host Atlanta United Sunday in the most meaningful matchup between the clubs to date, having been swept in the season series and only having four victories all-time in the series.

Nevertheless, Orlando City must play the team that is on the schedule next, and it's sure to be a feisty battle.

Without a game to recap, we jump right into this week's mailbagbox, which asks us a difficult question about our playoff preference and offers up another walkout song possibility we didn't come up with last week. 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 we finished going through our mail, we dove into the matchup with Atlanta United, giving the series history, the tale of the tape, and our key matchups and predictions for the match. It was a shorter show than usual, but if the Lions get through to the conference final, you're sure to get a longer one next week.

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Here’s how No. 456 went down:

0:45 – It's a rarity as we open with the mailbagbox!

14:58 – Atlanta United stands in the way and there could hardly be a more difficult opponent (historically speaking) for the Lions to face. Nevertheless, they must do so, and they must find a way to win in order to host the conference final. 

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Orlando City is still struggling to score playoff goals, but at least the Lions remembered how to score playoff penalties — eventually. After outplaying Charlotte but falling behind late, the Lions made one critical play in stoppage time to draw a penalty, finished a rebound of that saved penalty, and then went HAM from the spot in the shootout. Helping the effort was goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who put two of Charlotte's three shooters in a sleeper hold and turned out the lights on the visitors' playoff aspirations.

We break down the shootout win vs. Charlotte, check our score predictions from the last show, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us about the growth of Major League Soccer and how high it might reach, penalty shootouts, reactions to penalties, 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.

With the international break looming, we don't have a preview for you this week, but we can do that next week as we brace for Atlanta.

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Here’s how No. 455 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City had a hard time scoring against Charlotte despite a good performance, but the Lions still managed to find a way to claw back into the game and win in penalties.

34:04 – The mailbagbox is full, and as we answer our list

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Orlando City became offensively challenged just one match after finally scoring more than one goal in a postseason game, attempting very few shots, getting just one on target, avoiding going on the attack at all costs, and scoring after being as close to onside as possible without the flag actually coming up (and on another night, it might not have). The game finished without a goal, so the teams went to penalties, where only Luis Muriel looked the part for the Lions.

We break down the shootout loss at Charlotte, check our score predictions from the last show, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us about Orlando's tentative approach, officiating, our favorite shows from the 1980s, and driving a stick. 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 looked ahead to Orlando City's Game 3 matchup with Charlotte FC Saturday. Charlotte is still hard to score on, and the Lions still have to try to do it. We tried to predict the final score, too, even though that's always a crapshoot.

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Here’s how No. 454 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City played poorly and still came within inches of winning in stoppage time before falling apart in penalties.

18:22 – The mailbagbox looks for meaning after a scoreless draw and poor shootout performance.

49:43– The Lions will host...[/checks notes]...Charlotte FC. Again.

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Orlando City bounced back from its Decision Day loss to Atlanta by opening the playoffs with a 2-0 home win over Charlotte FC. The Lions were dominant, creating almost every significant attacking move in the match, allowing the visitors very little, and owning the midfield. Facundo Torres and Martin Ojeda provided the goals, although Ramiro Enrique had his chances as well.

We break down the win over Charlotte, check our score predictions from the last show, and make our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us about the MLS playoff format, a possible change to the MLS season schedule, family vacation spots, 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 looked ahead to Orlando City's Game 2 meeting with Charlotte FC coming up on Friday. Nothing has changed our minds about this series so far, so we provided our key matchups and score predictions for the second match as the series shifts to North Carolina.

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. 453 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City was the better team in Game 1.

20:57 – The mailbagbox asks several questions and we get a review that doesn't match the star rating. At all.

44:58– The Lions head to Charlotte for Game 2 in their best-of-three series.

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Orlando City looked a little off Saturday against Atlanta United in the final match of the regular season. The Lions had plenty of chances but it was the defensive lapses early that made the difference in a 2-1 home loss. Still, it appeared as if Duncan McGuire had provided another Cardiac Cats moment, only for the ugly spectre of video review to deliver the sucker punch that paved Atlanta's way into the postseason.

We didn't enjoy talking about this game at all, but we discussed all the key talking points, and if you're wondering about our predictions, it didn't even occur to us to check them until almost the end of the show. We did, however, make our unanimous decision for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us about Don Garber and which OCB iron man might someday be one for the MLS squad. 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 looked back at OCB's road playoff game at Chicago Fire II. The Young Lions continue to look for their first-ever postseason win after a 1-1 draw and a 5-4 penalty shootout loss. A bad decision by a center back going forward gave the hosts their only goal and ultimately contributed to the end of OCB's 2024 season.

Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City's series with Charlotte FC, giving you the tale of the tape. The bottom line is the North Carolina-based side is great defensively, so Orlando will need to find its shooting boots to survive a best-of-three series. We provided our key matchups and score predictions for Sunday's opener in Orlando.

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Here’s how No. 452 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City was not good and neither was video review on Saturday.

27:27 – The mailbagbox asks about stuff and we provide answers.

37:33– OCB is out of the playoffs after another shootout loss and we preview the senior Lions against Charlotte in the MLS postseason.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Orlando City made it two straight wins by completing a season sweep of the Philadelphia Union Wednesday night. The Lions continue to get impressive performances from Luis Muriel, who completely changed the game after coming on at the break. Muriel is red hot and is putting his teammates in position to score rather than doing it himself.

We broke down the win over the Union, looked back at our score predictions from our last show, and made our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us about possible new lineups and TV theme songs. 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 reminded everyone that OCB finishes the regular season on the road Sunday and the Young Lions would select their playoff opponents in the first round if they manage to finish where they're currently sitting. The top three finishers in each conference pick their first-round opponent and whoever is left from the bottom four will play the fourth-place team. It's a big match Sunday and we could see a few senior Lions make an appearance.

Finally, we looked ahead to Orlando City's road game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The Lions will need to deal with a team trying to turn around recent results as the postseason approaches. Cincy has some bright stars that the Lions will need to extinguish with solid defense and Orlando won't have Duncan McGuire, who will serve a suspension for yellow card accumulation. We provide our key matchups and 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. 449 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City wasted some opportunities against the Union but still got the job done, thanks in large part to Luis Muriel giving his teammates layups.

24:52 – The mailbagbox has visuals that our listeners can't see, but we can describe them.

40:50– The Young Lions play for the right to pick their playoff opponent and the senior Lions have a key matchup at FC Cincinnati.

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Orlando City bounced back from its loss in Columbus in a big way, dominating host FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium en route to the Lions' first-ever victory in that building. The men in purple built a 3-0 lead and weathered a late onslaught by Dallas in a 3-1 game that could have been a laugher if Duncan McGuire had been a big more lethal down the stretch. Still, Orlando played a great road game and got the job done in Big D.

We broke down the win, looked back at our score predictions from last week, and made our selections for Man of the Match.

This episode's mailbagbox asked us to choose from three things that were equally great and wanted to know what it's like to cover an Orlando City game. 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 looked ahead to an important game for OCB on the road Sunday against FC Cincinnati 2. The Young Lions could finish anywhere from third to eighth in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, but a strong game could see OCB host a playoff game. A poor outing could mean another difficult trip north for the Young Lions in the postseason.

Finally, we looked ahead to Wednesday's home match against the Philadelphia Union. The Lions are in a position to go for a rare season sweep of the Union, who can put the ball in the net with the best of them. Orlando will need to stay organized and composed defensively and look for opportunities to strike. We provide our key matchups and 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. 448 went down:

0:15 – Orlando City dominated Dallas, even if things got a little dicey near the end.

27:46 – The mailbagbox calls and OCB hits the road looking for three more points.

51:46– The Lions return home to host the Union Wednesday. Our previe

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