The Mane Land PawedCast Michael Citro

As special and memorable as Saturday's win over the Columbus Crew was, Wednesday's match at New York City FC was the polar opposite. The Lions played one of their most forgettable games of the season in a lethargic 2-0 loss on the road. The Pigeons played well, so give them credit, but that was not the Orlando City we're used to seeing. The Lions lacked ideas, urgency, energy, and — perhaps most of all — the ability/desire to track attacking players defensively.
The Lions simply were unworthy of bringing three points home from New York City during the midweek.
That said, the team's body of work on the season was rewarded with the Lions' fourth postseason berth in as many years. We break down a game we didn't want to talk much about, check back on our score predictions, and make our unanimous pick for Man of the Match.
After that chore, we checked our mailbagbox, where we were asked about Orlando City's biggest rival. 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.
OCB will close the regular season with a home match, looking to secure fifth in the Eastern Conference when FC Cincinnati 2 visits Kissimmee on Sunday afternoon.
Finally, we previewed Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, discussing our key matchups and score predictions and voicing some concerns that the NYCFC loss doesn't turn into two.
Here’s how No. 377 went down:
0:15 – Orlando City and Ramiro Enrique went from high to low in just three days.
20:47 – Our mailbagbox and Orlando City B's task in the regular-season finale.
34:29 – Our key matchups and score predictions for Inter Miami's visit on Sunday.
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There have been a lot of special moments already this season, but Orlando City's three-goal rally from down 3-1 to up 4-3 at the death on Saturday night against the Columbus Crew was special. The Lions came roaring back behind Martin Ojeda, Facundo Torres, and Ramiro Enrique, who somehow found himself in the right place at the right time repeatedly against the Crew. We look back on the lineup changes, the big moments, and a crazy night that was reminiscent of "drunk OCB" at Exploria Stadium. We discuss the Lions who were honored for that performance, check back on our score predictions and make our selections for Man of the Match.
Following our look back at Saturday's win, we welcome Andrew Leigh from Hudson River Blue to discuss Wednesday's road game against New York City FC. The Lions haven't always fared well on the baseball diamonds in the north, and Andrew was kind enough to give us an update on the state of the Pigeons.
After our chat with Andrew, we discussed Orlando City B's playoff-clinching draw (followed by a shootout win) at Chicago Fire FC II. We honestly should have given this game more time but our Crew rewind and interview ran long (what else is new?), and the important thing is that the Young Lions are in the postseason.
We also looked into our mailbagbox, where we were asked about numerous things and we had an answer for all of them, including our three worst Orlando City moments. 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.
Finally, we previewed Orlando City at New York City FC, giving you our key matchups and score predictions for the midweek match.
Here’s how No. 376 went down:
0:15 – Orlando City's massive comeback to down Columbus at the death.
34:09 – Andrew Leigh tells us all about New York City FC and playing on baseball fields.
59:05 – OCB in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, our mailbagbox, and our key matchups and predictions for the Lions' trip to play NYCFC on Wednesday.
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With no Orlando City match to recap, we turned our attention to the United States Men's National Team's performance in the recent international window. We aren't as angst-ridden about the 3-0 and 4-0 wins over Uzbekistan and Oman, respectively, as many people are, but there is certainly room for improvement and it wasn't the best two games from Sergino Dest or Christian Pulisic, but the Yanks still got their wins. Tougher tests await and hopefully the squad will be fully fit for the next window.
After that brief check-in with the USMNT — and please forgive our lack of recapping a somewhat meh 1-1 road draw by OCB at New England Revolution II and the Young Lions' subsequent shootout loss — we welcomed Collin Johnson from Massive Report to the program to give us all of the information on Orlando City's opponents tomorrow night, the Columbus Crew. Collin did a great job of getting us up to speed on all things Columbus, including how new players like Diego Rossi are fitting into Wilfried Nancy's system.
Big apologies to our founders for not notifying you in advance of our guest for this show, but it wasn't confirmed until we were within an hour of recording time, so it came together quite late.
After our chat with Collin, we looked into our mailbagbox, where we were asked to chronologically predict some suggested big evens in a possible MLS future. 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.
We looked ahead to OCB's big match tonight on the road against Chicago Fire FC II, and, finally, previewed Orlando City vs. Columbus, complete with our key matchups and score predictions.
Here’s how No. 375 went down:
0:15 – Orlando City was off last weekend so we discussed the USMNT's two matches in the international window.
11:28 – Collin Johnson from Massive Report jumps on and gives us a comprehensive overview of the Columbus Crew.
29:05 – Our mailbagbox, OCB's impending game at Chicago, and our key matchups and predictions for Saturday's date with the Crew.
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Orlando City went to TQL Stadium and did something no other visiting team has done this season — defeat mighty FC Cincinnati. In fact, the Lions went 1-0-1 against the assumed Supporters' Shield winners in 2023, so that might bode well for a potential postseason run. You'll recall that the Lions are also the only visiting team with an MLS regular-season win at the Philadelphia Union.
We broke down a nervy and hard-fought match in southwest Ohio, with the lads in purple coming out on top despite the loss of Duncan McGuire early on due to a shoulder injury. His replacement, Ramiro Enrique, managed to figure prominently in the winning goal.
We checked back out our incorrect score predictions and made our selections for Man of the Match. We were split this time out.
We also broke down the Ercan Kara transfer to Samsunspor. We knew the striker depth would become thinner if the move happened, but we didn't expect that to matter so quickly.
OCB had a huge match at home on Sunday but things didn't go well in the first half for the Young Lions and the hole was too deep to dig out of in a wild 6-3 loss to Crown Legacy. The games are dwindling for OCB to clinch a playoff spot and the matches ahead aren't easy, but a Jack Lynn brace always makes for a more exciting experience when watching the Young Lions
Our mailbagbox asked us about what Orlando City can / will do for more striker depth to see out the season and players who have revived their careers after coming to Orlando City. 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.
Here’s how No. 374 went down:
0:15 – The Lions managed to become the first team to beat FC Cincinnati on its home field despite losing Duncan McGuire early.
30:14 – What the Ercan Kara transfer means moving forward in light of McGuire's injury, which is hopefully not a longterm thing.
37:22 – OCB-Crown Legacy was another wild MLS NEXT Pro affair and we dipped into our mailbagbox.
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Orlando City fell into the proverbial trap. With St. Louis City in the rearview mirror and a trip to league-leading Cincinnati looming this weekend, the match in Charlotte against a team that's below the playoff line always looked like a trap game, even taking into account the Lions should have been out for revenge against a team that beat them at home in regular-season play and knocked them out of the U.S. Open Cup earlier this year.
Charlotte came out with a great deal of energy and Orlando City struggled to match it. The Lions eventually settled into the game and created some of the game's best scoring chances, but struggled to finish when they stayed onside. A late penalty seemed to hand all the points to Charlotte again, but a little fortune fell Orlando City's way when a long-range Martin Ojeda set piece fell kindly after clearing every player on the pitch, allowing the Lions to escape with a hard-fought road point. We've got the full game breakdown and our selections for Man of the Match.
Following our recap, we break down the reports of Samsunspor's interest in Ercan Kara and what that means for Orlando City through the rest of 2023.
Geoff Tebbetts from Cincinnati Soccer Talk joined us to help us prepare for Orlando City's trip to southwestern Ohio this Saturday to face the Supporters' Shield leaders, FC Cincinnati. The Lions last saw FCC early in the season when the teams played to a 0-0 draw at Exploria Stadium. Geoff is the host of their Jersey Swap podcast and he did a great job of catching us up on the latest happenings in Cincy.
Our mailbagbox was a bit light for this episode but we can only answer the questions you send us, and you asked us about Ercan Kara and about Folarin Balogun going to Monaco. 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.
OCB has a tall task ahead on Sunday and the Young Lions will probably have to face Crown Legacy without the likes of Jack Lynn, Abdi Salim, and potentially Thomas Williams. That's not ideal.
Finally, we discussed Saturday's matchup between Orlando City and FC Cincinnati. We've got our key matchups and score predictions for you.
Here’s how No. 373 went down:
0:15 – The Lions struggled in the attack but scratched back to earn a point in Charlotte.
35:54 – We welcome Geoff from Cincinnati Soccer Talk to preview the Lions' trip to face the Supporters' Shield leaders.
54:06 – A look in the mailbagbox, OCB to face Crown Legacy without some key players, and our key matchups and score predictions for the Lions' trip to Cincinnati.
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Orlando City had one of its toughest tests of the season and passed with flying colors. The Lions held the high-powered St. Louis City offense to a single goal and even that one wasn't originally awarded. The defense did a good job of cutting off the visitors' transition chances, and Orlando got a brace from streaky winger Facundo Torres, including a winner from the penalty spot early in stoppage time. Only a blatant red card foul prevented what could have been a third goal in the dying moments of the lengthy additional time.
It's a win that should build some confidence for the Lions, which is good, because they're about to go on the road to face two teams they haven't beaten this year — both on short rest. We broke down the win over St. Louis City and selected our unanimous Man of the Match.
Our mailbagbox was interested in our thoughts on what would happen if national teams played in their domestic leagues and how Nicholas Gioacchini left Orlando. 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.
After the mailbagbox, we broke down a pivotal win by OCB over Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday night in Kissimmee. The Young Lions struck first, forced a Crew player to take a second yellow card, and then cruised to an easy win over a difficult opponent. Considering what's still left on OCB's schedule, that was an important victory in the team's MLS NEXT Pro playoff push.
Finally, we discussed Wednesday night's matchup between Orlando City and Charlotte FC. The Lions will hope the third time is the charm after suffering a home MLS loss and a road U.S. Open Cup defeat to Charlotte in a pair of hard-fought games. We've got our score predictions and key matchups for you.
Here’s how No. 372 went down:
0:15 – The Lions enjoyed a big win over Western Conference-leading St. Louis City and we have your talking points from the match.
27:18 – We answer our listeners' mailbagbox questions and break down OCB vs. Columbus Crew 2.
46:30 – Our key matchups and score predictions for the Lions' trip to Charlotte.
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