Jayden Stockley earned Fleetwood a point in a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Carlisle.
There was little between Sky Bet League One’s 22nd and 23rd-placed teams and the result does little to help either side’s chances of avoiding a relegation battle in the second half of the season.
The visitors took the lead after 27 minutes through Owen Moxon. When Alfie McAlmont’s shot was blocked by a defender, the ball fell kindly for Moxon and his sweetly-struck shot flew past Jay Lynch in the Fleetwood goal.
The Cod Army drew level 10 minutes before half time. Phoenix Patterson and Josh Earl moved the ball neatly down the left and the former put in a teasing low cross. That gave Stockley the simplest of finishes, forcing the ball over the line at close range.
With both sides struggling for goals it was little surprise that chances were otherwise few and far between.
Carlisle were handed two excellent opportunities early in the second half but failed to capitalise.
Sean Maguire nicked the ball off the toe of defender Harrison Holgate before pulling it back to Ryan Edmondson but the former Fleetwood striker was denied by a save from Lynch.
Moments later, Edmondson robbed Lynch after a heavy touch from the keeper but his lob over the retreating Lynch was inches wide of the near post.
Lynch again rescued his side with a save from substitute Jordan Gibson eight minutes from time and with neither side able to muster a winner it ended all square.
Elneny to leave Arsenal following eight-year stint
Mohamed Elneny has confirmed he will be leaving Arsenal after the Gunners' final game of the season.
Elneny is Arsenal's longest-serving player, having joined the Gunners from Swiss side FC Basel in January 2016.
Signed by Arsene Wenger, the Egypt international has played under three managers, having also appeared for Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta.
On Friday, the midfielder confirmed via a video on X (formerly Twitter) that his stint in north London was coming to an end.
"Gooners, I'm here today to send you a message, to say goodbye and thank you for everything you've done for me," Elneny said in a video posted on X on Friday.
"The love, the support and the kindness. I'm really going to miss you so much and you'll be in my heart forever."
Elneny has played 161 times for the Gunners, who face Everton at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arteta's team need to win if they are stand a chance of beating Manchester City to the Premier League trophy.
Seattle Sounders v Vancouver Whitecaps: Sartini targets immediate response
Vanni Sartini hopes a quick turnaround might help the Vancouver Whitecaps halt their skid as they visit their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on the back of two straight losses.
Vancouver sit seventh in the Western Conference with 18 points from 12 games in 2024, though they have slipped down the standings by only taking two points from the last 12 available.
They followed up a 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC by going down 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, playing half of that game with 10 men after Bjorn Utvik's sending-off.
The Whitecaps have little time to stew on that result before Saturday's derby clash, but Sartini hopes that could be a positive thing.
"It's really hard when you don't touch the ball at all and are down on the score, so what we did was really good – until the end everyone was running and giving 100 per cent," he said.
"I'm still a little bummed that we didn't score to make it 1-1, which we fully deserved.
"But we have time and other games, so we can immediately score points. We need to get back on the plus side on Sunday."
Seattle, meanwhile, sit 10th in the West with 13 points from 13 matches, having seen their revival halted by a 2-0 defeat at Real Salt Lake in midweek.
Boss Brian Schmetzer was left to rue basic defensive errors after that loss, saying: "In the first half, we let them out – one mistake.
"Could we have played a little bit better? Sure. We showed some glimpses in attack, and then we fell asleep. It was two plays that killed us. We have to own it."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Raul Ruidiaz
Ruidiaz has scored eight goals in 11 career regular-season matches against the Whitecaps, one of four teams he's scored eight or more goals against in MLS.
Only three other players have scored eight or more goals against one opponent since Ruidiaz debuted in MLS in July 2018.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Levonte Johnson
Vancouver have been shut out in back-to-back games against Los Angeles and the Rapids since their 2-1 Canadian Championship win over Cavalry earlier this month.
Speedy winger Johnson scored twice in that game and will be desperate to get a chance here.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
The Whitecaps have won three of their last five meetings with Seattle (one draw, one defeat) after winning just two of the previous 22, including going 15 straight without a victory prior to this run.
Seattle have managed just one win in five home matches this season (three draws, one defeat) with their six home points tied for the fewest of any Western Conference team.
However, the Whitecaps have failed to net in three straight regular-season matches for the first time since August 2020, so Seattle are favourites to claim the bragging rights.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 50.1%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 22.3%
Draw – 27.6%
San Jose Earthquakes v Orlando City: Gonzalez certain things will turn
The San Jose Earthquakes may sit bottom of the Western Conference standings ahead of Saturday's clash with Orlando City, but Luchi Gonzalez is certain they will be just fine.
The 'Quakes saw their mini revival halted by a 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers in midweek, having previously won three straight games across all competitions.
Their 10 points are fewer than all MLS teams except the New England Revolution (seven) have won this season, but Gonzalez has seen positive signs.
"We're going to be fine. This is a great group, and they continue to fight for each other. It's hard when we drop points," he said.
"I expect nothing but a fire in their belly and a response against Orlando and then in the next one, and it's really fun and exciting to coach this team.
"These guys work for each other and they want to keep getting better, and I'm confident they will keep getting better as the season continues."
Orlando have also made a stuttering start, earning 13 points from 12 games to sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Lions did shut out a Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami side in a goalless draw on Wednesday, though, and midfielder Wilder Cartagena has seen signs of progress.
"Especially in the last few games, we've been showing ourselves to be more dangerous and attacking," Cartagena said.
"It's similar to how we were in the last half of last year but obviously there are a couple of minor adjustments that we have to make. I think we are playing a lot better in that area."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Jose Earthquakes – Amahl Pellegrino
Pellegrino has scored in three straight games, becoming the first San Jose player to do so in MLS play since Cristian Espinoza between July and August last year (four straight).
It's Pellegrino's first time scoring in three straight league matches since he netted in four in a row for Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in 2023.
Orlando City – Cesar Araujo
Orlando allowed 29 shots against the Philadelphia Union last Saturday but just seven against Miami on Wednesday. It was the first time in their MLS history that Orlando faced at least 20 fewer shots from one game to the next.
Araujo protected the backline admirably in midweek and will look to do likewise again here.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
The home side has never lost in six all-time meetings between San Jose and Orlando.
The first three meetings were all drawn before the hosts won each of the last three, with San Jose winning at home in 2019 and Orlando recording home wins in 2018 and 2021.
After their midweek stalemate against Miami, Orlando have been shut out five times in league play this season. That is tied for the most in MLS in 2024, while their six times being held scoreless in all competitions this term also equals the most by any MLS outfit.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
San Jose Earthquakes – 38.4%
Orlando City – 33.4%
Draw – 28.2%
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