Dean Smith has set his Charlotte FC players the challenge of remaining unbeaten from now until the end of the season, starting with their MLS fixture against Atlanta United.
The Crown returned to league action after their Leagues Cup exit with a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls, as Karol Swiderski saw his penalty cancelled out by Elias Manoel.
Smith’s side extended their unbeaten run in the MLS to four matches, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference standings but four points off fourth place.
And with the playoffs growing ever closer, Smith is keen to build a winning mentality among his players and is confident that his side will improve as the campaign progresses.
“I want them to be sharper,” Smith started. “They have worked really hard in the last three weeks, and they have had some rest when they have needed it. They will be good.
“I don’t worry about the players fitness wise; they are a strong group and I think as the season goes on now we will get better.
“The challenge for them now is keeping this unbeaten run going until the end of the season and I believe we can go and do that.”
Atlanta, meanwhile, marked their return to MLS action with a 2-0 defeat to LA Galaxy, halting their two-game winning run in the competition.
The Five Stripes currently occupy the final playoff place in the Eastern Conference, but a win will see them close the gap to the sides above them with the luxury of a game in hand over Toronto.
But after their showing against the Galaxy, interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping for a quick start at the Bank of America Stadium this time around.
"I feel like we gave them the first one, or they didn’t have to earn it as much which is really disappointing because they defended so hard and aggressive for a good chunk of time," Valentino said.
"I was hoping that as we got the subs on they could make an impact. Unfortunately, we were chasing the game 1-0 and that changed quite a bit for us."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte FC – Karol Swiderski
Karol Swiderski scored Charlotte's only goal in their 1-1 draw with the Red Bulls, his second strike in two regular season games since returning from a loan spell with Hellas Verona.
Swiderski is the only player in club history to score in three straight league games (October 2023).
Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze
Saba Lobjanidze attempted five shots in the Five Stripes’ defeat at the Galaxy last time out.
It was the 141st time an Atlanta player took at least five shots in a regular season match, more than any other MLS team since they joined the league in 2017.
MATCH PREDICTION: CHARLOTTE WIN
Charlotte have won each of their last two matches against Atlanta, with both wins coming away from home. In fact, three of the last four meetings between the two sides have been won by the visitors.
The Crown, however, have drawn five of their last seven home matches (W1 L1) in all competitions. They have lost only two of their last 24 at home dating back to June 2023 (W10 D12).
Atlanta United have lost four straight regular season away matches for the first time since a six-match run in 2019. The Five Stripes have won just two of their last 17 matches away from home dating back to last September (D7 L8).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Charlotte FC – 50.3%
Draw – 25.1%
Atlanta United – 24.5%
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
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