Duncan McGuire is glad to be back among the goals as Orlando City continue their playoff charge, with a home clash with Eastern Conference rivals Charlotte FC next on the agenda.
McGuire had gone over two months without a goal in MLS play since netting in June's 4-2 defeat to New York City, prior to Saturday's meeting with the New England Revolution.
But he was on target in a 3-0 win for Oscar Pareja's team, who now boast a four-point cushion to those outside the automatic playoff spots in the Eastern Conference standings.
Speaking after the game, the forward said: "It's always good to score. It has been a while since I've scored.
"It's been a bit annoying for my standards, so I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet.
"But at the end of the day, if we're winning as a team, then that's all that matters. But yeah, I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet and hopefully I can keep it going.
"We're very excited and it helps us with motivation and confidence going into the next one. We're excited to get the win and onto Wednesday."
Wednesday's game could prove pivotal in the battle to reach the postseason, with Charlotte just two places and two points behind the Lions in the standings.
The Crown were going well before the Leagues Cup break but have since suffered back-to-back losses versus Atlanta United and CF Montreal, leading coach Dean Smith to rally his troops.
"Before the break, we had three of the toughest games you can get, and we came through those away games unbeaten with five points and probably should have had more," he said.
"My consistent message is this is a new game; this is a new beginning.
"When you have six games left and build it like that, then they know their performance levels have to be to go and win that game."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando City – Duncan McGuire
Since the beginning of last season, McGuire has recorded 27 goal contributions (21 goals, six assists) in the regular season for Orlando.
That is the second most by any American in that time, behind only Brian White (34).
Charlotte FC – Tim Ream
Ream scored his first goal for Charlotte from a header against Montreal last time out. It was Ream's second career MLS goal, with the other coming on September 11 2010, for the New York Red Bulls, a gap of 5,117 days.
MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN
Charlotte are unbeaten in four straight matches against Orlando City in all competitions (two wins, two draws) after the Lions won each of the first two meetings between the sides.
The Crown have also scored at least once in each of their last four away matches in league play, only being shut out three times on their travels this year. Only five MLS teams have been shut out fewer times on the road this season.
While they will carry a threat, Orlando have won their last two games by 3-0 scorelines, at home to Nashville SC and New England, the first time they have won back-to-back MLS matches by three or more goals. They go in as favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando City – 53.4%
Charlotte FC – 22.7%
Draw – 23.9%
Saint Lucia, Haiti stay perfect in Groups B and C of League B
Saint Lucia and Haiti consolidated their leads atop their respective Concacaf Nations League groups following contrasting wins in their League B encounters on Friday.
Caniggia Elva’s late brace in the 76th and 90th propelled St Lucia to a 2-1 win over Saint Martin, who led for most of the contest courtesy of Axel Raga’s 30th-minute strike in their Group B clash at the Darren Sammy Ground.
The win moved Saint Lucia to maximum nine points from three games. Curacao and Grenada, who played out a goalless stalemate in the other group contest, sit second and third on four points each, while Saint Martin is still yet to get on the board.
Over in Group C, Haiti beat host Aruba 3-1 at Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion.
Tyron Perret Gentil fired Aruba in front in the sixth minute, but Haiti responded through Frantzdy Pierrot (31st), and a brace from Duckens Nazon, who scored from the penalty spot in the 38th, followed by a 61st-minute close range effort.
The win saw Haiti move up to nine points from three games, three points ahead of Sint Maarten, who clipped Puerto Rico 3-2 in the other fixture.
Chovanie Amatkarijo (44th, 85th) and Imar Kort (49th) got the job done for Sint Maarten, while Rodolfo Sulia (2nd) and Alec Diaz (90+5) got Puerto Rico’s goals.
Puerto Rico remain on three points, with Aruba still pointless.
Saka and Jones withdraw from England's Nations League squad
England have confirmed that Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Liverpool's Curtis Jones have withdrawn from the squad ahead of their Nations League clash with Finland on Sunday.
Saka was replaced by Noni Madueke in the 51st minute during England's shock 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday after picking up an injury in his right leg.
It only adds to Mikel Arteta's injury worries ahead of facing Bournemouth next Saturday after Martin Odegaard was injured on international duty for Norway last month.
Saka has enjoyed a fine start to the Premier League campaign, scoring two goals and laying on a further seven assists in the Gunners' opening seven games.
The England international has also created more chances (27) than any other player in the division, with his nine goal involvements a total only bettered by Chelsea's Cole Palmer (11) and Manchester City's Erling Haaland (10).
Lee Carsley will also be without uncapped Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, who was added to the Three Lions squad earlier this week, but has since withdrawn due to a personal commitment.
Jones earned his first call-up in May as part of Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, but did not make the final cut.
The 23-year-old was part of the Young Lions side that won the 2023 European Under-21 Championship under Carsley, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win over Spain in the final.
Former Liverpool defender Matip confirms retirement
Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from professional football.
Matip, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, has been without a club since leaving Anfield at the end of last season and has since decided to call time on his 15-year career.
The 33-year-old started his career at Schalke, making 258 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit and helping them lift the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in 2011.
Matip was among the first signings made by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, joining in the same window as Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Loris Karius.
He helped the Reds return to the Champions League in Klopp's first full campaign in charge, making 29 Premier League appearances and keeping nine clean sheets.
However, his spell with the Reds was marred by repetitive injuries, sustaining 16 different issues across his eight-year spell on Merseyside.
The former Cameroon international's final appearance for Liverpool came in a 4-3 win over Fulham in December 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the same game.
Matip made 201 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and winning six major honours, which included the Reds' sixth Champions League triumph.
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