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%

Jim Curtin is calling for his Philadelphia Union side to improve ahead of the visit of Orlando City this weekend.

The Union are on a run of four games without a victory, needing to come from two goals behind to salvage a 2-2 draw away at D.C. United last weekend.

The poor run has left the Union eighth in the Eastern Conference, already 10 points behind leaders Inter Miami.

Curtin knows his side must get better ahead of back-to-back home games, telling reporters: "We still have a lot we can improve.

"We go back home for two games and we have to play with confidence. That's really when this group are at their best."

Orlando, meanwhile, are in the midst of their own underwhelming start, winning just two of their first 10 MLS games to leave them 14th in the East.

Oscar Pareja's men went down 1-0 at home to FC Cincinnati last weekend, and the Orlando head coach was disappointed with the performance and defeat.

"It's another frustrating night because of the result," Pareja said. "Obviously, at this point we are needing urgency to get points."

Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese added: "We’re trying to push a certain way instead of being ourselves. This team just has to fix that and try and be ourselves."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

Gazdag has started the season impressively in front of goal, netting six times in nine matches to kick off the campaign. If Philadelphia are to get themselves back up towards the top of the East, Gazdag may be the man to fire them to it.

Orlando City – Duncan McGuire

Orlando have found it tricky in front of goal so far this term, and McGuire leads the team's scoring charts with four, double what any of his team-mates have managed. It will likely fall upon him to provide his team's main goal threat again on Saturday.

MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA WIN

The Union have lost back-to-back home matches after losing just two of their previous 51 at Subaru Park in all competitions. Philadelphia have never suffered a three-match home losing streak in all competitions in club history.

Orlando faced just seven shots in the defeat to Cincinnati last weekend as they've conceded a league-low 9.7 shots per match this season. Opponents have converted a league-high 18.6% of their shots into goals against the Lions this season, however.

Orlando won 2-1 at the Union in the last meeting between the sides in Chester in March 2023, but the Lions have never avoided defeat in consecutive away matches against Philadelphia in all competitions and the Union look the favourites to earn the three points this weekend.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia: 54.2%

Orlando: 19.7%

Draw: 26.1%

Luciano Acosta has hailed FC Cincinnati for coming through a testing period as they look to make it three straight wins in MLS play at Orlando City on Saturday.

After going unbeaten through their first six games of the season, Cincinnati suffered back-to-back 2-1 defeats against the New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal.

However, they have since bounced back with two wins over difficult opponents, seeing off Atlanta United and the Colorado Rapids by the same scoreline.

Acosta scored his 44th goal for Cincinnati – the most of any player in franchise history – in that latter game, and he believes their resilience has been key. 

"I think it's just about our mentality," Acosta said. "We lost those two games and it was a bit of a punch that woke us up. But now it's about the mentality and getting back to it."

Head coach Pat Noonan said of Acosta: "I think what makes it more impressive is teams are going to try to prevent him from having an impact. 

"When you're a key player and you're able to do what he's doing with the focus on stopping you in a lot of ways, that's what is unique."

Orlando, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 by Toronto FC last week, halting their four-game unbeaten streak and dropping them to 13th in the Eastern Conference. 

Forward Duncan McGuire felt the Lions should have taken maximum points from that game and is desperate to atone at Inter&Co Stadium.

"I definitely think we should've won," he said.

"I think how difficult this felt and how this feels for us right now is going to push us and motivate us to train hard all week, to get a win for the fans at home and get the job done."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Duncan McGuire

Maguire scored his fourth goal of the MLS season against Toronto last week – no other Orlando player has netted more than once in 2024.

Those goals have come from an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.7, with the United States international also attempting a team-high 27 shots this campaign.

FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta 

Acosta has contributed to at least one goal in four straight MLS matches (one goal, three assists). 

It is Acosta's fifth streak of four or more straight regular-season games with a goal contribution for Cincinnati, with Brandon Vazquez the only other player to achieve that feat for the team.

MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN

Orlando earned a win and a draw against Supporters' Shield winners Cincinnati last season, making them one of two teams (also the New England Revolution) to play Cincinnati twice in the 2023 regular season and not lose either match.

The Lions may just fancy their chances of another positive result against Noonan's men, who have only won one of their last three away games (one draw, one defeat).

Orlando have only lost two of their last 17 regular-season home matches dating back to last April, winning nine and drawing six, so viewers should expect a response to their loss last time out.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 49.3%

FC Cincinnati – 23.6% 

Draw – 27.1%