Charlotte FC finds form in Leagues Cup draw vs. Chivas 

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Charlotte FC forward Kerwin Vargas celebrates after scoring a goal against Chivas de Guadalajara in a Leagues Cup match Aug. 3 at Bank of America Stadium. Chivas won in a penalty shootout after the teams drew 2-2 at the end of regulation.

For the second consecutive year, Charlotte FC’s Leagues Cup adventure is a short one. 

A draw and failure to win the penalty kick tiebreaker in the second of three first-phase matches against Chivas de Guadalajara on Sunday eliminated the Crown from contention for one of the four MLS quarterfinal slots.

That’s the bad news. The worst news was Pep Biel pulling up with a hamstring injury 30 minutes into the match. 

“The way it presented, it looks more than a four- to six-week injury,” coach Dean Smith said on Tuesday, “but we'll have to wait and see.”

Biel, the Crown’s standout player through 24 MLS games this season, has 10 goals and 12 assists, which leads Charlotte in both categories. Eryk Williamson may be one to see more minutes in Biel’s absence. 

“Hopefully it's not too long, but it's one where you look at his body of work this season,” Williamson said, “how can I piggyback off that and kind of help some of the other guys get going, or continue to push the guys who've been fine this year, and just hit the ground running with that.”

The good news is that Charlotte showed up against one of Mexico’s most storied clubs. And they did it without the usual dominant home support at Bank of America Stadium. Most of the 24,207 in the lower bowl were adorned in the red and white vertical stripes of Chivas, and they were loud in support of their team. It was still a fair fight on that front as the East End Charlotte supporters section brought their usual non-stop drum and song routine, even though they had to go up against a loud and proud Chivas fan base.

Unlike the previous match against FC Juarez, a Liga MX team started in 2015 and does not yet have the following of a Chivas, Monterrey, Club America, or Pachuca, Charlotte came out the gate ready to play. 

Liel Abada put the Crown ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute. The Mexican side equalized on a Richie Ledezma banger in the 24th minute and went ahead in the 66th through Bryan Gonzalez. But Charlotte didn’t quit and earned a draw in the 90th minute on a fantastic free kick by Kerwin Vargas, who scored directly on a sharp angle from the left side to the delight of the home supporters behind the goal. 

“I thought Sunday's game was a good game,” Smith said. “I think Chivas had a good team, a well-supported team, as we all saw at the Bank on Sunday. I thought we competed really well, especially in the first half.”

With Idan Toklomati serving a one-match suspension for a straight red card received in the game against FC Juarez, Wilfried Zaha moved into the striker slot, giving Charlotte a different look in attack. Ashley Westwood was rested and David Bingham started in goal. 

Up next is CF Monterrey on Thursday at Bank of America Stadium. The match will be televised on Apple TV MLS Season Pass, FS1, TUDN, and UniMas.

What to say about Monterrey

With no chance to move on in the Leagues Cup, the matchup with Monterrey becomes a high-profile test on the way to a critical regular season game against FC Cincinnati on Sunday. 

“Unfortunately, because of what the format is, we can't qualify now,” said Smith. “So, it becomes a bit of a game for us to get some minutes into players that need it for the rest of the season.”

Monterrey lost 3-2 to Cincinnati in their first Cup match and gained 2 points after winning a penalty kick shootout against New York Red Bulls after a 1-1 draw. Smith said he would sit both Wilfried Zaha and Tim Ream in preparation for that. Nathan Byrne, who just returned to play after disk surgery on his neck, will get minutes off the bench or from the start. 

Toklomati will be available after returning from suspension. Expect to see more minutes for Brandon Cambridge, who got 19 minutes against Chivas, his first significant time this season after returning from injury.

Fourth in Liga MX after three matches, Monterrey sits 11th in the Leagues Cup table and eliminated from contention. Their next match is Monday at Leon in Liga MX, so manager Domenec Torrent may play with his lineup as well. 

Forward German Berterame currently leads the Apertura with four goals in three games. He notched three goals in four games for Monterrey in the FIFA Club World Cup. 

As for league dominance, after 42 first phase matches through Tuesday, MLS won 16 and Liga MX 13, with 13 draws. There are 12 matches left on Wednesday and Thursday to decide which four teams from each league move on to the quarterfinals.

“The only thing that I'm disappointed in is that we didn't turn up for the first half against Juarez,” Smith said. “If we had, then who knows, we could be progressing now.”

New left back

With Souleyman Doumbia likely out for the season with a grade-three hamstring injury according to Smith, Charlotte went shopping for another left back and came back with English defender Harry Toffolo. The significant injuries to Doumbia, his third of the season, and Nathan Byrne have already had Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta, assistant GM Bobby Belair and their scouts already in search of depth and experience to the back line.

Signed to a three-and-a-half-year contract with an option for 2029, Toffolo, a left back who will occupy an international roster spot, spent the last three seasons with Nottingham Forrest in the English Premier League, with 46 league appearances with 57 matches across all competitions.

“Harry is a very experienced defender that fits the profile we were looking for as a long-term solution at the left back position,” Krneta said. “His wealth of playing experience in England’s Premier League, the world’s most competitive league, and leadership as a player will help bolster our defense as we prepare for the end of this season and beyond.”

Toffolo, 29, has played in all four professional divisions in England and proven himself an attacking threat throughout his career, scoring 17 goals and passing for 45 assists.

As for previous connections with his new teammates, Toffolo played on loan with Swindon Town during the 2014-15 League One season, manning the left with Nathan Byrne on the right. 

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