Evolution continues: Charlotte FC has home advantage 

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Charlotte FC will have to get by without top goal contributor Wilfried Zaha for Game 1 of their opening round series against New York City FC Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium.

For the third consecutive time in the brief four-season history of Charlotte FC, the club has made the MLS Cup tournament. Each year has been better than the last when it comes to the playoffs. 

In 2023, the Crown finished ninth (10-11-13, 43 points) to make the play-in but lost at New York Red Bulls. Last year, Charlotte improved to fifth (14-11-9, 51 points) but fell in three games to fourth-place Orlando City.

For the first time, the Crown are coming in with a home advantage in its pocket, the reward of a fourth-place finish (19-13-2, 59 points). Game one is on Tuesday against New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is 6:45 p.m. The game will be televised on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, Fox Sports, and FS1. 

Form-wise, Charlotte have been very good, winning 11 of the last 13 matches. The last loss was a month ago, at home 4-1 to lowly Montreal. They’ve won the last two, an uninspired 1-0 decision at DC United, and a commanding 2-0 takedown of Philadelphia Union, winners of the Supporters' Shield, to secure fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, NYCFC have lost three of their last four, including two at home to Miami and Seattle. They did win at New York Red Bulls in a derby match. NYCFC lost to Red Bulls in an East semifinal last season after finishing sixth in the conference and upsetting FC Cincinnati on a penalty kick tiebreaker in game three of the first round.

Calendar swirl

The scheduling of the game, on a Tuesday with a late rush-hour start, is less than any team would have desired. That weather has turned cold and wet resembling the English Premier League is not a plus.

That was frustrating for Charlotte sporting director Zoran Krneta, who said last week that he was disappointed with the league not giving Charlotte a weekend night for Game 1 because “certain clubs have to have certain times and certain advantages, and those advantages get bigger and bigger, unfortunately, not smaller and smaller.”

Some of that may be dictated by the league’s broadcast partners, primarily Apple TV and Fox. The opening games began on Friday and run through Wednesday. The second games begin on Saturday, when Charlotte will visit NYCFC, and continue through Monday. Game 3 would be in the Queen City on Nov. 7. 

For teams surviving the first round comes the momentum-buster of another FIFA international break that will delay the start of the quarterfinals until Nov. 22, more than two weeks from the conclusion of first-round games. 

Home sweet home

It was the last two matches of the season for both teams that dictated who would have home advantage, something that plays well for both clubs, but for different reasons. No team in the league won as many home games (13) as the Crown. Second were Philadelphia with 12.

Opposing players have often been caught marveling at the fervor of Charlotte supporters as the first whistle approaches and the entire stadium is jumping with their backs to the pitch. That support is most always there for all 90 minutes and whatever added time deemed necessary. The Crown has won all four regular-season home games against New York.

Up in the Bronx and Queens, it’s less the fans and more the unique aspects of playing consistently in both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field as home venues have been a distinct advantage for NYCFC with 11 wins. The narrower pitches – no pun intended – can adversely affect the playing style of visiting teams. 

Missing persons

The boys in blue and white will be without two of their most influential players – Pep Biel and Wilfried Zaha – for Game 1. Biel has been ruled out for most likely the rest of the season with a tendon issue in his knee. According to Krneta, only a trip to the Cup final might leave a window open for his return. Taking a long-term view, with Biel’s performance this year triggering the clauses that can make his loan from the Greek side Olympiacos permanent, no near-term advantage is worth the risk. 

Zaha received a second yellow card in the final minute of regulation of the Decision Day match against Philadelphia, resulting in his ejection from the match and a one-game ban.

According to MLS stats, Zaha has been the most-accosted player in the league by a long shot with 125 fouls received in 31 games, an average of 4.03 per game. That’s just for the ones that are called. While some calls may be considered light, there are far more times when the whistle didn’t blow. New England’s Carles Gil was second with 102 fouls suffered.

By comparison, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (35), Luis Suarez (34), and Sergio Busquets (46) were collectively fouled 115 times. 

Charlotte coach Dean Smith has noted Liel Abada as the primary choice to replace Zaha on the wing and cited how well Tyger Smalls and Brandon Cambridge were competing in training.

Both Ashley Westwood and Brandt Bronico, both major mileage men with their pace and persistence over 90 minutes, missed a bit of team training over the last week, working out small physical issues. Westwood had back tightness while Bronico was nursing a tight quadricep muscle. Newcomer Harry Toffolo was also on the mend with lower back pain as well as still recovering from a hamstring injury. All are expected to be available on Tuesday.

The absence of Biel and Zaha not only takes their scoring - each has 10 goals this season – out of the mix but also both of the team’s most effective set-up men. Biel has accounted for 12 assists and Zaha 10, so others will have to step up when it comes to feeding Charlotte’s leading scorer, Idan Toklomati.

Since the departure of Patrick Agyemang to Derby County, the 21-year-old Toklomati has claimed the starting role up front and has 11 goals with four assists in 19 starts over 30 regular-season games, and one goal in two Leagues Cup appearances.

Kerwin Vargas, the only CLTFC player to compete in all 34 MLS games this season, will be one option. Along with his six goals, he has three assists. Bronico has four, and Westwood five. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty has three assists but will probably be on the bench if Harry Toffolo is ready to run on the left back side. 

Last year still stings

For the players and staff who were in Orlando last November, there is plenty of motivation to see this series out as efficiently as possible. After Orlando won the first game 2-0 in Florida, Charlotte won the return at home in a penalty kick shootout after a 0-0 draw. Kahlina saved two PKs, and another was missed high, while Charlotte scored their first three for the victory.

The Crown were ahead 1-0 with one minute left in added time in Game 3 when Orlando was given a penalty kick on a light jersey tug by Djibril Diani on a ball that was well over the head of Duncan McGuire. Kristijan Kahlina saved the PK, but the rebound fell favorably to Facundo Torres, who equalized, forcing another shootout tiebreaker. 

“I think the players are probably like the staff, still smarting over last season as well,” said Smith. “You know, we felt a little bit wronged. A last-minute penalty that goes to VAR and doesn't get overturned, then (we) lose on penalties. It was a tough one to take last season, and I've seen the drive in the players to try and put that right. So, you know, we have to go and try and put that right now.”

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