Charlotte FC Stock Up, Stock Down: Zaha secures victory against nine men

By Sam Vanolinda

Charlotte FC traveled Saturday afternoon to face D.C. United following a tough loss to Montreal.

It was another game that was dictated by the referee's decision, with Charlotte winning 1-0 against nine men after two red cards for D.C United.

While managing only one goal in a game with a two-man advantage is somewhat alarming, Charlotte FC’s midfield leaders Brandt Bronico and Ashley Westwood were both absent due to suspensions, along with Adilson Malanda, who received a red card against Montreal.

Zaha once again proved his incredible worth to the team with his brilliant curled effort that won the game for the Crown.

Here’s the stock up/ stock down after Saturday’s win:

Wilfried Zaha

While Pep Biel, who looked like an MVP candidate at the start of the year, unfortunately continues to deal with health issues, Zaha has stepped up to an incredible level of play.

His goal was reminiscent of his Premier League days, playing quick passes around the box before first timing a curled shot perfectly into the right side of the goal.

I'm sure D.C United striker Christian Benteke had flashbacks of their days together in South London when that ball curled in.

Zaha had three completed dribbles, three shots, and the game-winning goal. While I’m sure he would expect more from his team being up two players for a large portion of the game, he stepped up himself and secured three points.

Zaha will be the player whom the Black and Blue rely on more than any as they begin their Playoff run. From all of the hours I have spent watching Wilf, he is the perfect person to lead this team into their first Playoff series win.

Nikola Petkovic

Petkovic has been on the bench for the majority of the season, struggling to find minutes.

He came in when his opportunity arose, replacing Bronico, and managed to grab an assist. While he was not dominant, it's good to see a player like him come in and make the most of his opportunity.

Stock Down:

Idan Toklomati:

Any striker would be licking their lips at the chance to play against nine men for 60+ minutes. In a game where a striker should be dominating, Toklomati was quiet.

He has obviously stood up in much more competitive games, saving the team multiple times this season; there is no doubt about his ability, but let's hope he regains his momentum going into the Playoffs.

The Teams Attitude:

With being two men up for 60 minutes, Charlotte FC didn’t look dominant at all. They held a lot of possession but failed to look threatening in the final third. This was the perfect match to win 3 or 4–0, but it felt like the team wasn’t up for it.

It all comes down to the final matchday on October 18th, as Charlotte will face the recently crowned Supporters’ Shield winners, Philadelphia Union, in a bid to secure a top-four finish in the East.