Charlotte FC vs San Diego FC: 1 v 1 battles to watch

By Brian Maurer

Wilfried Zaha (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90)

Charlotte FC is welcoming San Diego FC to Charlotte for its inaugural season this weekend. It's the first time the Crown has hosted an expansion side since its inauguration in the league in 2022. San Diego has gotten off to a great start for an expansion team and looks capable of pushing for the playoffs and potentially a top-four Western Conference finish. They have lost their two most recent road games and allowed a bunch of attacking volume in those games, so this matchup should be an exciting affair. Here are three 1 v 1 battles to keep an eye on in this one:

Charlotte FC's right-back vs Hirving Lozano

Hirving Lozano is San Diego's first Designated Player signing in club history. The Mexican international was hurt for most of March, but he hit the ground running when he returned to action a few weeks ago, and has three goal contributions (1g/2a) in his last two starts. Nathan Byrne is questionable with a neck injury, so if he can't start, whoever replaces him will have one of the most important tasks in tonight's game: limiting Lozano's impact.

Lozano can open up the rest of San Diego's attack with his passing and dribbling. If Byrne, or his replacement, allows the winger too much space, it could be a long day for Charlotte's defense.

Ashley Westwood vs Luca de la Torre

Two weeks ago, when Charlotte played Nashville SC, one of the key matchups was between Ashley Westwood and Edvard Tagseth, as Westwood had to try and reduce his ability to support the Coyotes in possession. The physicality of that matchup and the back-and-forth exchanges were one of the more intriguing underlying elements to that game.

This matchup sets up similarly, as Luca de la Torre will be a key part of San Diego's possession and build-up play as he looks to spring the wingers forward and support the attack in the final third. Westwood will need to play disruptor and use his vision to create quick counterattacking opportunities, as San Diego is likely going to have the lion's share of possession, as they lead the league with 58.9%.

Wilfried Zaha vs Jasper Loffelsend

Wilfried Zaha was taken off Charlotte's injury report, so he should be back in the lineup and ready to go. He will be going up against Jasper Loffelsend, who has been San Diego's right back, and last week, Colorado were able to find some attacking opportunities down that side with Djordje Mihailovic. San Diego's right side will need to be attacked, especially because Loffelsend also likes to join in the attack, leaving space behind, which should give Zaha opportunities to counter with direct attacks.

Summary

This is a "styles make fights" type of matchup with Charlotte's counterattacking style going against San Diego's possession-based attack. Opportunities for the Crown will be there, as San Diego has been giving up a bunch of volume and goals in the last couple of road games.

The wings will be a big factor, as both sides have DPs on the left and right wings. The fullbacks that can reduce the amount of space and attacking impact from the wide areas may just be the deciding factor in this game.