Charlotte’s Predicted Starting XI against NYCFC - Match Three of Three
- Rylee Mckinney
- 48 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Friday night lights will be on tonight as Charlotte FC battles against NYCFC in their last best-of-three match! A win tonight will propel the Crown into the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
So far, the squad has suffered a 1-0 loss in the first match. Yet, they came back with a vengeance in the second match, earning a narrow win in penalties.
Charlotte’s playoff journey will be on the line tonight! Here is how the squad is most likely to line up:
Defensive Unit
With an amazing performance in last week’s penalty shootout, Kristijan Kahlina earned himself the player of the match. So, he will likely hold down the back line again for tonight’s match. Harry Toffolo will likely start again at left fullback, as he has started in the last two matches.
Dynamic duo, Adilson Malanda and Tim Ream, will likely start in the center. After a less-than-best performance in the first match, Malanda and Ream will need to step up the focus for the defensive unit. On the right side will likely be Nathan Byrne, who has returned to the starting lineup with extreme grace post-injury.
The defensive bench will be full tonight with Nick Scardina, Andrew Privett, Jahkeele-Marshall Rutty, and Bill Tuiloma as potential substitutes.
Midfield
To no one’s surprise, the midfield lineup will likely mirror the same triangle that fans saw for most of Charlotte’s season. Djibril Diani, scoring both of his penalty attempts, will likely start on the left side.
On the right side will likely be Captain Ashley Westwood. His promise to fans for a fourth-place ranking held true, but Westwood will have to deliver in the midfield for tonight’s match to be successful.
Leading the triangle up top will likely be Brandt Bronico, who did not have the most outstanding performance last match. Hopefully, tonight will change the tide for Bronico.
Warming the bench for the midfield will likely be Eryk Williamson and Nikola Petković.
Forward Line
Charlotte FC’s Tallisman player, Wilfried Zaha, will likely start on the left side. Zaha will be an essential threat to the integrity of NYCFC’s back line. To his right will once again most likely be Kerwin Vargas, whose energy always brings intensity to Charlotte’s forward line.
Idan Toklomati will likely lead the charge against NYCFC tonight up top. Despite some opportunities in the last match, Toklomati struggled to find the net. After all, the best way to win games is to score, so the forward line will need to perform tonight.
Viable substitutes for the front line will be Archie Goodwin, Liel Abada, and Tyger Smalls.
Tonight, Charlotte will have to give their all. It is simply do or die at this point. Fans can expect some paper cuts tonight as the match’s intensity will likely be met with several yellow cards and maybe…..even some red cards.
All of this is to say that the squad will need to play composed yet competitive for tonight’s matchup.
Predicted Starting XI
