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By Ryan Donahue Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Lovin’ Life Music Fest isn’t the only thing kicking off this weekend in downtown Charlotte! With the multi-night festival taking place across the weekend those looking to change scenery will want to come out and support Charlotte FC at 7:30 pm EST as the side takes on a struggling Portland Timbers. The Timbers have gotten off to a rough start this season having won only one of their six away games. With only ten points accrued, the match presents a great opportunity for Charlotte to pick up another important win. Having come off the back of two disappointing defeats, Dean Smith will want to get a response from the side if they are to keep up with the rest of the Eastern Conference. In the Press Conference today, Dean Smith noted that Bill Tuiloma is expected to be out while Ben Bender and Brandon Cambridge are close to returning. Kerwin Vargas will also be unavailable due to a one-game suspension picked up this past week from yellow card accumulation. Other key points that Smith noted during the meeting was how last week he made the decision to go for the win toward the end of the game and felt that the side was in control of the game and felt his side didn’t deserve to lose or win the game. Smith also mentioned Nikola Petković and his progressive passing and freedom of youth which he liked. When asked about the upcoming run of games in May, Smith noted he is looking forward to added games and will prepare his side for a fast-paced schedule, and doesn’t expect much time off. In terms of player management, Smith is focused on making sure all players are healthy and up to speed when called upon in the upcoming games. Smith concluded the presser stating he felt that in almost every game this season his side has had the better chances but is working to help his side handle the pressure of winning. Ahead of Saturday night, our team took a look at the expected starting XI to face Portland. In defense, Charlotte is expected to line up Jere Uronen and Andrew Privett on the left and Adilson Malanda and Nathan Byrne on the right. In the midfield, Júnior Urso or Djibril Diani will likely partner Westwood with Petković or Dejaegere in the attacking role. Arfield is also back healthy so he is another option for the CAM role. Up front, Iuri Tavares will likely fill in for Vargas with Enzo Copetti and Liel Abada keeping their places from last week. With downtown Charlotte being the hot spot for live music all weekend, the fans inside Bank of America will also be rocking as they look to push their side toward another home victory ahead of a busy upcoming fixture list. Projected starting XI

By Brian Maurer Jere Uronen (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) April was a poor month for Charlotte overall. They first fell to the New England Revolution, who currently sit in last place in MLS. The following week Charlotte recovered and figured out some of their attacking woes with a 3-2 win against Toronto FC. That momentum was short-lived as they lost their final two matches of the month. While last week’s 2-1 loss to NYCFC left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, the 3-0 loss at home versus Minnesota United was the more unacceptable result. While the Crown is struggling, there are still players worth mentioning who had stand-out performances in April. Ashley Westwood Ashley Westwood played every minute in April, he did a bunch of box-to-box running while also helping the team progress the ball from deep-lying positions, and still showed up in the final third to create chances. He has done top-class work. That has been the definition of his whole season. At this point, he has been the team's most consistent player. The one fault that will need to continue to be reviewed is how and why Charlotte keeps losing control and momentum in games through large stretches. As both the captain and a central midfielder game control and motivation are key parts of Westwood’s job. Two consistent partners filling the other midfield spots would benefit the team, but until that time, the pressure is on Westwood to lift this team and get it done. Kristijan Kahlina Earlier in the year, Charlotte’s defense had been staying more compact and reduced the number of chances they were conceding. In April, that trend started to change and far more chances, shots, and goals have been conceded. Kristijan Kahlina made several big saves against NYCFC, New England, and Toronto that helped Charlotte stay in all of those games. The final result was not always positive but Kahlina played his part in at least keeping the game close by making timely stops. Ideally, Charlotte’s defense can return to their early season compactness and reduce the number of chances to the opposition. This would likely take Kahlina out of the list of being a top-five player month-to-month, but it would bode far better for team results. Kerwin Vargas Kerwin Vargas has continued to get the most opportunities out of everyone in Charlotte. He was able to start putting some of those chances away with two goals which puts him as joint lead goal scorer with Patrick Agyemang. This is not saying much as Charlotte’s attack has struggled to finish for most of the year. The Crown is not getting a ton of overall attacking volume, but Vargas was the team’s most consistent attacker in April. He led the team in shots in all but one of Charlotte’s four April games, and that volume had goalscoring production along with it. Vargas has been an inconsistent attacker for Charlotte over the last two years, but he is currently on an upward trajectory. May is an ideal month for Vargas and all of Charlotte’s forwards to prove that they are capable of far more than they are currently showing. Jere Uronen Jere Uronen, like Westwood, has been one of Charlotte’s most consistent performers. He has shown to be a strong two-way player and April was no different. His one poor performance last month was against Toronto FC. He was lined up against Federico Bernardeschi and got burned on several occasions. The Italian forward is one of the most talented players in all of MLS so Uronen will not be the last defender this year struggling with that match-up. In the other three games, Charlotte’s opposition primarily attacked down their right side and avoided Uronen’s side of the field for large stretches. Uronen also provides a lot of progressive passes going forward. This is likely one reason for Vargas’ attacking opportunities remaining so high. The Finnish defender also had quality shots from outside the box. He is one spectacular free-kick goal away from becoming a true fan favorite. Based on the free kicks he has taken so far, that looks to be in the cards at some point this year. Djibril Diani Djibril Diani has risen as another stabilizing force in the midfield alongside Westwood. His lowest single-game passing percentage this past month was 84%, showing that he continues to be a calm technician in possession. His play will need to be monitored as Dean Smith opted to sub him off after 60 minutes against Minnesota United. Smith stated in the post-match presser that he does not like it when his defensive midfielders are making as many runs forward as Diani made in the first half. Smith then opted to go with Júnior Urso rather than Diani from the start the following week versus NYCFC. Charlotte struggled to maintain much of a foothold possession-wise in that game and one reason for that was how disjointed Urso and Westwood looked in midfield. Urso struggled with his passing as he only maintained a 75% completion rate against New York City. Smith’s choice in midfield this weekend against the Portland Timbers will be telling as it will indicate whether leaving Diani off the eleven was a tactical change based on his forward runs that Smith stated he did not like or if it was to give him rest because of all the running. Looking ahead The six games in May hold a lot of opportunity for Charlotte’s attack to get going. They are facing multiple poor defenses making this an optimal time for attacking players like Liel Abada to make their mark on the season and push their way into a top-five Charlotte FC performer. With four home games in May, this is also an opportunity for Charlotte’s defense to get back on track as they will likely be the betting favorites in several of their games, making this a good opportunity for the team to take control of games and hold on to a clean sheet or two.

By Tyler Trent Photo credit: Western Sydney Wanderers The new women's professional soccer team in Charlotte has announced its first-ever player defender Vicky Bruce. A North Carolina native who has spent her eight-year career so far mostly throughout Europe and most recently in Australia, Bruce provides a veteran experience at the center of defense. The 29-year-old centerback was considered one of the best defenders in the league last season in Australia, and prior to her move to Sydney, Bruce was at the heart of Bristol City's Women's Championship title and promotion to the Women's Super League in the 2022-2023 season. After playing in eight different countries in eight years as a professional, Bruce may see the ninth team, Carolina Ascent, as the one to break to cycle of moving. Now, back near her hometown of Cornelius, North Carolina, Bruce will have the chance to build up a team from scratch. Bruce graduated from Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, before attending Davidson University and later the University of North Carolina before beginning her professional career with Rangers in Scotland.

By Brian Maurer Liel Abada (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Charlotte FC kicks off May with a lightsaber giveaway and an exciting match-up at The Bank against the Portland Timbers that looks to be an exciting high-scoring affair. The Crown has played less than a third of their schedule but this upcoming month seems like a pivotal stretch. Could the next six games define the success of Charlotte’s third season? Four home matchups Charlotte plays at home four times in May. It’s the most home games The Crown plays in a month all season. This means they should be looking to take advantage of this time to earn more than their average points and climb the table to build a buffer from the bubble zone for the later stretches when the going gets tougher. Portland, Nashville SC, and LA Galaxy are all winnable home games. The Galaxy is a dangerous attacking team but they also give up goals. Portland can also score, but they concede an average of two goals a game. The Galaxy and The Timbers will also both be traveling from the West Coast which should provide Charlotte with an additional homefield advantage. Nashville is off to a horrible start and is winless on the road. The most tricky of the four match-ups is Philadelphia who is unbeaten this season. Earning a win against The Union is a tricky proposition, but they found a way back in 2022 when they were far more ominous. Four key Eastern Conference matchups The Crown will be facing four important Eastern Conference rivals throughout May. Nashville at home and the Chicago Fire on the road are crucial points as they both sit below Charlotte in the EC. Philadelphia at home and New York Red Bulls on the road are more tricky propositions, but stealing a point against New York and holding off The Union would be a major momentum boost for the club. This is a get-right stretch of games for Charlotte’s struggling attack Four of Charlotte’s six games in May are against some of the worst defenses in MLS (based on xGA). Nashville, the Timbers, and the Galaxy rank 24th, T-25th, and T-28th in xGA. All three of these poor defenses travel to Charlotte this upcoming month. The Fire ranks T-25th in xGA so Charlotte’s attack should also be licking their chops when traveling to Chicago on May 15. There won’t be many stretches better than this for Charlotte to correct some of their creating and finishing woes. The time is now or never for players like Enzo Copetti and Brecht Dejaegere. This could also be the time for young players like Kerwin Vargas, Patrick Agyemang, and Liel Abada to make their mark this season. This is the month for goals to flow in Charlotte. If they don’t it will become far tougher for Dean Smith to convince the fans that his plan with the current roster can get the job done. The schedule becomes stiffer before the Leagues Cup A final point for why May is crucial for Charlotte is their schedule in June and July becomes far more difficult. Charlotte’s six games leading to the Leagues Cup break include five on the road (Philadelphia, Houston, Austin, Columbus, and Cincinnati). Their one home game is against the Supporters’ Shield leaders Inter Miami. Not only is this stretch difficult because of the amount of road games, but all six of these teams are currently in the top 15 in MLS. All four of the Eastern Conference opponents were considered by many to be contenders for the Supporters’ Shield during preseason. In the past, The Crown has often wilted during more favorable stretches of the season. Forcing them to rely on earning more difficult points in higher-pressure situations late in the year. For Smith to prove that he is indeed changing and improving the culture in Charlotte, getting positive results in May is crucial to that message to fans.

By Sam Vanolinda Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Saturday night versus NYCFC was the gut-punch type of loss that occurred so many times last year. Even for a fan base that's used to heartbreak, it still stings to watch a team celebrate a late winner at your expense. It was again a lack of energy on the road that cost the Crown; after gaining an early lead through Kerwin Vargas the team allowed an equalizer before the half and the defense was caught sleeping for the late winner by Alonso Martínez. Here’s the stock up and stock down for Saturday's game in Yankee Stadium:. Stock Up Kristijan Kahlina Despite allowing two goals, Kahlina made some good saves to keep the team in the game. The two goals New York did score were close-range unsaveable shots. Kahlina had five saves, with three of them being diving, including a long-range effort he just barely tipped over in the first half. Kahlina has been pretty solid all year. Nothing spectacular, but he is a traditional shot-stopping keeper. If he could improve his ball skills and distribution he could be one of the best in the MLS. Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Kerwin Vargas With a new contract extension on the horizon, Vargas found himself on the scoresheet again. He had a good first half but was somewhat of a ghost in the second, however, you can blame a lot of that on the club not having a competent number 10 who can distribute to the wings better. His new contract and goal will boost his confidence. Look out for a hot streak of goals and assists in the next couple of games for the Columbian. Stock Down Adilson Malanda I praised Malanda heavily in the “Away End,” a weekly article that NYCFC does on their website, getting a perspective from a media member who covers the opposing team. I said his health would be a big factor in this game as he is our best player so far this year. Unfortunately, Malanda had a disappointing game, not playing to his usual high standard. He and the whole defense allowed the dynamic playmaker Santiago Rodriguez to deliver a man-of-the-match performance with an assist and four chances created. Malanda was just 71% on passing and wasn't his usual self, falling asleep during the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute. He may have still not been 100% after the injury, and I expect him to be back to normal next match. Liel Abada Abada hasn’t been as game-changing as expected so far. Despite scoring one goal since his arrival, he hasn’t been able to make that much of an impact from the right-wing position. He has quality but needs more service in attacking positions to show his skills as a finisher. Again, it comes back to having a player in the middle of the field at the 10 position who can distribute the ball better. Besides Świderski, Ben Bender is the player who has been most effective at attacking mid in this club's history. He could be the solution that allows the front three to be more consistent when he returns. For Abada, his dribbling ability needs to improve to excel in one-on-one situations against the wing-backs he is facing. Summary Enzo Copetti could be a member of the stock-down list once again, until he scores a goal there is no point talking about him every week in these articles. He needs to see that net ripple; once that happens I think he will begin to score consistently. Hopefully, the team shows some signs of change from last year as they progress forward towards Portland at the Bank, on May 4th.

By Ryan Donahue Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Charlotte FC are set to take on New York City FC this weekend at Yankee Stadium. Having come off the back of a disappointing defeat at home last weekend, Dean Smith’s side will be expected to get back on track. Charlotte picked up 3 points against NYCFC at the start of the season at home however the opposition has since found some form having picked up home wins against  D.C. United and New England in the prior weeks. At home, New York have only lost one match so far this season and currently are tied for points with Charlotte in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of the upcoming matchup, our team breaks down the predicted starting eleven and reflects on the most recent quotes from Smith heading into the weekend. Defensively, it is likely that we will see Malanda back in the lineup with Tuloma dropping down to the bench. While Jaylin Lindsey has filled in at right back while Byrne has been unavailable it is likely that Smith will move back to starting Byrne this weekend. On the left, you would expect no changes to the previous week with both Privett and Uronen getting the nod to start. In the midfield, the three center midfielders will likely see that Westwood continues to captain the side partnered with Diani who will sit slightly ahead in the number eight position. Dejaegere will most likely line up in the attacking midfield although Petkovic could get minutes off the bench. The forward line will likely see no change from last week with Vargas sitting on the left and Abada who has locked down the right wing position both looking to serve Copetti at the top of the offensive line. Where Smith could potentially make a change would be to swap Copetti for Agyemang but it is more likely he makes an appearance off the bench. Last time Charlotte faced New York, Smith lined up in the same formation that he has continued to use all season and with New York also playing a similar formation it is unlikely that either side sets up much differently from a tactical perspective. When asked about how the side is preparing ahead of the upcoming match, Smith jokingly stated that the side had been practicing running bases but on a serious note expects the field to be narrow and for his side to bounce back from last week. Smith stated that last week the side lost it’s away during the game and will expect more emotional control this week when coming up against pressure. Smith felt that while the score line last week was harsh it was an opportunity to ensure the side prepared positively for this week. During the press conference, when asked about how Charlotte has managed to maintain a winning record over NYCFC historically and how they will maintain that mentality he noted that last week's result and score left disappointment among the dressing room so the team will need to leverage those feelings as momentum to carry into the match. With Charlotte coming away from a disappointing loss last week at home overall we should expect that while few changes may be made to the starting eleven it is more likely that Smith will want to see the mentality of his players be the reason for success against New York. Projected starting XI Photo Courtesy of Chosen 11

By Brian Maurer Dean Smith (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Through nine games the lack of attacking creativity in Charlotte FC’s midfield has become nothing short of resounding. According to FBRef, Charlotte's starting attacking midfielders have only led the team in key passes once this season. That was when Scott Arfield had two in a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC. The position has become the biggest issue for Head Coach Dean Smith as there has been more rotation at the attacking midfield spot than anywhere else on the field. The rotation has not led to any consistent solutions as of yet. Smith starts with the Belgian Smith started with Belgian international Brecht Dejaegere for the first three games. While the creativity of the team was lacking, the issue was covered up by the number of one-on-one chances that were missed, a penalty miss, and the team earning early season points. The rotation begins After three starts from Dejaegere, Smith opted to rotate and try Arfield at the ten when The Crown traveled to Nashville. This was the first change Smith had made to his starting XI that was not due to an injury. Arfield did not provide much in the way of creative solutions in his first start, but again the creativity issue was diluted by the chances Charlotte FC missed to equalize late in the game. A point at least looked to be on the table for Charlotte and lack of finishing was again taking the blame. Charlotte returned home after the loss to Nashville and Smith opted to start Arfield again. This was likely also due to Smith looking for a new solution on the left-wing as he opted to start Dejaegere on the left over Iuri Tavares who had been the LW starter until then. The Crown earned a 2-0 result but the lack of creativity started to become apparent in this game as they were up a man for about 70 minutes and only had six shots from open play during that time. The points were won but at this point, the creativity issues started to look like a major red flag. The matter was made worse by Arfield picking up an injury and having to be subbed out at halftime. Petkovic is given a chance With Arfield being out the following week, Smith started U-22 Initiative signee Nikola Petkovic against FC Cincinnati. After 60 minutes he was subbed off to make way for new Designated Player Liel Abada's debut. This game was about as threatening as Charlotte has looked all season but Petkovic’s direct involvement as an attacking midfielder was limited. Smith continues rotating between Dejaegere and Arfield With Abada joining the starting eleven, Smith opted to go back to Dejaegere as the 10 on the road against New England. The team finished with six total shots. But again, the lack of attacking opportunities in total was easy for fans to overlook because of the big miss by Patrick Agyemang early on. The lack of attacking opportunities did not get overlooked by Smith as he rotated the position again when the team came home to play Toronto as he went back to Arfield to try and spark some more life into the attack. The Crown earned the win and for the first time this season, an attacking midfielder in Charlotte led the team in chances created (Arfield had two key passes). It's not a resounding number, but a first is a first. At this point, optimism about Charlotte’s attack was trending up. It looked like the finishing woes were dissipating. Djibril Diani made a penalty, and the team scored three goals in front of their home crowd. A lot of that optimism came crashing down after Charlotte suffered a 3-0 beatdown by Minnesota United the following week. The Crown had no creative solutions which made it impossible for them to find a way back into the game after falling behind. The lack of creativity was so apparent that Smith opted to sub out Dejaegere in the 53’ for Agyemang. Is this Bender’s big chance to break through? The attacking midfield position looks to be where Smith is having the most difficulty knowing who to trust. It is the only position where the Englishman has started three different players (Dejaegere, Arfield, and Petkovic). It is also one of the only three starting positions where he has made a non-injury-related change. A lack of results makes this position wide open for players to try and earn that trust from Smith. One player who has to be chomping at the bit to get back out there is Ben Bender. He has been injured since last year and has been watching a limited number of goals coming from his primary position. Bender may not have the traditional string-pulling creator playing style of a Lucho Acosta or Carles Gil, but he has shown an ability to find goals. His 14 goal contributions (6g/8a) in 30 career MLS starts makes him easily the most goal-dangerous midfielder in the club’s short history. Smith stated in a recent press conference that he thinks Bender will need some time with MLS NEXT Pro-side Crown Legacy FC before returning to the First Team, but if he can get back to full health and fitness before the secondary transfer window opens this could be the biggest moment in Bender’s career. Petkovic’s minutes A final concern about Charlotte’s midfield is Petkovic’s minutes. The Serbian was signed to a reported $3 million transfer fee last year and has not broken through into regular minutes with the First Team, even with the creativity struggles. While he is still a young player, his transfer fee and the lack of consistent performances from other attacking midfielders make the current state of Petkovic’s situation a bit concerning. The main question that will need to be asked if Dejaegere and Arfield continue to struggle to create chances is why Petkovic isn’t getting an opportunity.

By Brian Maurer Kerwin Vargas celebrates after scoring against Toronto FC (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) According to sources, Charlotte FC is signing Colombian winger Kerwin Vargas to a contract extension. The 22-year-old has made 51 MLS appearances for Charlotte FC and has eight career MLS goal contributions (5g/3a). Capology shows that Vargas’ contract was initially set to expire at the end of this season. This contract extension shows The Crown’s commitment to see Vargas’ continued development in the Carolinas. The Colombian recently acquired his green card and will maintain his domestic status through the extended contract length. According to Transfermarkt, Charlotte has several other roster decisions to make as four others (Kristijan Kahlina, Ashley Westwood*, Andrew Privett**, and Nathan Byrne*) from their starting eleven are out of contract at the end of 2024. Several other rotation players are also out of contract; Ben Bender, Scott Arfield*, Jaylin Lindsey*, Patrick Agyemang**, and Júnior Urso*. *One-year contract option **Two-year contract option

By Sam Vanolinda Brecht Dejaegere (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Charlotte FC may be asking for a dome over Bank of America Stadium soon enough because rainy days create nothing but misery for the team this season. An 0-3 loss versus Minnesota on Sunday night created little positives for the team and little to cheer about for the less than 30,000 people attending the match, which also lacked a supporters tailgate because of an incident between two supporters groups. Dean Smith took the blame in this instance, “I’ll take responsibility for the performance of the players today,” He noted post-game. Despite a couple of small chances for the Crown, Minnesota deserved to win this game because of the effort and physicality they showed. Here is the stock up/stock down for Sunday’s match. Stock up Ashley Westwood There is not much to be positive about for the team on Sunday. As a group, the whole team’s stock took a dip. That being said, Westwood had an average game, but he seemed the most consistent and ready-to-play out of all the players. Westwood passed 60 miles of distance traveled this season for the team, which is top 10 in MLS, he also is top 10 in passes into the final third; he has been such a great pivot for this team all season. Over two marathons run in the team's first nine games is hard not to praise, even if he didn’t have an incredible game this weekend. He had three chances created in the match, alongside 15 more passes into the final third. If the team could pair him up with a competent number 10 they would benefit greatly. Stock down Enzo Copetti Copetti goes another game without a goal. It seems like a waste of a DP spot unless he starts to show up this season. Agyemang seemed the more dangerous striker when he came on, he worked better connecting the team and holding up play. If Copetti is not going to score, Agyemang should make the starting lineup over him. It seems like Copetti just lacks the quality to be a star in this league; he has heart, and he always hustles, but the DP’s need to make an impact for a team to make the Playoffs and push for the Cup. As he goes more and more games without a goal it will continue to rub on his confidence, especially with the one-on-ones he has missed already this year. It could be worth trying to acquire a veteran striker with proven goal-scoring ability in the summer. Brecht Dejaegere Dejaegere continues to offer little to the number 10 position. He is a valuable player in a winger or backup role, but being the point guard for this team, right in the middle of the attack is not going to work. Arfield was supposed to start but picked up an injury pre-game, but he isn’t the solution either in that CAM role. 71% on passing, 0.02 xG+xA, zero chances created, and zero successful dribbles from that position are not acceptable numbers, especially at home. Andrew Privett Privett suffers a lot when Malanda is not in the lineup because Malanda is that physical and instinctive defensive center-back who can bail out a lot of mistakes that the team makes. Malanda is also adept at being first to the ball on set pieces and 50/50 plays. Privett was not aggressive enough when Minnesota scored their first goal through Tani Oluwaseyi; despite the amazing finish, he should have gotten in the way of that shot, and not allowed the ball to bounce the way it did. Once Minnesota scored the first goal, the game turned for the worse for Charlotte. Privett is still a great center-back, but because he has played most of his career as a defensive midfielder, Malanda helps him be comfortable, especially with defensive actions. When paired up with Bill Tuiloma, who also had a terrible game Sunday night, his weaknesses as a defender are more apparent. Look for Privett to bounce back once Malanda is fully healthy again. Summary We could write a stock down for most of the players on the team after that game, but there's no use in rubbing salt in the wound. Sunday is a day that you forget about and move on from. I’m sure that is what Smith’s message was in the locker room. There is no use in overthinking this performance – it's time to lock in and prepare for the next game, on the road versus NYCFC on Saturday. Charlotte will look to duplicate their win versus New York in the first game of the year.

By Ryan Donahue Photo Courtesy of Cisco's Art After last week’s result against Toronto FC, in which Charlotte picked up three points in its 3-2 victory, fans left the Bank smiling after the likes of Liel Abada, Kerwin Vargas, and Patrick Agyemang each featured with a goal. With another victory at home, Charlotte remains undefeated this season at the Bank and currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. This Sunday, Charlotte has an opportunity to keep their home streak going, facing off against Minnesota United who at the time of writing this also sit seventh in the Western Conference. With the Loons performing fairly well on the road so far this season, the matchup presents another tough test for Dean Smith’s men. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup, our team took a deeper dive into the happenings around the side this past week. Pre-Match press conference Yesterday, Smith gave his thoughts regarding the new rules around substitutions, VAR, and off-field treatment for player injuries. He stated that he disagreed with the decisions made by MLS and is confused by the league's decision to deviate from other top leagues around the world. However, the club will have to cope with the decision. Smith noted that Abada’s pace and balance with the ball have been valuable assets to the squad. When asked about the starting center forward between Agyemang and Enzo Copetti, Smith stated that he would have to make a decision but is pleased with how both forwards are performing. When asked about facing Minnesota, Smith noted that the side was fortunate to face them during preseason and it would be important that the side is careful in transition and the side will need to be smart in their buildup to have a positive result. Smith also referenced the support received at home as a major part of the team’s positive results encouraging supporters to turn up on Sunday rain or shine for another important game. Smith closed the press conference by acknowledging the sides' more collective calmness allowing them to find more consistency in their decision-making. Smith stated that he is seeing more emotional control as well as increased leadership among individuals within the dressing room which can be seen as continued positive growth for the club as a whole. Player availability While it has not been confirmed it is possible Adilson Malanda will be available for first-team selection after having trained with the squad this week. Dean Smith Charlotte has had its best start to the season since its inauguration under the new appointment of Dean Smith who is quickly winning over the Charlotte fan base on and off the field. On the field, Charlotte’s expected goals average per game has increased from 1.0 to 1.5 and is trending upwards. With the lack of goals in previous seasons being an evident pain point for most Charlotte fans, Smith has quickly been able to get the side to create chances and now appears that the side is becoming more proficient at converting those chances. In Jorge Gonzales’ recent interview with Smith, he noted that historically it was evident that teams in MLS liked to play through their opposition. Smith stated that one of the first things he implemented to make the team more competitive was to set up more compact and force the opposition to go wide, reducing chances to mostly crosses into the box. Off the pitch, it's evident that Smith’s principles and values are catching on around the club. When Smith joined Charlotte, one of the changes he made was to establish a system known as “Learning Zones” for the players to review, study, and analyze past performances. While Smith wants his side to play to his principles, he stated that the game belongs to the players and ultimately they are the ones who make the decisions on the field. Although Smith can advise the players and present scenarios of what might occur he does not believe in a system that limits players' decision-making. Charlotte’s offense In Sam Vanolinda’s recent article, we discussed how the Charlotte front three is beginning to find its form. The addition of Abada has added a fresh dynamic to the front three and looks to have taken some of the pressure off Vargas’ shoulders. Abada also solved a prominent issue in Charlotte’s attack last season as often the right winger was rotated among several players. Charlotte now has clear first-team wingers on both sides. At the top of the front three, Charlotte has deployed Copetti and Agyemang throughout the season. While the goals have fallen more for Agyemang, Copetti is also showing his value this season serving as the dynamic center forward whose movement off the ball allows others to find more opportunities. Final thoughts Spirits are high around Charlotte right now after an exciting win at home last weekend however the matchup against Minnesota on Sunday will be another tough matchup but if Charlotte can continue to find the same tune and create chances another three points would be a huge takeaway before heading back on the road next week.

By Tyler Trent Photo credit Lewis Gettier / NC Courage Going against the grain in 2023 reaped tremendous benefits, as the North Carolina Courage led the league for parts of the year before finishing third in the table. In 2024, the Courage became trendsetters, with other teams looking to emulate Coach Sean Nahas and his team's possession-based style. Coach Nahas’ North Carolina Courage is not only about possession, however. While possession may be one of the biggest pieces of a larger puzzle, you have to score goals to win games and the Courage benefits greatly from its strong centerback pairing — Kaleigh Kurtz and Malia Berkely. Kurtz and Berkely are regarded as a strong centerback pairing across the league, but fewer see the impact they play in the Courage attack. A point was raised in Saturday night’s NWSL+ broadcast by former professional Lianne Sanderson, who said, “Something so simple is the fact that the centerbacks are so good at playing the ball through the lines to the midfield. Most centerbacks don't like playing the ball into that area cause it's a high-risk ball.” Sanderson's analysis was absolutely correct. It's a risky move, but it plays to the strengths of both Kurtz and Berkely with their great passing ability. In the post-game press conference, I asked Kurtz how the team approaches balancing risk versus reward. Kurtz immediately responded, “I feel like it's come with years of making a lot of errors and the coaches not just taking me off the field immediately after those errors and getting to sit with them and learn from them. So, kudos to them in doing that.” That trust in growing and learning by many coaches across the world has paid dividends. With many defenders in today’s game tasked with more and more responsibility in the attack, the ability to play balls that bypass lines of the defense is a vital tool in standing out. Kurtz continued to talk about the adjustment period to being the starter, saying, “When you enter this league after sitting on the bench for however many years, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the speed of play, and even in this amazing environment of our training environment, games are always faster.” That adjustment period for Courage’s longest-serving veteran, Kurtz, included seasons spent behind great players like Abby Erceg and Abby Dahlkemper. When Dahlkemper left the Courage to join Manchester City in 2021, Kurtz became the go-to starter alongside Erceg after waiting for her chance since the 2018 season. Since then, Kurtz has pretty much held that spot, and even more so in the last two seasons, which saw Kurtz play every minute of back-to-back seasons, earning Ironwoman status. Kurtz now enters into her second full season with Berkely as her centerback partner with a coaching staff that trusts in them both to make those crucial decisions. “Our coaching staff just allows us just to make a mistake and play again. It's not like you make two errors and then you are losing your starting spot the next week. You would have to do something really significantly bad to get that spot taken away from you. So, there's a little bit of a comfort there knowing that this is my spot and someone has to really fight me on it, and I need to perform really poorly to have someone take it from me. So that gives me a little bit of comfort to try and make those different plays, different passes.” As Kurtz continued, she acknowledged the need for those types of actions in the possession-based style of Nahas, saying, “He also wants us to play a certain style, and it's very much possession-based. Sometimes, that means being a little bit more forward, breaking lines, and taking risks. Luckily, we have an amazing back four and eleven so that if we do make a mistake, everyone is, like I said, sprinting back and getting to help each other out so hopefully we get that clean sheet.” On Saturday night, those line-breaking passes were on display for both Berkely and Kurtz and kickstarted several of the Courage's best attacking moments. One of the best-looking moves in the match began with Kurtz finding Ashley Sanchez before the ball was quickly moved up to Haley Hopkins on the wing. The buildup of the second goal begins with Kurtz finding Manaka in free space while the Thorns press is asleep. All those passes on the night weren't successful, but as Kurtz described in the post-game press conference, the team always stepped up when putting themselves into bad positions. The Courage earned its second clean sheet of the season. The North Carolina Courage will have a weekend off before going on the road to Angel City FC on Sunday, April 21. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

By Sam Vanolinda Kerwin Vargas (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) As mentioned in last week's article, the Bank of America Stadium’s stock continues to rise alongside the incredible fans who provide so much energy and confidence to the Charlotte FC players. Saturday night's result, a 3-2 win in which Toronto came back and tied the game twice before Agyemang scored the winner, has proven the Bank to be quite the fortress– although a castle would be more fitting in the Queen City. Here is the stock up/down for the impressive win. Stock up Kerwin Vargas Kerwin has been critiqued heavily in these articles about his ability to get into the right position but not produce that final result that could propel him to be one of the top players in MLS. In Saturday's match, he proved the haters wrong with an incredible finish to open up the scoring in the first half. After Copetti headed the ball up, it fell to the Colombian at the edge of the box, who controlled the finish incredibly, slicing it into the bottom corner through a defender's legs. In the post-game presser, Dean Smith said that he wanted Vargas to play with more personality in Saturday’s game, and he lived up to his manager's expectations. Vargas played with the flair and intensity needed to secure the win, hopefully, this propelled him into the right mindset to continue to play well. Liel Abada It seemed like Abada was still adjusting to the MLS pace and style of play in his first couple of appearances. In his first home start Saturday, he showed exactly what Charlotte FC paid $8 million for. His ability to keep possession, make fast and decisive runs, and finish his chances rubbed off on the rest of the team. The Israeli international had a goal taken away after a questionable foul call on Bill Tuiloma, but that did not affect his mentality, as he went on to slot away his first MLS goal after pouncing on a lazy pass by a Toronto defender. You can tell that that goal meant a lot to the player who must have had a lot on his mind on that Saturday. Abada could be the player that makes the difference this year as he settles into his new home. Patrick Agyemang/ Enzo Copetti I grouped both the strikers here because they both had solid games. Agyemang scoring the winner was crucial, with a true striker’s finish from a near-post cross from Brecht Dejaegere in the late stages of the match, and Copetti was able to grab an assist and put a lot of pressure on the Toronto defense, especially in the first half. These two strikers could end up working in a rotational basis this year because their skill sets and abilities will work better against certain teams, depending on how the opponent's personnel matches up against each striker. Overall, this game should boost confidence for both players and lead to more home wins. Stock down Bill Tuiloma Tuiloma was given the opportunity to prove that he deserves to start in this game, replacing Malanda. Unfortunately, his showing wasn’t too great. He wasn’t terrible, but it was obvious that the backline missed Malanda dearly; his passing and defensive ability is easily the best in the squad, and Tuiloma could not live up to the Frenchman's standard. Tuiloma was called for a questionable foul on Abada's disallowed goal, which ended up not costing the team the game. That being said, you shouldn’t be holding players on a free kick, giving the refs the chance to take away a goal. Tuiloma will still be an important backup, but in Saturday's game, he did not endorse himself as a potential starter as Jaylin Lindsey did versus New England. Summary Charlotte continued their great home form, and luckily they stay at the Bank for the next game versus Minnesota United. Minnesota currently sits seventh in the West, so it’s a team that Charlotte should be able to handle in front of the home fans. If Abada continues to show his class, Vargas gains more and more confidence, and the finishing continues to be better, it should be another good Saturday in the Queen City, on April 21.