North Charlotte Today

Charlotte FC is preparing to resume their MLS campaign this week, facing the New York Red Bulls. Here are the key elements of the match:

Recent performances indicate that the Red Bulls struggle outside of Red Bull Arena, having not secured a win in their last five away matches. They now face the challenge of playing at Bank of America Stadium, known for being difficult for visiting teams.

Charlotte FC has the advantage of playing their first two MLS matches after the break at home. Starting their playoff push with a statement win against a direct competitor in the Eastern Conference would be significant for a team aiming to climb the standings. With fan support, Charlotte can take control of the game against the Red Bulls.

Earlier this season, Charlotte suffered a 3-1 defeat against the Red Bulls, one of their most disappointing losses under Dean Smith’s leadership. However, this score did not fully capture Charlotte’s overall performance. For much of that match, Charlotte played well but had a lapse in concentration during a critical five-minute window which drastically altered the outcome.

“If we take five minutes out of that game, we would have had a positive result. We had about a five-minute spell where we lost our way,” Smith reflected. “We’ve got to make sure for 90 minutes that we are fully concentrated.”

The Red Bulls’ strategy relies on provoking errors and capitalizing on them, making full concentration essential for Charlotte. If they avoid lapses in focus, Charlotte stands a strong chance against the Red Bulls this time around.

After being knocked out of Leagues Cup, Charlotte FC has been off since July 31. This three-week break has allowed ample time for rest and preparation as they gear up for their final stretch towards playoffs spanning nine matches.

“It’s a long season; I didn’t realize how long it was here,” remarked Head Coach Dean Smith. “As unfortunate as it was to go out of Leagues Cup, it wasn’t bad to get a bit of breather, reset a little bit, go over basics and reflect on what we’ve been doing.”

This period is expected to fuel a strong comeback as they return to action at Bank of America Stadium. With much behind them now past mid-season challenges; Charlotte FC aims to control its destiny moving forward.