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By Sam Vanolinda Adilson Malanda (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) A cold, rainy night at Lumen Field after a cross-country flight is not the ideal way to start a season, and Charlotte FC's performance on Saturday showed that. Based on the team's performance, a 2-2 draw against the Sounders was an absolute blessing; however, an away point against one of the best teams in the West is a solid result. The team started slowly and never got into the right flow. They looked uncoordinated in the attacking third and, at times, lost concentration defensively, which led to Seattle's two goals. Seattle had 18 shots, seven of which were on target, and Kahlina’s saves kept Charlotte in the game. On the other hand, Charlotte only had one shot on target, which was Adilson Malanda’s strong header in the first half, which he scored. Charlotte’s second goal was a freak own goal caused by a great run and cross by Idan Toklomati in the 92nd minute. That is a lucky point, to say the least, but a trait of a great team is games like this where you don’t perform well and still get something out of the game. You have to be ductile to be one of the best teams in MLS, you have to be able to bend and not break. Head Coach Dean Smith was far from pleased with the team's performance. “I take no satisfaction out of even just getting a point today,” Smith said post-game. “The performance was nowhere near our levels. They were a better team and they deserved to win. It was a poor night…” Strong, but correct words from Smith, the team seemed unprepared. That said, a point is a point, and I am sure with the return of Wilfried Zaha against Atlanta next Saturday, they will play a much better game. Here is the stock up, stock down from Saturday night/Sunday Morning’s game. Stock Up Adilson Malanda It took one game for every Charlotte fan to be incredibly relieved that Adilson Malanda did not get sold to a European club in the January transfer window.  Malanda was by far the best player for Charlotte today. His defensive actions were solid as usual and he scored from a great Pep Biel corner.  Malanda had two tackles won, five blocks, six clearances, six recoveries, and six duels won, as well as the team's only shot on target and goal for the club. The Frenchman will be key in the success of the Crown this year, but if he continues to perform this well, he will garner more attention in the summer transfer window; he would be very hard to replace. Idan Toklomati Toklomati replaced Agyemang in the 81st minute of the game and provided much-needed energy to the team. If it wasn’t for his 92nd-minute hustle, Charlotte FC would’ve left with 0 points. When a lot of players would’ve given up in the 92nd minute of the game in which the team looked deflated, Toklomati kept running. After an errant touch by Jackson Ragen, Toklomati took the ball in space, dribbled towards the touchline, and delivered a dangerous cross that Yeimar Gómez kicked into his own goal. You can teach technical skills, but heart and effort come naturally, and Toklomati showed plenty of it.  Kristijan Kahlina Kahlina had a solid performance, his shot-stopping appears to have picked up right where it left off in 2024. He had five saves in total and four in the second half after he conceded Seattle's second goal, to help keep Charlotte in the game. Without making those four saves Charlotte wouldn't have had the opportunity to steal a point on the road. The Croatian continues to help this club earn points from the goal line. Now, can someone start helping the Crown earn points from the front? Stock Down Patrick Agyemang After an almost perfect offseason, I expected a little bit more from Agyemang in his first game of the season. Even though the service that Agyemang got from his wingers and midfielders was disappointing, his hold-up play and involvement in the game were below par. Smith repeated this notion after the match, saying “Patrick has to be better tonight,” and talking about his struggle holding the ball up and keeping possession. I’ve been watching a lot of Jean-Philippe Mateta recently; he's a player that Agyemang should look to imitate. Mateta’s hold-up play is some of the best in Europe. Agyemang needs to use his strength to keep possession of the ball and the attack flowing. Agyemang only had nine passes and 22 touches, with two touches in the opponent's box.  Liel Abada Abada was a non-factor in the game. You have to expect way more impact out of a Designated Player.  The Israeli winger had the chance to prove himself in the absence of Wilfried Zaha who was back in the UK for the birth of his child, but fell flat Saturday night. Only 27 touches, one chance created, and one cross which wasn’t even accurate is far from the performance that is needed from him. I expect Abada to bounce back with some pressure taken off him against Atlanta if Zaha returns to the lineup. Tim Ream Tim Ream is a great player, but being the only starting-caliber left-back on the team is an issue this season that needs to be solved. The team is still in the market for a left-back and should try to get a deal done soon.  When playing against a super explosive winger like Georgi Minoungou, Ream does not have the pace and change of direction to keep up. Multiple times on Saturday Ream was left in the dust with one Minoungou dribble. Ream is still great on the ball and can play center back at a very high level, but when going against certain wingers he will become an issue as the season keeps going.

By Andrew Crowell Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner It is officially time for the first home match of the season! The Bank should be popping and Charlotte FC is fortunate to have a relatively healthy squad going into the match against Atlanta United. Last week’s Injury Pulse referenced Pep Biel being subbed off from a preseason friendly for precautionary measures. He looked healthy this past week against Seattle and is expected to be in the squad again for the game Saturday against Atlanta. In this week’s presser, Dean Smith mentioned that he felt Biel didn’t look fully fit, which led to him being subbed in Seattle. His performance and minutes are worth monitoring to see how close to full fitness he is this week. Regarding other injuries from last week, Brandon Cambridge and Jahlane Forbes seem to still be dealing with minor hamstring problems. These types of injuries can be difficult to manage and both players have been ruled out  for this week. Wilfried Zaha was in London  for the birth of his child but trained with the team yesterday and is expected to make his debut with the Crown this weekend. As of now, there is no other injury-related news on the squad. Everyone else is healthy, but stay tuned to our website and social media accounts for the latest on the squad.

By Brian Maurer Pedro Amador (left) defending Liel Abada (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC is coming off a poor opening week performance in Seattle, even if they came away with a draw. The Crown will look to be far sharper and bring more energy in their home opener versus their Southern rivals Atlanta United. Wilfried Zaha vs Matthew Edwards Dean Smith stated that Zaha was flying back and training yesterday which raises the potential that he can get the start this weekend. If he can start he will be in line for a very plus matchup versus an inexperienced Matthew Edwards who just had his first career MLS start last week as a replacement for the injured Brooks Lennon. If Zaha cannot go from the start then Liel Abada will likely feature on the left. Either way, left wing will be a key spot for Charlotte as they need to take advantage of the inexperienced Edwards if he is given the nod for the second straight week. Kristijan Kahlina vs Emmanuel Latte Lath Kristijan Kahlina saved several second-half shots last weekend. He will likely need to come up clutch again a few times this weekend. Atlanta's new MLS-record transfer Emmanuel Latte Lath had four shots total, all of which were on target and he scored a brace in his debut. Latte Lath looked extremely dangerous and capable around the box, plus his ability to keep his shots on target makes him a dangerous threat. Kahlina will need to mitigate that threat with another big-time performance in goal. Nathan Byrne vs Saba Lobjanidze While most of the focus in this game will be on the other side of the field where Miguel Almiron operates, the matchup between Nathan Byrne and Saba Lobjanidze could play a more pivotal role. Since Smith put Tim Ream in as his left back last season, Byrne's role became more forward-thinking along the right wing. Against Seattle last week the majority of Charlotte's attacking presence was on the right side. Atlanta primarily attacked down their left against Montreal. If both clubs have similar game plans there could be serious competition for control on that side of the field. Almiron would often invert towards the middle and left wing from the right, Latte Lath also spent some time in the left half-space. Miranchuk was another who would drift over to combine on the left wing. This overloading led to Lobjanidze creating several opportunities. The Georgian had four key passes, two big chances created, and an assist in their home opener. This matchup could determine who has control as both teams may aim to attack down the same side of the field. Byrne will be looking to get in behind Lobjanidze to attack Atlanta's backline. Lobjanidze will look to keep Byrne pushed back with his attacking threat in transition and with combination play in overloading sequences. Summary The wings look like key areas in this matchup as Atlanta United is likely missing both of their starting fullbacks. Charlotte's Zaha will need to have a big game against weaker less experienced defensive opposition. Charlotte's Byrne will need to not get caught out when he pushes forward as Almiron, Latte Lath, Lobhanidze, and co. will aim to punish Charlotte by hitting them in transition in the space the right back leaves open when he joins the attack.

By Ryan Donahue Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner Charlotte FC kicks off their home opener this weekend against Atlanta United in what is expected to be a major Southeastern clash. With both sides picking up points in the season opener and each having reinforced their squad in the winter, the fixture is expected to be as heated as ever. Ahead of the upcoming fixture on Saturday, here’s how Charlotte FC will potentially line up to take on Atlanta. Defensive unit In goal, Kristijan Khalina will anchor the defense, as Charlotte’s goalkeeper displayed against Seattle that he is ready to pick up where he left off last year.  Defensively, Charlotte will likely keep the group consistent with last week. Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett are expected to start as the center-back partnership with Nathan Byrne and Tim Ream as the fullbacks. In this week’s presser, Smith expressed that he would like to find a more natural left-back option after Jere Uronen departed in the summer, however until the club can source an additional player in that position Ream seems to be favored to continue in that role. Midfield line Across the midfield, Ashley Westwood will lead Charlotte out Saturday afternoon, as the English veteran will continue to hold down his place in the center defensive midfield role. One change that could potentially happen in the midfield is swapping Eryk Williamson for Brandt Bronico. Williamson’s debut against Seattle was nothing to write home about. Bronico is a reliable high-work-rate midfielder and the team lacked energy last week so a swap there wouldn't be a shock. Pep Biel proved to be a bright spot for Charlotte against Seattle last weekend and is also highly likely to start at the weekend. Forward line Across the front line, Patrick Agyemang will lead the line as the center forward looks to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season. Agyemang’s pace and physicality will be essential to breaking down Atlanta’s backline. On the wings, Charlotte will likely start Liel Abada and Wilfried Zaha or Kerwin Vargas. Dean Smith acknowledged yesterday that Zaha returned from the UK and trained with the team so fans will likely see him in some capacity from the start or off the bench. Things finally seem to be trending towards Zaha starting. Charlotte FC could also look to give minutes to younger talents Tyger Smalls who came off the bench last weekend as well as Idan Toklomati whose impact was acknowledged by Smith during the post-match presser after the draw in Seattle. With an expected 50,000 fans in the Bank on Saturday afternoon, the streets of Charlotte will be buzzing with fans from both sides in what many consider to be one of the best rivalries in Major League Soccer. Predicted Starting XI

By Ryan Donahue Holden Trent Community Cup in honor of Holden Trent (Photo courtesy of Carolina Core FC) Charlotte FC is back at the bank this weekend as the side takes on Southeast rivals Atlanta United in the first of two league fixtures. Charlotte, despite securing a point on the road this past weekend in Seattle, left much to be desired with both Dean Smith and fans expecting to see an improved performance this weekend. One change Smith could make to inject some energy into his side would be handing Wilfried Zaha his first home and MLS debut. Charlotte’s DP winger missed the season opener against Seattle due to the birth of his child but is expected to return for this upcoming weekend. Here is our weekly recap of all soccer news around the Carolinas outside Charlotte FC: Top Stories of the Week NCFC announces new Tar Heel signing is staying in the Carolinas Independence reinforce the backline with former Winston Salem homegrown Seth Torman’s a Triumph Carolina Core host the Holden Trent Community Cup in honor of Holden Trent NC Courage abroad   Charleston Battery With less than two weeks until their season begins, Charleston Battery picked up a 4-0 win this past weekend over Charlotte Independence with a brace from Cal Jennings, Johnny Klein, and  MD Myers. Ahead of the club’s season opener, the Battery announced its new partnership with The Ideal Life, a local Charleston-based company that will be the club’s new title and front-of-kit sponsor for the upcoming season. The Battery will debut its new sponsor when the side faces off against Louisville City FC on Saturday, March, 8 at home. NCFC North Carolina FC announced on February 18 the signing of former UNC-Chapel Hill midfielder Ahmad Al-Qaq on a one-year contract with an additional option to extend. In Al-Qaq’s forty-seven appearances with the Tar Heels, he scored six goals and captured five assists. Al Qaq has already started his trial with NCFC featuring in the side fixture against Charlotte FC earlier this month.  NCFC will kick off their USL season on March 8 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at home. Charlotte Independence Charlotte Independence fell to the Battery in a disappointing 4-0 defeat however as the side continues to work toward preseason fitness, a new signing may help improve their fortunes heading into the new season. On February 20, the Independence announced a new defensive signing Mike DeShields, who previously played for the Hartford Athletic last season. DeShields is also a former North Carolina homegrown player having spent his college years playing at Wake Forest. Head Coach Mike Jeffries stated that with DeShields coming into the side, the Independence will get an experienced central defender who can adapt to the side’s style of play and will bring leadership and athleticism to the backline. Charlotte Independence will play their season opener on March 15 away to the Richmond Kickers.  Greenville Triumph The Triumph lost 3-2 to the Battery this past weekend however excitement around the club continues to grow with the appointment of new goalkeeper and Golden Glove winner Seth Torman . The Alabama native joins the side on the back of a strong 2024 in which he made his professional debut with Los Angeles Force where he featured 18 times and picked up six clean sheets, a league title, and a save of the year.  Greenville kicks off its regular season on March 8 against Westchester SC. Crown Legacy FC The Crown Legacy has added fresh recruits to its roster with the additions of Portuguese midfielder Ferna Ferreira , defenders Yves Tcheuyap and Jamie Smith, and forward Barzee Blama. Ferreira joins from Rio Ave FC on loan through June 30, 2025, with an option to purchase the player at the end of the trial. Smith  joins from Greenville Triumph where he made 64 appearances in two seasons and contributed with eight goals. Tcheuyap  is an experienced collegiate player formerly with NC State and East Tennessee. Tcheuyap will have a one-season contract with Crown Legacy which also contains an option to extend for 2026. Bobby Belair the assistant General Manager described the Canadian as an exciting prospect that will help strengthen the side left-back position which is also a spot that Charlotte FC is still looking to fill. Blama   is a Mercer University forward with a contract through 2026 but options as far out as 2029. The forward was described by Belair as a strong dynamic central forward with a strong eye for goal. Blama started in 33 of his 39 collegiate appearances across two seasons where he chipped in with 13 goals and three assists. Crown Legacy kicks off on March 7 against NYCFC II and fans will be excited to eye up these recruits and evaluate if these new additions could help fill needs in the First Team. Carolina Core FC The Core won this past weekend against Wake Forest in its preseason fixture with a cool finish from Facundo Canete to seal a 1-0 win at home. The Core also hosted High Point University in the Holden Trent Community Cup  honoring the High Point and MLS goalkeeper who tragically passed away in October of last year. The Community Cup was put on by the Goal 13 Foundation which helps to serve student-athletes in need of support to achieve their goals. Carolina Core FC will face off on March 14 against Inter Miami II in the MLS NEXT Pro league. North Carolina Courage (W) The Courage women have headed out on international business with several players getting called up to their respective national teams. Of those players, Jaedyn Shaw will continue her run of caps with the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup. Manaka Matsukubo will also participate with Japan in the cup earning her first senior call-up after a strong U-20 World Cup performance where she helped lead Japan to a second-place finish. Denise O’Sullivan and Feli Rauch also are with their national teams Ireland and Germany respectively as the teams take on UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures. The North Carolina Courage’s 2025 NWSL season opener starts against Racing Louisville on March 15. Carolina Ascent FC (W) Carolina Ascent FC  picked up a draw this past weekend against DC Powers at home. With the game going back and forth, head coach Phillip Poole examined the match stating that the side's ability to come back from behind twice in the match showed resilience and positives could be taken from that performance. Sarah Trocolli also picked up her first goal acknowledging the effort the team has spent to refine its finishing in training. The Ascent currently sits second in the USL Super League table.

By Ryan Donahue Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Charlotte FC is back this upcoming weekend as the side travels to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Sounders in the MLS weekend opener. As the side wraps up its preseason fixtures and prepares for kickoff this Saturday, other teams around the Carolinas are also preparing for new seasons, or in Carolina Ascents' case, are in midseason form. Here’s everything you need to know to follow along with soccer in the Carolinas as we kick off 2025: Top Stories of the Winter Crown Legacy FC signed Baye Coulibaly, who comes in on a transfer fee north of $2m NC Courage acquired USWNT midfielder Jaedyn Shaw from the San Diego Wave Carolina Core FC signed midfielder Glory Nzingo on loan from Swansea City Charleston Battery’s Viggo Ortiz is playing for the Mexican YNT in the Concacaf U17 Championship NCFC signs defender Patrick Burner, who has Ligue 1 experience in France as well as 15 caps for Martinique at the international level Charleston Battery The Charleston Battery had a great season last year, finishing second in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, and will be looking to carry the run of good form into their season opener against Louisville City FC. The Battery is finishing up their preseason schedule against the Greenville Triumph this Wednesday night, along with Charlotte Independence at the weekend. The Battery has become known as a spot for developing young talent and helping them progress into the next stage of their careers. In 2024 alone, they transferred Fidel Barajas  to Real Salt Lake, Trey Muse  to the Portland Timbers, and Nick Markanich  to Spain’s CD Castellon in La Liga 2.  This year, a young player to start monitoring in Charleston is Viggo Ortiz . He just recently re-signed and is playing for the Mexican YNT in the Concacaf U17 Championship. NCFC Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner The USL Championship kicks off in early March, with North Carolina FC hoping to start positively. NCFC will take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at home on March 8. Ahead of the season’s official kick-off, NCFC has already had two preseason games in which they beat Charlotte FC and lost to the Charleston Battery 2-0. NCFC will have one more preseason fixture against Loudoun United FC this weekend. NCFC will hope to improve on what many would consider to be just an average season for the club last year, with the side finishing eighth in the USL Eastern Conference. One of NCFC’s biggest offseason moves was to bring in defender Patrick Burner  (28), who has Ligue 1 experience in France and has 15 caps for Martinique at the international level. Charlotte Independence Charlotte Independence will play their season opener on March 15 away to the Richmond Kickers. The Independence finished sixth last season and will be looking to make a statement that Charlotte FC isn't the only men’s professional team in the Queen City worth watching. Ahead of their season opener, the Independence will play the Battery next Saturday, and then two closed-to-the-public friendlies against Charlotte FC and Carolina Core in March to wrap up preseason training. One of Independence’s most notable winter signings is Rafael Jauregui  (20) from the Sacramento Republic. The midfielder earned a call-up to the USYNT U15s before earning his first pro deal with Sacramento. Greenville Triumph The Greenville Triumph SC had a strong campaign last season, finishing fourth among twelve in the USL League One regular season. The club's first preseason fixture is this Wednesday against its state rivals, the Charleston Battery. Greenville kicks off its regular season on March 8 against Westchester, SC. The Triumph recently launched a new U20 pre-pro player pathway  for both their boys' and girls' academies. This project aims to provide their Upstate talent with an additional opportunity to develop and potentially advance to their professional level.  Crown Legacy FC Crown Legacy finished 2024 eighth in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference and won their first club playoff game during the campaign. Legacy has established itself as a proven pathway for players looking to make the jump into Charlotte FC’s First Team.  Crown Legacy kicks off on March 7 against NYCFC II, and for many fans in the Charlotte area, watching prospective players is just as enticing as observing first-team matches. One winter signing to watch for at Legacy is Baye Coulibaly ,  who was brought in from NK Kustosija on a transfer fee north of $2m. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid had made a formal bid  for Coulibaly last fall.  Carolina Core Carolina Core FC, the Piedmont area’s newest addition to professional sports, will face off on March 14 against Inter Miami II in MLS NEXT Pro. Last season, the Core finished 10th in the Eastern Conference, and fans were thrilled to have a new team to support in the Carolinas. With the Core continuing to develop both on and off the field, fans should be excited for their season ahead. One way they aim to increase excitement and notoriety is with their new facility, which Carolina Core is scheduled to open this year. A notable name to watch at Carolina Core is their new loan-signing midfielder, Glory Nzingo . Nzingo is on loan for the 2025 season from Swansea City, where he was playing for their U21 squad. North Carolina Courage (W) The North Carolina Courage’s 2025 NWSL season opener starts against Racing Louisville on March 15. The Courage last season finished fifth across fourteen teams in the league but will be ambitious that they can reach higher after a strong 2023 season in which they finished third. One of the Courage’s most notable moves so far this winter was acquiring midfielder Jaedyn Shaw  from the San Diego Wave. Shaw also has 21 caps for the USWNT. Carolina Ascent FC (W) Photo Courtesy of Francisco Diaz Carolina Ascent FC is already fifteen games into their 2024/2025 USL Super League season, and the side currently is sitting third out of eight spots in the competition. Ascent has picked up six wins and six draws with only three losses. They won only one of its last three games with a win over Lexington this past Saturday, but will want to keep the momentum going into this upcoming Sunday’s fixture against DC Powers FC. Ascent goalkeeper Meagan McClelland currently leads the USL Super League in clean sheets  with six.

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC Charlotte FC’s 2025 season got off to a rocky start in Seattle. They will have the opportunity to right the ship in their home opener this weekend against Southeastern rivals Atlanta United. Charlotte fans will be hoping to see new star winger Wilfried Zaha make his MLS debut this weekend after missing the season opener because his wife was expecting their second child. The stance from the players, Dean Smith, and the front office headed by Zoran Krneta is clear across the board. This year and next is about winning trophies with the current group. To do that Zaha and fellow Designated Player Liel Abada will have to deliver. This is because statistically over the last three seasons the clubs with the most productive (G+A) and efficient (per appearance) DPs have been the Supporters’ Shield and or MLS Cup winners since 2022. Here’s a breakdown comparing DP production across the league since 2022 demonstrating how paramount these roster designations are to winning trophies: Top 6 MLS clubs in goal-production efficiency (G+A/App) from their DPs since 2022* Team Appearance Goals Assists G+A G+A/App Philadelphia Union 226 97 31 128 0.57 LAFC 188 68 37 105 0.56 Inter Miami 152 48 29 77 0.51 LA Galaxy 250 76 48 124 0.50 FC Cincinnati 247 69 51 120 0.49 Columbus Crew 267 86 43 129 0.48 Since 2022, the Philadelphia Union, LAFC, Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, FC Cincinnati, and the Columbus Crew have had a core of DPs that combine to be the most goal-productive (G+A) and efficient (per appearance). The last three Supporters’ Shields and MLS Cups have all been won by one of these six teams. LAFC won the 2024 US Open Cup, and Miami and the Crew are the first two Leagues Cup champions. In all, these six clubs missed out on only two US Open Cup trophies in the past three years. This shows how important a core group of DPs who are consistently productive are in this league. Recent trends suggest it's almost impossible to win trophies without those key pieces.  Charlotte’s stated goal for the year is to reach the top four in the Eastern Conference and win trophies. To accomplish these ambitions Zaha and Abada will have to hit. The definition for “hitting” based on recent trophy winners' DPs is around .50 GCs per game. This puts the magic GC number in 2025 for Zaha and Abada to combine to be a true trophy contender 34. Diving a little deeper into these numbers the pressure will be on one of these two to step up and be a true dominator.  Of the top six teams that were mentioned at the beginning of this section, five won trophies in the last three years. The outlier in that group is the Union. Interestingly, they were the one team without a DP who had truly dominant GC efficiency. Philadelphia Union's DPs since 2022 ranked by G+A/App Player G+A Appearances G+A/App Daniel Gazdag 39 62 .63 Julian Carranza 45 74 .61 Mikael Uhre 44 90 .49 When you look at the five teams who won trophies and are ranked in the top six of GC efficiency (G+A/App) from DPs over the last three years they all have one player who averaged nearly a GC every appearance. A player who was able to dominate. Most goal-contribution dominant DP at the five MLS clubs who won an MLS Supporters' Shield and/or Cup in the last three seasons Player Team G+A Appearances G+A/App Lionel Messi Inter Miami 34 25 1.36 Cucho Hernandez Columbus Crew 63 70 .9 Gabriel Pec LA Galaxy 28 33 .85 Lucho Acosta FC Cincinnati 79 94 .84 Denis Bouanga LAFC 56 70 .8 For Charlotte, this means that not only do Zaha and Abada need to combine for at least 30 GCs, but really what may be more important is that one of them has to rise above and truly dominate in MLS and contribute to a goal nearly every time they step on the field. That is what the recent MLS Supporters’ Shield and Cup winners since 2022 all have in common. Consistent high-level goal-productive performances all season long. Smith called for a “goal grabber” during the winter. The club brought in Zaha. All eyes will be on him to hit these sorts of levels to bring a trophy back to the Carolinas in 2025. *The data collected for this article is on regular season MLS games only. The stats were from either FBRef or American Soccer Analysis. You can find the methods, sources used to determine DPs, and full statistical rankings here .

By Brian Maurer and Jorge Gonzales Wilfried Zaha to miss game week 1 (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC) According to sources, Wilfried Zaha did not travel with Charlotte FC to Seattle for tonight's week one matchup. His wife is expecting so Zaha will stay back and miss tonight's fixture. The highly anticipated MLS debut of the former Premier League star will have to wait until the home opener at the earliest. Charlotte's attacking depth will now be tested early as Iuri Tavares, Kerwin Vargas, and Tyger Smalls are his likely replacements on the left wing. Pep Biel could also see his role change to winger as was the case towards the end of the 2024 season.

By Andrew Crowell Dean Smith has a close to fully healthy squad heading into week 1 (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) With a week before the first matchday at the Bank, the training staff have done a good job of keeping the squad healthy going into the season.  The Crown played Portland Timbers on February 15, resulting in a 2-0 win with goals from Tyger Smalls and Kerwin Vargas. Pep Biel was subbed after 60 minutes but it was only for rotation. Keeping Biel healthy will be essential to ball progression for Charlotte throughout the season, as he averages 4.26 progressive passes per game and 3.96 progressive carries per 90 minutes (per fbref ). Manager Dean Smith revealed in his press conference on February 20 that Biel was “ready to go.” Regarding other injuries of note Brandon Cambridge, Patrick Agyemang, and Jahlane Forbes seem to be dealing with problems. Patrick Agyemang was listed on Charlotte FC’s status report as questionable due to an ankle injury from training but Smith reported he is back running. There is not a lot of information regarding the injuries to Cambridge and Forbes besides Smith mentioning them in the press conference on Thursday. Both injuries seem to be hamstring-related and relatively minor. Any updates will be sent out as soon as we know more. As of now, there is no other injury-related news on the squad. Everyone else is healthy, but stay tuned to our website and social media accounts for the latest on the squad. Disclaimer: None of my work should be taken as medical advice. All opinions are my own.

By Sam Vanolinda Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 The MLS season begins in a few days. After a painful playoff exit and an exciting offseason, Dean Smith and his Charlotte FC squad are ready to get started and achieve big things in 2025. After much cogitation by the front office in the last few months, Wilfried Zaha became the big-name player who has arrived at the club and caused ripples in the MLS world.  Charlotte could become a true trophy contender if Zaha plays his best football. However, players alone do not win games; preparation and effort do.  It is time to provide a preview of the season to come; what player(s) will have the most impact? What place will Charlotte finish in? What are some of the key matches on the schedule? Let's look into that in this article: Predicted Table Finish I also reached out to a couple of media members that you likely have heard from on X: Carroll R. Walton @CarrollRodgers (Charlotte Ledger) - 4th Caleb Adams @itscalebadams - 3rd Vaughn Pollman @vipollman - 3rd And other general MLS experts gave their predictions as well: Player of the Season Carroll R. Walton: Patrick Agyemang Caleb Adams: Wilfried Zaha Vaugh Pollman: Patrick Agyemang Brian Maurer: Andrew Privett Jorge Gonzales: Eryk Williamson Key Factor in Charlotte’s Success Carrol R Walton: “How well Zaha integrates into a new team and league.” Caleb Adams: “Getting the front four to click.” Vaughn Pollman: “Becoming a top 10 attack in the MLS for the first time.” Jorge Gonzales: “Being a difficult team to break down and how effective our front four will be” Brian Maurer: “Charlotte’s focus has been on improving the attack, this will open them up at the back. How well the defensive unit responds to that pressure will be key.” Personal Prediction: Finish: 3rd Place Charlotte FC will finish in third this year. With another offseason for Dean Smith to nurture the team and share his wealth of experience and knowledge with the players and coaches, I can see a top-three finish. As long as the team stays healthy and Zaha settles in well to the MLS, they have all the talent and coaching to be one of the best teams in the MLS. Player of the Season: Wilfried Zaha Zaha’s “Fortress,” jersey is on the way to my house as we speak. There is no way I can’t pick my favorite player as the player of the season. I think it may take a couple of games for him to get up to speed, and I hope the fans do not quickly lose faith in him because he's been out of competitive action for a long time now. With that said, he has some of the most abundant natural talent in the league, and if he performs the way  I know he can, the city will lionize the Ivorian.  Key to Success: Consistency and health in the attack The team had a substantial amount of lineup changes last year, especially with the attacking players on the team. It was hard to find any confidence in the players because the team was being switched game after game. This year, the players need to stay healthy and become a solid four at the top that barely changes. Zaha, Agyemang, Abada, and Biel, should be a force in the league. Key Games 03/01/2025 Atlanta (HOME) The home opener against Southern rivals Atlanta United will be one of the season's biggest games. It will also be Zaha’s first appearance at the Bank, adding to the heated rivalry between Charlotte and Atlanta. The energy in the stadium will be palpable, and hopefully, the team will deliver a rapturous performance. 03/09/2025 Miami (AWAY) Inter Miami games will always be a must-watch while the greatest ever still plays in the MLS. One week after the exciting home opener against Atlanta, fans will be treated to a matchup against Messi and company. 04/05/2025 Nashville (HOME) Nashville is another team close to home and the game between these two teams should be a heated one. Zaha and some Nashville SC players already got into a scuffle on the field in a closed friendly in the preseason.  04/19/2025 San Diego (HOME) The new guys will come to town in April, I’m excited to see the new team and how they compete with the Crown. It will be fun to watch Hirving Lozano at the Bank. 05/14/2025 Orlando (AWAY) Revenge will be on the mind at the place where Charlotte’s season ended in 2024. It would be such a sweet victory to beat Orlando after the brutal exit in the playoffs last year. 08/3/2024 Guadalajara (AWAY)* C.D Guadalajara (Chivas) is one of the big four in Mexico. It should be an awesome experience to watch Charlotte FC play them in the Leagues Cup. *This game is marked away, but it will be played at Bank of America Stadium.

By Brian Maurer Ashley Westwood (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) The 2025 MLS season is almost here! Charlotte FC hits the road to face the Seattle Sounders on the West Coast. The Sounders are a good opening game test as they allowed the least amount of goals against in 2024. Charlotte will find out pretty quickly how far their preseason focus on ball progression and improving the attack has come right out of the gate. Here are three key 1-v-1 matchups that could dictate the results of Charlotte’s opening weekend game: Pedro de la Vega vs Ashley Westwood Pedro de la Vega was Seattle’s club-record signing going into 2024 but dealt with injury issues most of the season as he played less than 1000 MLS minutes. He looked healthy yesterday as the Sounders cruised to a 3-1 victory versus Guatemalan side Antigua. De la Vega was popping up on the left, the right, and centrally. If he has a free-flowing attacking role again versus Charlotte, Ashley Westwood will likely be tasked with monitoring him defensively as he is the Crown’s most willing runner. If Westwood can limit de la Vega’s attacking impact and access to the ball then Charlotte will likely gain some confidence and more control of the game giving them a better chance of finding a result in Seattle. Obed Vargas/Joao Pedro vs Pep Biel Improved ball progression and ball control leading to more chances and finishes in the final third as been one of the key messages from Dean Smith and co. during Charlotte’s preseason. Pep Biel in an attacking midfield role will be key for that new focus to be successful. Obed Vargas’ has become a key feature in Seattle’s midfield and will likely be tasked with preventing Biel from building offensive momentum. If there is any rotation because of Concacaf Champions Cup then midfield veteran Joao Pedro could also be tasked with defending Biel. Either way the Spanish attacker will need to find the ball to give Charlotte the chances and goals required to get a result. Alex Roldan vs Wilfried Zaha Wilfried Zaha is Charlotte’s new talisman attacking signing. If the Crown is going to reach the next level their new left winger needs to be a regular goal contributor. Alex Roldan will be tasked with defending Charlotte’s left side. If Zaha can win his 1-v-1s versus Roldan the rest of Charlotte’s attack could open up giving others like Patrick Agyemang and Liel Abada more space to operate in and around the box. Summary This game will likely be decided by the midfield. Both teams were strong defensively in 2024 but struggled in the attack. The midfield battles will decide who can impose more control over the game and then win some chances in the attacking third where the key playmakers can create opportunities to score.

By Brian Maurer Charlotte FC's U16s while in France (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC and MLS NEXT) Charlotte FC starts their 2025 MLS season this weekend, but under the surface, Charlotte's Academy teams are already in midseason form. After their winter break, the U14s, U15s, U16s, and U18s all return to action against MLS Academy competition this weekend when they host Nashville SC. Here's an update on some of the highlights from the Charlotte FC Academy fall schedule and what to look forward to in the spring: Patrick Daka and the U16s travel to France Charlotte's U14 Head Coach Patrick Daka passed the prestigious EFCL exam earning one of the highest certifications in soccer coaching. The course was an 18-month course and culminated in the final examination in France. Charlotte's U16 squad was selected as the group of players to travel and train during the coaching examinations. While in France, the U16s also had an opportunity to play against PSGs U16s and won the friendly against the Parisian side. "We felt like because our U16 generation is a good generation for us, it's a good age group for us that we feel needs more programming, they need more resistance...the kids did really really well," said Charlotte FC Academy Director Bryan Scales "It helped open their eyes a little bit about what the next level looks like." Fall is the Academy's construction phase The first half of the 2024-25 season Scales calls the "construction phase" where the different academy age groups are put together, the rosters are built for the season, and the technical staff, coaches, and players work towards answering the question "what are we all about?" This year, Scales said they did a lot of recruiting for the U18s so there were a bunch of new faces that were given time to adjust to that level during the fall. The U16s were given time to adjust to their new level after playing at the U15 level last spring. The first half of the schedule has a similar structure down the line to the younger levels as well. Now that the first half of the academy season is over Charlotte FC's First Team, and MLS NEXT Pro team Crown Legacy FC are getting prepared for their 2025 campaigns. This leads to a lot more shakeups and movement at the academy level. U18s will start to get called up to Crown Legacy, which will open up spots for U16s to move up to U18, and so on down the line. "I would expect probably four, five, six guys from the 18s to be in training with [Crown Legacy] on a regular basis and competing for minutes," said Scales on his expectations for the spring. This means several opportunities will present themselves for U16 players to also get a chance to move up. Scales sees this upward movement as an opportunity for players to hit some resistance and build resilience. "An important part of their development is them being able to jump into the deep end and have to survive," said Scales. Scales likened the "movement phase" in the spring to adjusting the dials on a treadmill. As a player advances into older and older age groups the speed gets faster. "Typically what happens is a player goes up to Crown Legacy, excited, their working, their working, their working, and then they start to hit the wall a little bit because it takes so much effort to survive that you have to be ready to bring them back into their environment just to let take a breath," said Scales. High expectations from Academy at Crown Legacy FC level In 2024, Charlotte FC's Academy developed players who played over 25% of all Crown Legacy minutes. That new standard is raising the bar for the 2025 season as many academy graduates like Aron John, Jack Neeley, and Nimfasha Berchimas look set to return and new academy players will likely earn their MLS NEXT Pro debuts with Legacy this year. "That number should go up," said Scales on the expectations and continued growth of the Academy at the professional level moving forward. Academy players getting the opportunity at MLS NEXT Pro allows them to know what it takes and to see the harsh reality of the demands of the professional game. "Can Aron John take Ashley Westwood's job? That's really the next step for Aron, 'can I get on the First Team, get on the field, do well enough to stay on the field, and now this is my job now'" said Scales. "These are things we have to help them with that transition knowing that it takes a sustained amount of concentration and really really strong mentality." Academy players earning college scholarships Six Charlotte FC Academy graduates earned college scholarships and will be moving on to their college pathway journeys next year: Chandler Young - Wake Forest University James Nyandjo - UNC-Charlotte Juan Martinez - Syracuse University Ben Gooding - UNC-Wilmington Amare Lucas - UNC-Wilmington Luke Munson - Furman University Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz and Wyatt Holt earned USYNT call-ups Charlotte FC's Academy has had two recent call-ups to the USYNT. In November, defender Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz was called up to the USYNT U15 camp . Defender Wyatt Holt was just called up to USYNT U16's February camp and is currently training there until February 24. Preparing for the Generation Adidas Cup and MLS NEXT Cup One of the premier events for MLS Academies is the Generation Adidas Cup every spring. In 2024, 49 clubs from 15 different countries participated in this event . "You're trying to benchmark your players against the rest of the world," said Scales. "We're trying to get them set up to make that next jump to what professional football really looks like." Charlotte's U16s had a good showing at the GA Cup in 2024 as they advanced to the knockout rounds before losing to French club Toulouse FC in penalties. The tournament and showcase will be in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20. Charlotte's U16s and U18s will feature at the GA Cup in 2025. After the GA Cup, depending on where Charlotte's Academy U15, U16, and U18 teams finish their regular seasons they will either automatically qualify for MLS NEXT Cup, or they will need to compete to qualify for MLS NEXT Cup playoffs in the MLS NEXT Flex qualifier. MLS NEXT Flex will be in Boyds, Maryland from May 9-13. The MLS NEXT Cup playoffs will be in Nashville, Tennessee from June 14-22. Last season Charlotte FC's U17 team (now the U18 level) made it to the Cup final before losing to LA Galaxy's U17 squad.