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By Sam Vanolinda Pep Biel is making his case for MVP in 2025 (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte secured their first-ever win in Canada with their 1-0 victory against CF Montreal Saturday Night. Was it a pretty performance? No. Did the winless Montreal team dominate possession and create better chances? Yes. Is Charlotte FC currently number two in the East? Yes, and that is what matters. We were all hoping for a more aesthetic picture against the bottom team in the league, but with Charlotte's recent performance away from home, they were happy to scrap one out and secure the three points. “I like 1-0 away from home,” Head Coach Dean Smith said post-game. “It shows loads and loads of character, and the players showed that today.” MVP candidate Pep Biel’s sneaky strike and Kristijan Kahlina’s solid saves were enough to win for the Crown. Here is the stock up/down from Saturday’s game. Stock Up Pep Biel The Spanish Magician Pep Biel continues to put the Charlotte FC team on his back with his performances so far this year. Pep Biel's attacking stats (Courtesy of FBRef) When the rest of the offense has sputtered and struggled, Biel has stood out. He scored his third goal of the season Saturday night, a skillful finish from a tough angle after his initial pass deflected straight back to him. “He was the architect of a lot of our forward play…” Smith added after the match. “ I thought he took his goal really well; he played a great ball through for Liel as well… He sees really good forward passes, and he's doing extremely well for us at the moment.” For years, many other Charlotte FC fans and I have been begging for a number 10 to come in and dominate in the middle of the field. The moment the team finds a consistent creator like Biel, they sit at the top of the East; it's no coincidence. The central attacking midfielder is the point guard or quarterback of a soccer team, and with Biel dominating like he is, the team will continue to succeed. Liel Abada I have not been high on Liel Abada so far this year. He seems isolated and lacks energy on the right wing. On Saturday, he moved to the left to replace the injured Wilfried Zaha and looked more lively than he has all year.  He looked like a proper winger, driving forward and running at the defense. He had two shots, two chances created, and his second successful dribble of the year. While his performance wasn’t jaw-dropping, the eye test showed more energy and impact. “He was really bright in the first half,” Smith said. “our wide players probably got taken out of the game a little bit in the second half, but first half he always looked a threat on the break, his position was really good defensively and he had the chance second half as well where the keepers made a good save.” Kristijan Kahlina Kahlina only had two saves, but they were crucial in Charlotte winning in Montreal. The team easily could’ve returned home to Charlotte with their heads down after a 2-1 loss, but Kahlina’s incredible reflexes and ability to use his legs to make saves secured the 1-0 victory.  Kahlina showed why he is the Goalkeeper of the Year. Those were two very hard-to-manage shots that were headed to the corner. Kahlina and his whole defensive line were very disciplined in dealing with Montreal's pressure throughout the second half, so credit them all. Still, Kahlina saved the day when Montreal attackers created enough space to get shots off in the box. Stock Down Souleyman Doumbia Tim Ream had to be replaced in the 68th minute after a collision and ensuing chest pain; he was transported to the hospital. Souleyman Doumbia replaced Ream and had trouble dealing with Ukranian Gennadiy Synchuk. While the Ivorian has been solid since his arrival to the team, his defensive ability was tested today, and he wasn’t great. Doumbia is a better attacking option than Ream, but Ream will always be a better fundamental defender. He is more effective in a low block and dependable on set-piece marking. It will be a situational decision on whether to start Ream or Doumbia. When Charlotte is on the ball more frequently, Doumbia will be the choice; when they sit back and defend, Ream is a must-start. Kerwin Vargas Vargas came close to scoring when he hit the bar in the 74th minute; besides that one chance, he contributed nothing from the right side of the field. Nine passes, zero chances created, and only 28 touches in 86 minutes. Vargas had another chance to make the case for starting at right wing, but Adada outplayed him on Saturday. The Colombian always comes back with a big goal but then fades into a little-talked-about backup. Patrick Agyemang Agyemang’s hold-up play was much improved against Montreal. I did not want to put him on the stock down, but a striker’s job is to score goals. Idan Toklomati continues to impress with his cameos. The longer Agyemang goes without scoring, the more likely we are to see the Toklo-Train start. As I said, Agyemang was not a bad player on Saturday, but his stock is still down until he starts finding the net.

Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 Goalscorers (All-Competitions) Karol Swiderski - 32 Patrick Agyemang* - 15 Kerwin Vargas* - 12 Daniel R i os - 9 Ben Bender*/Enzo Copetti/Liel Abada* - 8 Assist Leaders (All-Competitions) Karol S widerski - 14 Kamil Jozwiak - 10 Ben Bender*/Ashley Westwood*/Pep Biel* - 8 Most Goals in a Single Game (All-Competitions) Daniel Rios - 4 (vs Philadelphia Union Oct 1, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs Chicago Fire October 2, 2024) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs New England Revolution March 19, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs FC Cincinnati March 26, 2022) McKinze Gaines - 2 (at Richmond Kickers May 11, 2022) Yordy Reyna - 2 (at Inter Miami July 16, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (at Chicago Fire Sep 17, 2022) Enzo Copetti - 2 (vs NYCFC May 6, 2023) Justin Meram - 2 (at Atlanta United May 13, 2023) Brandon Cambridge - 2 (vs Chicago Fire May 17, 2023) Ben Bender - 2 (at NYRB June 21, 2023) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs FC Cincinnati July 8, 2023) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs Toronto FC Oct 4, 2023) Liel Abada* - 2 (at Atlanta United June 2, 2024) Patrick Agyemang* - 2 (at Philadelphia Union June 22, 2024) Longest Win Streak (All-Competitions) 4 - May 6-May 17, 2023; vs NYCFC, vs Orlando, at Atlanta, vs Chicago 3 - Sep 10-Oct 1, 2022; vs NYCFC, at Chicago, vs Philadelphia 3 - May 4-May 15, 2024; vs Portland, vs Nashville, at Chicago 3 - Oct 2-Oct 19, 2024; vs Chicago, vs Montreal, at DC Longest Unbeaten Streak (All-Competitions) 5 - May 4-May 25, 2024; vs Portland (W), vs Nashville (W), at Chicago (W), vs LAG (D), vs Philadelphia (D) 5 - June 10-July 8, 2023; vs Seattle (D), at NYRB (D), vs Montreal (D), at NYCFC (D), vs Cincinnati (D) 5 - Aug 26-Sep 20, 2023; vs LAFC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Nashville (D), vs DC (D), vs Philadelphia (D) 5 - Sep 21-Oct 19, 2024; vs New England (W), at Miami (D), vs Chicago (W), vs Montreal (W), vs DC (W) 4 - Oct 4-Oct 21, 2023; vs Toronto (W), at Chicago (W), at Miami (D), vs Miami (W) 4 - Sep 10-Oct 5, 2022; vs NYCFC (W), at Chicago (W), vs Philadelphia (W), vs Columbus (D) 4 - May 6-May 17, 2023; vs NYCFC (W), vs Orlando (W), at Atlanta (W), vs Chicago (W) 4 - July 21-Aug 7, 2023; at Dallas (D - won PKs), vs Necaxa (W), vs Cruz Azul (D - won on PKs), at Houston (W) 4 - June 2-June 22, 2024; at Atlanta (W), vs DC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Philadelphia (W) Longest Cleansheet Streak 5 - May 4-May 25, 2024; vs Portland (W), vs Nashville (W), at Chicago (W), vs LAG (D), vs Philadelphia (D) Kristijan Kahlina (right) - Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 Most Appearances Brandt Bronico* - 116 Kristijan Kahlina* - 111 Kerwin Vargas* - 96 Adilson Malanda*/Nathan Byrne* - 87 Brandt Bronico (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) The longest streak of games without being shutout (All-Competitions) 8 - Sep 30, 2023-Mar 2, 2024; at New England (L), vs Toronto (W), at Chicago (W), at Miami (D), vs Miami (W), at NYRB (L), vs NYCFC (W), at Vancouver (D) 7 - Mar 18-Apr 25, 2023; at Orlando (W), vs NYRB (D), at Toronto (D), at Salt Lake (L), vs Colorado (D), vs Columbus (W), vs Tormenta (W) 5 - May 6-May 20, 2023; vs NYCFC (W), vs Orlando (W), at Atlanta (W), vs Chicago (W), vs Nashville (L) 5 - May 29-June 22, 2024; at NYRB (L), at Atlanta (W), vs DC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Philadelphia (W) 5 - Sep 21-Oct 19, 2024; vs New England (W), at Miami (D), vs Chicago (W), vs Montreal (W), at DC (W) Best Finish in MLS Supporters' Shield Standings 2024 - 11th on 51 points 2023 - 19th on 43 points 2022 - 19th on 42 points First Win Mar 19, 2022; vs New England (3-1) First Goalscorer in Club History Adam Armour - Mar 13, 2022; at Atlanta United - header from a corner kick First Assist in Club History Ben Bender - Mar 13, 2022; at Atlanta United - a corner kick which led to a headed goal First Clean Sheet in Club History Mar 26, 2022; vs FC Cincinnati - Kristijan Kahlina made five saves Charlotte FC's Record by Month (All-Competitions) October - 7-2-3, 23 points (1.92 PPG) May - 11-2-7, 35 points (1.75 PPG) November - 1-0-1, 3 points (1.50 PPG) July - 6-4-5, 22 points (1.47 PPG) April - 7-3-7, 24 points (1.41 PPG) March - 7-3-8, 24 points (1.33 PPG) August - 5-2-6, 17 points (1.31 PPG) June - 4-5-4, 17 points (1.31 PPG) September - 3-4-5, 13 points (1.08 PPG) February - 1-1-2, 4 points (1 PPG) Historical Record of Official Captains Christian Fuchs - 2022 Ashley Westwood - 2023 Ashley Westwood - 2024 Ashley Westwood - 2025 Ashley Westwood (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) *Active player or streak

By Brian Maurer Charlotte FC's Academy gets set for the Generation Adidas Cup (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC) Here is our new column, which will provide regular updates on Charlotte FC's pro player pathway. Lots of exciting movement happens in the academy during the spring half of their season because Crown Legacy FC has started playing and calling academy players up. This opens the door for younger players to get called up to the U18 team to replace the players going up to Crown Legacy. Then, U15s get an opportunity to go up to U16 to replace those players going up to U18. This movement gives us a great opportunity to identify and learn about the exciting prospects that could one day make an impact with Charlotte FC. Crown Legacy FC Crown Legacy's Head Coach Gary Dicker had 10 academy players on the roster sheet for their home opener in March. Six were in the starting eleven, and four more on the bench. Defender Wyatt Holt and Tyger Smalls' brother Magic both made their pro debuts that night. Holt (15) has started in all three of Crown Legacy's games so far this year. This past week, Luke Munson made his pro debut coming on for the second half against the Columbus Crew II. So far, Charlotte FC's academy accounts for two of Crown Legacy's three goals to start the year, and that is with winger Nimfasha Berchimas sidelined with an injury. List of Academy players who have made a Crown Legacy roster in 2025: Brian Romero* - 1 goal Rocket Ritarita - 1 goal Aron John* - 1 assist Jack Neeley* Wyatt Holt - pro debut in 2025 Erik Pena* Magic Smalls - pro debut in 2025 Luke Munson - pro debut in 2025 Isaias Elizalde Adrian Mendoza *- signed to a pro contract Generation Adidas Cup 2025 The U18s and U16s traveled to Bradenton, Florida this week to play in the Generation Adidas Cup . It's one of the major highlights of the Academy season and will feature 18 international academy clubs. 40 teams will feature in each age group (29 MLS academy teams, nine international academy teams, and two MLS NEXT Elite academy teams). The MLS NEXT Elite academies qualified during MLS NEXT Fest in December. The 40 teams at each age level will be split into 10 groups of four, and the winner of each group will advance to the knockout round. The next six best point totals will also qualify for the round of 16. There will also be a consolation knockout tournament that will feature the best 16 teams in the group stages that did not qualify for the Championship knockout rounds. Both Charlotte FC academy teams are bringing competitive squads that are almost all "on-age". Nico Texeira (16) will be the only player playing up a level with the U18s, and Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz (15) is the only player playing up a level for the U16s. Charlotte FC's U18 Group and Schedule Charlotte's U18s are in Group C and will play against Panamanian side CA Independiente de la Chorrera, Austin FC, and LA Galaxy. Saturday, Apr 12, 2:30 PM ET - vs CA Independiente Sunday, Apr 13, 2:30 PM ET - vs Austin FC Monday, Apr 14, 2:00 PM ET - vs LA Galaxy Charlotte FC's U16 Group and Schedule Charlotte's U16s are in Group C and will play against Belgian side KRC Genk, Seattle Sounders, and FC Cincinnati. Saturday, Apr 12, 10:00 AM ET - vs KRC Genk Sunday, Apr 13, 10:00 AM ET - vs FC Cincinnati Monday, Apr 14, 9:00 AM ET - vs Seattle Sounders Alexander-Munoz gets national recognition Charlotte FC's Alexander-Munoz has been called up to the U15 USYNT twice this year, and he was added to the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup Rising XI . The young defender is definitely one to keep an eye on as he gets an opportunity to play up with the U16s this week in Florida.

By Ryan Donahue Charlotte FC's starting XI versus Nashville SC (Photo courtesy of Alexis Fowler/Topbin90) Coming off last week's late win over Nashville SC, where Charlotte FC fought back from a 1-0 deficit, goals from Wilfried Zaha and Idan Toklomati helped Charlotte to secure victory and maintain the side's impressive form at home. Charlotte is now on the road this week as the side travels to Montreal for this Saturday's fixture. Montreal currently sits last in the East, however, the match will be the club’s first home fixture this season, which could raise the odds in favor of Montreal. Charlotte, who continues to struggle on the road so far this season, needs to take the next step to maintain a top spot in the East and prove they can start getting results on the road.  Ahead of this weekend, here is how Charlotte likely lines up: Defensive unit Given the decision to stick with Tim Ream last weekend in the center back role, Smith will likely remain unchanged in his roster with Ream expected to start again this weekend alongside  Adilson Malanda. Nathan Byrne is guaranteed to start right back, and Souleyman Doumbia has looked dependable at left back. Charlotte’s Andrew Privett is expected to drop down to the bench but could bring fresh legs for Doumbia in the second half. Kristijan Kahlina will start in goal as always. Midfield line Charlotte’s midfield adjustment last week reintroduced Djibril Diani to the starting eleven; however, the plan by Smith was altered at halftime after Charlotte struggled to keep pace with Nashville. This weekend, Smith will likely default back to his trio of Ashley Westwood and Brandt Bronico with Pep Biel slotted ahead of them as the attacking midfielder.  While Diani was subbed last week, Smith wanted to use the player to make his side better defensively, so if Smith chooses to stick with this plan, Diani may end up getting more minutes. Eryk Williamson has also been a regular off the bench and is likely to rotate with Bronico in the second half. Forward line Smith confirmed in his pre-match press conference yesterday that Wilfried Zaha would be out due to surgery on his thumb. Without Charlotte’s star winger, the front three will likely lineup with Patrick Agyemang or Idan Toklomati leading the line. After Toklomati’s late winner last week he is getting closer and closer to nabbing some starts. The wing positions become wide open with Zaha out, and Liel Abada being left out of the starting eleven last week. The most likely wing options are Abada and Kerwin Vargas, but if Smith is still struggling to trust Abada, Toklomati could rotate into a wing role on the right with Vargas on the left and Agyemang up top. Predicted Starting XI Graphic Courtesy of Jordan Vargas

By Brian Maurer The first month and a half of the MLS season is in the books, and we are getting a sense of where some of the Southeastern teams lie. Inter Miami continues to be the team to beat in all of MLS and potentially Concacaf as they advanced to the Semifinals in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Charlotte FC and Orlando City are both showing promise with the potential to be great but have some kinks to work out. Strong performances from their attacking midfielders should give these clubs lots of optimism moving forward. Nashville SC has built up momentum early stringing together some good results and have surpassed Atlanta United in the BOTSE Power Rankings as Atlanta has struggled to build up momentum. That could be changing fast as Miguel Almiron has scored in back-to-back games. If their paraguayan midfielder stays consistantly productive then they could easily be climbing back up the rankings. DC United is the only team in the Southeast that is truly struggling, as they look like one of the worst teams in MLS right now. Beasts of the Southeast Power Rankings Beasts of the Southeast Players of the Month - February/March Inter Miami Record all-comps since February: 9-2-1 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 4th Inter Miami is undefeated in MLS play to start the year and has only lost once in all competitions (9-2-1 all-comp record). Lionel Messi (8g/2a all-comps) and Luis Suarez (4g/6a all-comps) both have started the season strong as they each have 10 goal contributions. One interesting thing to note from the Heron's start is that Messi has been playing more as a second striker than as a right winger. Their defense continues to look questionable, but they do seem to have enough solid defensive pieces to at least get by, and Drake Callender finally saw his first start this past weekend. Under-the-radar player to watch Miami's new U22 Initiative signing Telasco Segovia has hit the ground running and is generating similar excitement to the buzz around Diego Gomez last year. He has four goal contributions (3g/1a) in 323 MLS minutes so far and looks to be a key piece that can step up when Javier Mascherano wants to rotate his veteran attackers. Remaining April schedule The Heron's are on the road for the next two games before wrapping up April with a home game and two CCC Semifinal legs against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Definitely have the CCC games circled on your calendar as the Whitecaps have been on a magical run and the expectations for the Messi-led Miami side is that they go through and win the continental tournament. Sun, Apr 13, 4:30 PM ET - @ Chicago Fire Sat, Apr 19, 4:30 PM ET - @ Columbus Crew Tue, Apr 22 - vs Vancouver Whitecaps - Concacaf Champions Cup Sat, Apr 26, 7:30 PM ET - vs FC Dallas Tue, Apr 29 - @ Vancouver Whitecaps - Concacaf Champions Cup Charlotte FC Record all-comps since February: 4-1-2 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 7th The Crown has not looked spectacular to start the year, but they have shown their ability to grit their teeth and fight to continue getting results, mainly at home, where they are undefeated. Questions have been raised about the consistency of the attack led by new Designated Player signing Wilfried Zaha and right winger Liel Abada, both have struggled with getting regular goal contributions, although Zaha came up with a clutch moment drawing a penalty and slotting the PK home last weekend. Pep Biel has been the shining light in the attack so far has he is tied for the MLS lead in goal contributions (7) and assists (5). Word has gotten out about his left-footed through ball that has led to three goals already this season. Under-the-radar player to watch Idan Toklomati has garnered a ton of hype with his recent performances coming in off the bench. He is pushing Patrick Agyemang for starting minutes at the striker position and could have earned himself a start this weekend with his clean game-winning finish this past Saturday against Nashville SC. Remaining April schedule Charlotte will aim to finish April strong in what looks to be a favorable stretch of games. Points this month will be important for the Crown as May and June get significantly harder with a bunch of road games. Sat, Apr 12, 7:30 PM ET - @ CF Montreal Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - vs San Diego FC Sat, Apr 26, 7:30 PM ET - vs New England Revolution Orlando City Record all-comps since February: 3-2-2 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 10th Orlando has been a wild team to watch to start 2025 as their attack hit the ground running but their defense is struggling. They did keep their first clean sheet of the season this past weekend against the Philadelphia Union and have only allowed two goals in their past three games so their defense could be heading in a more positive direction. The Lions' attack has been impressive as all three of their DPs have started off well. Their Facundo Torres replacement, Marco Pasalic, already has four goals, tied with Martin Ojeda for the team lead. Luis Muriel has also gotten off to a strong start with five goal contributions (3g/2a). If Muriel stays motivated and Orlando can keep Ramiro Enrique and Duncan McGuire for all of 2025, then this attack could be the most lethal in MLS outside of Miami. Under-the-radar player to watch Alex Freeman was rotated in during Orlando's early-season defensive struggles, and Oscar Pareja hasn't been able to take him off. The 20-year-old right-back has earned six straight starts since making his starting debut against Toronto FC, and he has three goal contributions already (2g/1a). Freeman has given Pareja some defensive flexibility as he tries to sort out the backline, and as the young defender continues to earn starts, his stock could increase dramatically as the season progresses. Remaining April schedule Orlando has a favorable stretch of games through the end of May with six of ten at home in that time. They will be aiming to keep their unbeaten streak going with a strong finish to April with three matchups that they will deem very winnable. Sat, Apr 12, 4:30 PM ET - vs New York Red Bulls Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ CF Montreal Sat, Apr 26, 7:15 PM ET - vs Atlanta United Nashville SC Record all-comps since February: 3-1-3 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 17th Nashville SC is coming off a disappointing letdown on the road against Charlotte where they allowed two late goals to drop all three points. On top of that, Walker Zimmerman was kicked in the head during the match and had to be trucked off the field. Fortunately it appears he is only in concussion protocol and will likely return to the field sooner than later. Winter signing Edvard Tagseth has stepped up as a key player in Nashville's midfield during the early stretch as he helps BJ Callaghan implement his ball progression tactics. Overall, the team has gotten off to a good start but has dropped all three points in back-to-back games from winning positions. If the Coyotes work out how to maintain the leads they earn and start converting their penalties (they have missed three already), they could be a real threat towards the end of 2025. Under-the-radar player to watch Ahmed Qasem is another new signing who has earned a key role through the early stages of the season. This past week, he put up a highlight reel dribbling performance to set up Nashville's goal in the first half against Charlotte, and he has two goals in four starts. The Swedish winger has the potential to be the missing attacking piece that Nashville has been looking for alongside Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge. Remaining April schedule Nashville has the opportunity to right the ship after blowing leads in back-to-back games with favorable home matches. With five of their next seven matches being at home, the Coyotes have an opportunity to climb up the table if they can take advantage of the moment. Sat, Apr 12, 8:30 PM ET - vs Real Salt Lake Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ Seattle Sounders Sat, Apr 26, 8:30 PM ET - vs Chicago Fire Atlanta United Record all-comps since February: 2-3-2 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 20th Atlanta has only won once in their last six games, and they have dropped points three times at home already. The upside is Miguel Almiron looks like he is starting to click a little bit with goals in back-to-back games. Their league record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath has also had a good start with five goals out of the gate. Their issue is their team performance and their home form. Only earning nine points out of seven games, when five of those matches were in Atlanta, puts the Five Stripes in a bit of a hole that they now need to try and dig out of. Under-the-radar player to watch Matthew Edwards has been slotted in multiple times already this year as both Atlanta's starting fullbacks, Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador, have had to miss time with injuries. In those starts, Edwards hasn't looked out of place. If the young fullback can continue to take his opportunities when they come, he could earn himself a regular role sooner rather than later, especially if he can show that his presence on the field can help the squad start to click. Remaining April schedule This weekend's match feels like a must-win for Atlanta as they have already dropped seven points at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Especially when they have to follow this weekend's home game with two tough matchups on the road. Sat, Apr 12, 2:45 PM ET - vs New England Revolution Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ Philadelphia Union Sat, Apr 26, 7:15 PM ET - @ Orlando City DC United Record all-comps since February: 1-3-3 Current place in MLS Supporters' Shield: 24th DC United is in a really tricky spot right now as they have lost three in a row and they have lost badly. DC allowed 12 goals in those three losses and got absolutely trounced this past weekend in San Jose giving up six, and honestly Josef Martinez and co. were looking for even more and could have made the scoreline even worse. DC's goalkeeper Jun-hong Kim's reactions during last week's blowout loss are emblematic of how this season has started for the Black-and-Red. But hey, Christian Benteke is scoring goals. Under-the-radar player to watch Hosei Kijima has started every match so far this year, although most recently he was subbed at halftime. The young attacking midfielder had eight goal contributions (3g/5a) last season with St. Louis City and has a goal so far in 2025. He is one to keep an eye on in DC if the squad can start to build any semblance of consistency. Remaining April schedule DC United's woes could be getting worse as they are now facing a tough stretch of games to finish April. If their losing streak continues, which looks like a decent possibility with this slate of games, Head Coach Troy Lesesne has to be on the hot seat. Sat, Apr 12, 7:30 PM ET - vs FC Cincinnati Sat, Apr 19, 7:30 PM ET - @ New York Red Bulls Sat, Apr 26, 4:30 PM ET - @ Philadelphia Union

By Brian Maurer Liel Abada (left) dueling Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) It's hard to believe this is possible, but Charlotte FC will be traveling to CF Montreal for their home opener this weekend. That's right, Montreal is coming off a seven-game road trip to start the year. Now the Crown aims to crash their home opener party and take the points. Charlotte is looking for their first road win of the season, and playing a winless team is about as optimal an opportunity as it gets. However, Charlotte has never won in Canada, so this game should not be taken lightly. Here are three key battles to watch that could decide the outcome for this matchup: Joel Waterman vs Patrick Agyemang/Idan Toklomati Joel Waterman is going into his fifth season as one of Montreal's starting center backs. The Canadian side will be depending on Waterman to hold back either Patrick Agyemang or Idan Toklomati, as there is probably a 50-50 chance of who could start at striker for Charlotte FC. The Canadian international is also a key ball progressor for Montreal, so Toklomati or Agyemang will need to make sure they get some pressure on the ball when Waterman has it to prevent their build-up play from succeeding. Charlotte's strikers should be hungry to get after it in this one as Montreal's defense is one of the worst in MLS. Luca Petrasso vs Liel Abada/Kerwin Vargas Luca Petrasso is Montreal's forward-advancing left back. He leads the team in progressive passes and passes into the final third. Since a lot of the attacks could be built up on Montreal's left side, it will be a pivotal decision for Dean Smith on who to start at right wing. Liel Abada was left out of the eleven last week, and Kerwin Vargas was subbed in at halftime ahead of Abada. This is another starting position that looks to be up for grabs at the moment; whoever earns the start will need to have an impact. With Petrasso being an attack-minded left back, that impact will need to be seen in both directions. Nathan-Dylan Saliba vs Brandt Bronico Nathan-Dylan Saliba is one of Montreal's most promising young talents, and he will likely need to make his presence felt if the Canadians are to push for points against Charlotte. Brandt Bronico will likely be one of the key men charged with stopping Saliba from building up play or getting forward into dangerous areas. Saliba is willing to crash into the box to help support the attackers, marking him box-to-box will be key. Bronico's willingness to run will be needed to help mitigate that threat. Summary This game will be all about momentum. CF Montreal has had very few positives to start the year in great part because of their long early-season road trip. They will be looking to build some momentum quickly now that they are finally in front of their hometown crowd. Charlotte has struggled mightily on the road to start the year, they will be pushing to build some early momentum of their own against this struggling Montreal side. Whoever scores first could feel a huge momentum boost as Montreal has yet to hold a lead this season, and Charlotte has yet to hold a lead on the road.

By Ryan Donahue Carolina Core FC's new facility could host a World Cup Team in 2026 (Photo courtesy of Carolina Core FC) Saturday was a great day for Charlotte fans after two second-half goals from Wilfried Zaha and Idan Toklomati helped the side bounce back against Nashville SC in a 2-1 victory that moved Charlotte back into the top four in the East. Now, as Charlotte prepares for this upcoming weekend’s fixture in Montreal, here’s a look at what happened around the Carolinas over the past week. Top Stories of the Week Carolina Core ran riot in a 5-0 thrashing after opening their new state-of-the-art training facility NC Courage players receive international call-ups Carolina Ascent players receive league recognition Greenville Triumph win Carolina clash versus the Charlotte Independence Charleston Battery Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 win The Charleston Battery went ahead with Cal Jennings' penalty at the end of the first half. They found the second goal in the 73rd minute from an MD Myers header with a Chris Allan cross. The Tampa Bay Rowdies found a way back into the match two minutes later with a goal from Woobens Pacius, but the Battery were able to hold on for the win and all three points. The Battery’s Jennings is tied for the USL Championship lead in goals scored with four, and the team as a whole has established itself as one of the most possession-heavy teams at 57.3%, which is good for second in the league. The Battery stays home again this weekend as they will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Next week, the Battery are also set to host Tormenta FC   in the US Open Cup third round with the match scheduled for next Tuesday April 15. North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven vs North Carolina FC 2-2 draw North Carolina FC was held to a 2-2 draw this past weekend against Indy Eleven. Indy got off to an early start with an unfortunate own goal from Raheem Sommersall in the 26th minute, followed up by a second from Edward Kizza directly at the start of the second half. Carolina’s Evan Conway brought the side back into the game in the 51st minute, and a late stoppage-time equalizer from Conor Donovan was enough to secure the point. North Carolina will now prepare for New Mexico this upcoming weekend as the side looks to continue its climb in the USL Championship. North Carolina  will also prepare for an exciting matchup in the US Open Cup as they are set to take on Charlotte Independence in the third round of the tournament. Charlotte Independence Greenville Triumph vs Charlotte Independence FC 1-0 loss Charlotte Independence took a tough loss to their South Carolina competitors in a 1-0 defeat where a late goal from Leonardo Castro was the deciding factor. The result drops the Independence to seventh in USL1. With anticipation building for next week’s matchup against NC FC, the side must first set its sights on hosting Forward Madison FC this upcoming Friday night. With Charlotte FC on the road this weekend, local fans will be eager to get their fix of some local Charlotte soccer in what is expected to be an exciting mid table clash. In other news from around the club, Independence announced the signing of Colombian forward Juan David Moreno , who joins the side from Cucuta Deportivo Futbol Club in Colombia. Greenville Triumph  Greenville Triumph vs Charlotte Independence FC 1-0 win Greenville continues to soar at the top of USL 1, sitting just four points behind league leaders FC Naples. Castro’s late goal in the Triumph’s win over the Independence was again well earned as the side outshot and possessed the Independence. Greenville are preparing this week for One Knoxville SC on Wednesday night and this weekend will travel to Chattanooga to take on the Red Wolves in a week that could further boost Greenville’s title chase. Crown Legacy FC  Columbus Crew 2 vs Crown Legacy 1-1 (3-4 after PKs) draw - 2 pt win on penalties Crown Legacy’s early-season struggles continue while despite winning on penalties, the side finished against Columbus with another 1-1 draw, leaving them just two spots above the bottom of the league. Tristan Brown from Columbus opened the scoring just before the end of the first half, with a late equalizer from Crown’s Dylan Sing brought the side back into the game. The Crown had the larger share of possession and passing, but the Crew significantly outshotthe Crown with 17 shots to seven. Next up, the Crown will take on Huntsville City this Sunday as the side to look start climbing back up the MLS NEXT Pro table. Carolina Core FC Carolina Core vs NYCFC II 5-0 win   Carolina Core trounced NYCFC II this past weekend in a 5-0 thrashing to keep the good vibes around the Core going into the week. The Core got off to a blazing start with David Polanco, Facundo Canete, and Jacob Alexander Edwards each bagging a goal before the twenty-minute mark. Glory Nzingo and Derek Cuevas also scored two late second-half goals to finish off New York in what was the highest scoring result around the Carolinas this weekend. This win was a big cherry on top of the opening of the club’s new state-of-the-art training facility  named the Go-Forth Elite Performance Center, which opened this past week. It’s an eight-figure investment and is in the running to host an international team during the FIFA World Cup next summer. The Core will now prepare to host Chattanooga FC on Sunday afternoon as the Piedmont side seeks to keep the positive energy going. North Carolina Courage  The Courage were off this past weekend and now have their sights set on this weekend's road match against Gotham FC on Sunday. With no weekend matchup, the Courage excitement came from off-field events. Ryan Williams  was named to NWSL’s Best XI for March after playing every minute of all three matches and leading the league in possession and attempted passes. The Courage  also had five international call-ups with Jaedyn Shaw and Riley Jackson travelling to US international camps. Other international call-ups included Denise O’Sullivan, who traveled with Ireland for the UEFA Women’s Nations League, along with Feli Rauch who traveled with the German national team. Manaka Matsukubu also received a call up to play with Japan in an international friendly against Colombia. Carolina Ascent FC  The Carolina Ascent maintained their position at the top of the table with a 0-1 win on the road against the DC Power. Sarah Mary Troccoli got the lone goal in the 57th minute after Mia Corbin deflected a cross into her path. Off the field, the Ascent's Corbin  was named the Player of the Month for the USL Super League for March, making her the first player at the club to ever receive this award. Corbin’s four goals in five games helped her quickly rise to an easy nomination, but they have also boosted her chances of securing the Golden Boot with nine goals on the season Audrey Harding and Jill Aguilera were also nominated for USL SL’s Team of the Month Award.

By Andrew Crowell Wilfried Zaha (right) taking on Andy Najar (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC Designated Player Wilfried Zaha underwent surgery for a hand injury yesterday. The winger posted on Snapchat that he had the operation, and Head Coach Dean Smith told media last week that the injury occurred during Charlotte's match against the Colorado Rapids.  Upon examining the image of Zaha's hand, the injury is probably to one of the carpal or metacarpal bones in the hand. Eight carpal bones make up the 'wrist' and 5 metacarpals that connect the wrist area to the digits (fingers) of the hand. These bones are small but play important roles in the movement and biomechanics of our hands.  Surgeries in this area are often required to fix one of these broken bones, usually requiring pins and/or screws. While broken bones heal themselves, special consideration is taken when a fracture is combined with a dislocation or an injury to the joint space itself. The rehabilitation process for hand surgeries/injuries is extensive, as there are many muscles involved with the movement of the hand that require lots of fine muscle exercises to rehabilitate. Fortunately for The Crown, an injury to the hand will hopefully just put Zaha out of commission for the next few matchweeks, as he should be cleared to play with a cast on his hand to protect the surgical site. At the end of the day, it is up to the Charlotte FC medical staff and the surgeon on when Zaha can return to playing so this is just an estimate.  Liel Abada or Kerwin Vargas will look to get back into the starting lineup in Zaha's place on the left side of the attack this weekend as Charlotte takes on Montreal on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET.  Stay tuned to our website and social media pages for the latest on Zaha's injury and Charlotte FC updates. Disclaimer: None of my work should be taken as medical advice. All opinions are my own.

By Sam Vanolinda Idan Toklomati (right) taking on Jack Maher (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90) Charlotte FC continues to make a living at Bank of America Stadium. After a lackluster first half, the Crown stormed back to steal a late victory courtesy of rising star Idan Toklomati. The 2-1 victory against Nashville SC moved Charlotte FC to fourth in the East and 4-0 at home in the 2025 season.  While the comforts of home have propelled Charlotte into one of the best teams in the East, more consistent road performances will be key if they want to make a deep Playoff run. The team continues to preach that they have yet to play to their full potential, which is pretty evident. Although the team has won four games, it’s safe to say they haven’t been playing beautiful football. The narrative would’ve been very different if the team hadn’t been able to get it together towards the end of the game and get those two goals. It seemed like the energy shifted in the game after a scary moment for Nashville center-back Walker Zimmerman, who was bicycle-kicked in the face by Kerwin Vargas. From that point on, the Nashville players were rattled, and Wilfried Zaha could take advantage of that, drawing and dispatching a penalty, marking his second goal of the season. It was a much-needed goal for Zaha after weeks of struggle. The game-winner was a trademark weighted ball by MLS assist leader Pep Biel, which was passed to Idan Toklomati, who expertly put the ball past the keeper and smashed it into the net. Toklomati will raise discussions on whether he deserves to start with a substitute appearance like that. Here’s the stock up/down for Saturday’s game. Stock Up Pep Biel Biel's performance in 2025 has put the league on notice. He is the team MVP but may even be in contention for MLS MVP. So far, Biel has five assists and two goals, leading the team in both categories. He has made a living off his perfect passes through the middle of the field; he can find strikers in stride when they make runs and set up massive goal-scoring chances.  Dean Smith rotated Biel into the right side of the field instead of his usual central position, which caused him to make little impact in the first half. In the second half, however, Biel drifted back centrally and set up the game-winner. Biel is a player who should control the ball as much as possible for the Crown. He has passing ability and a deft touch on the ball, qualities no other team member possesses to his level.  Biel was 91% passing and had three successful dribbles. His 39 touches are fewer than he should have, but he had to fill the right side with Liel Abada not playing.  Biel proves every week what an amazing decision it was to bring him back to the team. Who knows where this team would be without him? Wilfried Zaha Saturday night’s game was one in which, if Zaha had not contributed a goal or assist, questions would begin to rise about his ability to perform in this league. But from my hundreds of hours watching the winger from Croydon, I know that he steps up when under pressure; every time I have doubted him, he has proved me wrong.  In the 85th minute, after a stagnant offensive showing, Zaha received a long ball, chested it down, and glided past a defender, feeling the contact and going down to draw a penalty. Everyone in the stadium knew that Zaha would step up in that moment to tie the game, and that is what he did—slotting the ball into the net.  Zaha will always be a player who can step up in the big moment. While his performance may not be consistently breathtaking, he keeps going even when the game seems out of reach. His more advanced statistics were not incredible on Saturday, but he created something from nothing when the offense had no direction. Idan Toklomati Toklomati is a player bursting with potential. His work rate and effort are noticeable every time you watch him.  Even in his late sub minutes in previous games, fans have begun to appreciate the Israeli because he never stops hustling and adds a new type of striker to the pitch, which is different from Patrick Agyemang. On Saturday, Toklomati’s hard work paid off when he smashed the ball into the back of the net in front of a frenzied crowd at the Bank, beating the team's Eastern rivals and pulling out the “sleep” celebration in honor of Charlotte native Steph Curry (whom I have nightmares about beating my Celtics in the 2022 finals). With his hard work, Toklomati has created a position battle. Agyemang is still the team's main striker, but given his struggles this year, it may be worth trying Toklomati as a starter. Stock Down Patrick Agyemang Agyemang can still be an outstanding player but he thrives on service into the box. Unfortunately, this year, the crosses and service have been lackluster. Biel orchestrates most goals through the middle of the field, and Toklomati makes better runs behind with his controlled speed. Agyemang is dangerous with the ball in the box, but he hasn’t been able to adjust based on how the team is playing this year. In a team that is dominating possession and frequently has the space and time to deliver balls into the box, Agyemang would score for fun. Still, with the disjointed attack that Charlotte FC has and the way the team organizes itself under Dean Smith, it’s been hard for him to make an impact. I think Agyemang will still bag 10+ goals this season, but with Toklomati scoring, Agyemang better step up his level. Agyemang had 17 total touches and 7 passes with zero shots on goal. Dean Smith Questions need to be asked about Smith’s tactics on Saturday. The team looked lost in the first half, with Biel drifting out wide. Andrew Privett's exclusion was also interesting; the team was much better when he subbed in. This would've been an embarrassing home loss if it weren’t for Zaha and Toklomati’s late heroics.  Smith needs to create more of an identity for the team. Are they counter-attacking? Possession-based? Are they pressing? Are they more focused on defensive structure or sending men forward? These questions all pop up because it feels like the team takes a new identity every game. While it is great that this team has been efficient with its chances recently, it would be nice to see more chances created, more opportunities for the offense to prove themselves, and for Zaha to have space on the ball.  In the next few games, I want to see a 90-minute, consistent performance where the team has control and can create consistent opportunities.

By Ryan Donahue Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 After an underwhelming defeat last weekend in Colorado, Charlotte FC returns home for an exciting Eastern Conference clash with Nashville SC. Both teams currently sit with ten points each, just above the top four, and with Charlotte’s home performances, fans can expect an exciting matchup on Saturday afternoon. Here’s how Charlotte is expected to line up this weekend. Defensive unit With Andrew Privett coming back into the team this weekend and a lackluster performance last weekend, Dean Smith may decide to make a big call and rest Tim Ream for what has been Smith’s preferred center back pairing alongside Adilson Malanda. Nathan Byrne is almost certain to feature on the right, and Souleyman Doumbia will likely continue on the left. However, if Smith were to make a change, resting Doumbia for Ream is a possibility. Kristijan Kahlina will line up in goal. Midfield line The midfield trio will likely be the consistent trio anchored by Ashley Westwood and Brandt Bronico, who will cover box to box. In front of Westwood and Bronico, Charlotte’s central attacking role will feature Pep Biel, who continues to be a major threat when it comes to unlocking defenses this season. When Charlotte’s midfield shows up, they are one of the most difficult teams to play against in MLS. Forward line Despite not scoring last weekend, Dean Smith will almost certainly continue with his main front three, including Patrick Agyemang leading the line. The center forward has looked sharp in his international appearances but has struggled to get going so far this season. Tomorrow’s fixture could be a great opportunity for the striker to show what a threat he can be for defensive opposition as he looks to link up with his wingers, Wilfried Zaha and Liel Abada. Zaha is continuing to settle into life in the States, but as the winger gets more comfortable and in rhythm, his linkup with Agyemang will yield more chances for Charlotte’s offense. Another option we could see is Idan Toklomati, who Smith recognized as the alternative option for Agyemang this season and has featured regularly off the bench so far. Toklomati will more than likely be a second-half feature, but could be the spark needed in the second half to get Charlotte the home points. The matchup against Nashville is a big one for Charlotte, both in terms of asserting themselves among the best in the Eastern Conference, but also for keeping themselves in the top four running, and with home form being one of Charlotte’s big strengths, points against Nashville are essential. Predicted Starting XI

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90 Charlotte FC is coming off a disappointing road performance against the Colorado Rapids. They are back home this weekend where they are undefeated in 2025. This Saturday's test is against Southeastern rivals Nashville SC who have also started the season in good form, recently winning three straight before losing to FC Cincinnati last Saturday. Both Charlotte and Nashville are tied on points with 10 and aiming to solidify themselves higher up the table, making this an early-season contest that feels like there are significant consequences within the rivalry matchup. Here are three 1 v 1 player battles that could be key to earning the result: Patrick Agyemang vs Walker Zimmerman Patrick Agyemang scored in his last start at Bank of America Stadium but struggled to keep that momentum going on the road in Colorado. He will face up against a tough backline this weekend, headed by USMNT center-back Walker Zimmerman. Agyemang will need to put serious pressure on the MLS veteran to try and destabilize Nashville's backline. Ideally, he does this by getting himself into some one-on-one situations early and connecting with a Pep Biel through ball into space behind Zimmerman. Similar to the goal the young striker scored against Cincinnati a few weeks ago. Charlotte FC's left-back vs Ahmed Qasem Now that Tim Ream, Souleyman Doumbia, and Andrew Privett are all available for selection at the same time we will get a sense of which direction Dean Smith is thinking of taking the left side of the backline heading forward. This weekend, whoever ends up playing left back for Charlotte will be up against newly acquired Nashville winger Ahmed Qasem. The Swedish winger is tied for the club lead in goals and has provided a new dynamic to the Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge-led attack. Limiting dynamism will be key to Charlotte's backline success, and a big part of that will be the role of Charlotte's left flank. Ashley Westwood vs Edvard Tagseth Edvard Tagseth is another new signing on BJ Callaghan's roster, and he has been a key piece to implementing Nashville's new look attack. The Norwegian midfielder is a good ball progressor and will look to impose some control on the road. Charlotte's veteran captain, Ashley Westwood, will need to establish early that new, exciting young signings don't get to establish control in the Carolinas. Summary This rivalry matchup has many exciting layers to it. The one that stands out the most is Charlotte FC coming in with a solidified and established playing style and starting eleven going up against Nashville SC's new look and new style led by Callaghan. Smith's group needs to continue showing that continuity at home as they have struggled earning points on the road.

By Brian Maurer Facility photo courtesy of Carolina Core FC Carolina Core FC is getting set to open its new training facility, named the Go-Forth Elite Performance Center, before its MLS NEXT Pro home opener on Saturday. It's an 11,000 square foot facility that required an eight-figure investment. It will have a primary grass field that can be split into multiple smaller fields and then two turf fields for the academy players. The vision for the facility is that it will be "where players are built." Similar to High Point's well-known furniture industry, Core FC players have to develop and create their product in their factory, the Go-Forth Elite Performance Center. They then get an opportunity to display their product in their showroom, on the pitch. Display graphic used to promote the Go-Forth Elite Performance Center (Graphic made by STITCH Design Shop ) The facility will include a state-of-the-art locker room and weight room, as well as a therapy room and video room. There will also be office spaces for coaches and technical staff so the team can all work under one roof. "We certainly are setting a standard for the independent clubs [in MLS NEXT Pro]," said Carolina Core Principal Investor Megan Oglesby. For Carolina Core Sporting Director Eddie Pope this facility unveiling is another sign of how far not only the High Point club has come, but the country's investment in soccer in general. "When I was at Salt Lake, our home locker room was in a strip mall," laughs Pope. That instability at the time added extra pressure and stress on the players and coaches as their day-to-day work environment changed regularly. Pope mentioned that his time playing for DC United had far more structure and facilities that helped maintain a consistent environment. This made a lasting impression on Pope as he moved into his Front Office role post-playing career. "You had stability and everything was organized and structured...for me I wanted to make sure when I came here that the players didn't have that issue," said Pope. "You're asking people to do a job, they have to have a place to work." The facility will give Carolina Core FC's academy players a professional environment which will help them model the behaviors that improve their abilities on and off the field. "Everything from the film room to the locker rooms, to the fitness area, to the training room, the medical room, we wanted it to be at a level that is preparing [players] to get the experience of being treated like a professional in a professional environment and preparing them for the next level," said Oglesby. Because the Core FC Academy will be in the same facility, academy players can watch First Team training and can earn opportunities to train with the First Team. "You start to live and breathe the sport," said Pope on what the facility will bring to player development. Display graphic breaking down the facility layout and amenities (Graphic made by STITCH Design Shop ) The new facility has already garnered international interest . "FIFA reached out to us for World Cup 2026 as a potential Base Training Camp site, we are on the list...if we are selected, we will move out of our facility a World Cup team would move in and they would be here for as little as a month, training ahead of their first games," said Oglesby. If Core FC's facility is selected and the World Cup team advances further in the tournament, they would continue using Go-Forth Elite Performance Center past the initial month of training and group stage games. "We had some site visits from some teams already...the feedback was very favorable," said Oglesby. "That gave us really good validation that folks from FIFA came in and were really impressed with everything that we have." The new facility has also already helped the club as a recruiting tool as Core FC continues to improve their roster as they push for playoffs in year two. "We saw an increase in not only players domestically but also from abroad...we've seen that be a huge selling point and we've used it to our advantage," said Pope. A recent example of the exposure the facility investment helped with was the loan transfer to bring Glory Nzingo, who came in from Swansea City. Nzingo is a young attacker who has earned call-ups to the Ireland U21 National Team and made his Core FC debut on Tuesday. Carolina Core FC's Go-Forth Elite Performance Center is a statement of intent for the professional environment they aim to create for their player development, and their ability to bring interest from other domestic and international markets, adding a new level of excitement to the young club.