FC Cincinnati, Charlotte FC Intent on Erasing Previous Match Woes
Both FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC will be looking to bounce back from disappointing results when they face off on Saturday night in Charlotte.
Charlotte FC Seeks Rebound After Frustrating Loss
Charlotte FC (1-1-1, 4 points) suffered a 1-0 loss at 10-man Inter Miami last Sunday, despite holding a man advantage for more than a half and not having to deal with Lionel Messi.
Coach Dean Smith was frustrated by the result, especially since he felt it was his team’s best overall performance of the young season.
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“It was our best performance of the season I think, (and) 11-on-11, we definitely go on and win the game,” Smith said.
Once Miami went down a man, Charlotte struggled to break through their opponent’s defensive setup, with Wilfried Zaha coming closest to finding an equalizer.
Cincinnati Looking to Move on from Champions Cup Exit
FC Cincinnati (2-1-0, 6 points) is also looking to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to Tigres UANL in Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match. That result eliminated Cincinnati from the tournament by a 4-2 aggregate score.
Evander provided an early lead for Cincinnati, scoring his third goal since arriving from Portland in the offseason. The Brazilian midfielder is being counted on to replace the production of 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta, and he continues to impress in his new role.
“He can make plays in different ways, and he’s certainly got the experience,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said of Charlotte’s Zaha, who has already notched one goal in two games. “So we only have a small sample size of him with this group. But I imagine he’s only going to get better and better.”
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Key Players to Watch
- Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte): The former Premier League star remains Charlotte’s biggest attacking threat.
- Evander (Cincinnati): The Brazilian midfielder is settling into his role as Cincinnati’s new playmaker.
- Roman Celentano (Cincinnati): The goalkeeper will need to keep Charlotte’s attack at bay after a tough outing against Tigres.
Both teams have something to prove after disappointing results—Charlotte aims to correct its finishing issues, while Cincinnati looks to shake off its Champions Cup exit.