Charlotte FC's second preseason match of the Coachella Invitational came against the Vancouver Whitecaps in what ended up being a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes. All in all it was an assertive performance by the Crown that built upon the previous preseason match against D.C. United. Following the match there was also an additional 45 minutes played.
The team showed improvement at exerting control with possession and through that possession generating scoring opportunities on a consistent basis throughout the match. Defensively the team was sound, really only conceded one clear opportunity that resulted in the Whitecap's lone goal.
There is still preseason rust but head coach Christian Lattanzio's principles of play are becoming clearer with every preseason match.
First Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Jones, Sobocinski, Bronico, Hegardt, Gaines, Swiderski, Vargas, Copetti
Charlotte had the vast majority of possession in the opening 15 minutes. They were able to create a half-chance when the ball was sprayed wide to Kerwin Vargas who cut onto his right foot and sent a shot just wide of the near post. Vargas remained lively throughout the first half delivering threatening balls into the box for teammates.
A spurt of chances came in quick succession in the 36 minute when Jaylin Lindsey floated a cross inches over Enzo Copetti's head and Chris Hegardt's followed up from the top of the 18 but was well blocked by a Vancouver defender.
The half almost ended in the Whitecaps's favor as they nearly scored in dying moments but an excellent double save from George Marks kept the game at 0-0 heading into halftime.
Second Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Jones, Sobocinski, Bronico, Hegardt, Gaines, Swiderski, Vargas, Copetti
Substitutes: Marks, Byrne, Neeley, Diop, Mora, Bender, Afful, Santos, Mello, Jozwiak, Shinyashiki
Seven minutes into the start of the second half, a recycled freekick gets set back to Lindsey who whips in an out-swinging cross that Swiderski meets but it flies over the bar. In the 58th minute, Mckinze Gaines looked for Copetti on the back post but the ball barely evades the Argentine for a goal kick.
On the defensive side, Adilson Malanda continued to be steadfast on defense. In the 64th minute he made a crucial sliding block to extinguish a dangerous situation to force a corner. Following this, Charlotte went back the other way, building up smartly until slipping it in to Vargas who's attempted cross takes a deflection and sneaks over the line for the opening goal of the match.
Most of the substitutes came in following the goal in 70th minute. In the 76th minute, Andre Shinyashiki links up with Vinicius Mello who snapped a volley just wide of the post. Four minute later, Mello lays off a chipped pass from Ben Bender to Harrison Afful who's shot drifted just wide.
Charlotte weren't able to hold to their lead as in Vancouver tied it up in the 80th minute but the Crown would get one last chance to retake the lead when a shimmy from Shinyashiki freed him to cross it to Bender who wasn't able to put away the game winner.
Bonus 45 Minutes
Not too much notable action aside from two big saves by Pablo Sisniega in the 7th minute and a curling shot by Shinyashiki in the 27th minute that was saved.
Up Next
Charlotte FC heads back to the East Coast to play a familiar preseason opponent, the Charleston Battery.
