Charlotte FC goes from facing the previous number one seed to challenging the current number one seed as they go up against FC Cincinnati.
Here are the three ingredients of the match:
The Other Argentine Magician
Lionel Messi naturally grabs the headlines, but another Argentine No. 10 has been making waves in MLS long before Messi's arrival—Lucho Acosta.
The 2023 MLS MVP isn't slowing down this season, leading the MVP race with an impressive 10 goals and 17 assists just halfway through the season.
He's particularly sharp against Charlotte at TQL Stadium, contributing two of the three goals FCC scored the last time Charlotte visited, including the 2023 goal of the year, where he seemingly took on the whole team.
Stop Acosta, and you stifle 90% of Cincinnati's offense. Simple in theory but much harder in practice. Charlotte’s strategy should focus on forcing the rest of the team to beat them instead of succumbing to Acosta.
Attack the Gaps
FC Cincinnati has faced serious injuries in the center-back position. Regular starters, captain Matt Miazga and veteran Nick Hagglund have been sidelined with long-term injuries.
Despite these losses, FCC remains one of the best defensive teams. However, their wide center-backs often find themselves isolated due to attacking wingbacks. Charlotte needs to exploit these gaps with their wingers. Both Abada and Vargas are due a goal and are likely to find the best opportunities of the night.
Stay on Frame
When Charlotte's forwards get into dangerous areas, the focus needs to be on keeping their shots on frame. In Charlotte's 2-1 loss to Miami, The Crown managed 14 shots in and around the box, but only 2 were on frame.
Giving yourself only 2 real chances to score out of 14 shots makes offense difficult. Keeping shots on frame forces the keeper to make a save, creating real opportunities to score.
In contrast, in Charlotte's 2-0 win over Philadelphia, the team had 18 shots, with seven on target. They managed to get 38% of their shots on target compared to 14% against Miami, and the results speak for themselves.
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