Charlotte FC reaches the midpoint of its three-match road trip against the Philadelphia Union as The Crown plays its final of a week-long stretch.
Kickoff from Subaru Park is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, and fans can watch the match on Apple TV.
Let’s look at the Materials of the Match presented by Rubbermaid to see how Charlotte FC can beat one of the league's hottest teams.
Last Time Out
Charlotte FC lost to the Columbus Crew 3-1 on Wednesday, October 14, at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.
Charlotte FC struck first with Idan Toklomati in the 17th minute, stealing the ball from a Columbus defender and taking a shot that went into the back of the net.
The Crew responded in the 28th minute with Brais Méndez taking a shot from just outside the box that was just out of the reach of Kristijan Kahlina. Columbus put a lot of pressure on Charlotte FC’s defense throughout the match, and it paid off with two goals in the 63rd and 65th minute to clinch the victory.
Hello Playoffs
Charlotte FC can clinch a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season with the following outcomes on Saturday and potentially Sunday:
- A Charlotte FC win against Philadelphia Union
OR
- A Charlotte FC draw against Philadelphia Union
- A D.C. United loss or draw against Orlando City SC (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
- A Toronto FC loss or draw against Red Bull New York (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
- A New York City FC loss or draw against Los Angeles FC (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
OR
- A Charlotte FC draw against Philadelphia Union
- A FC Cincinnati draw against Columbus Crew (10/18, 5:00 p.m)
- A D.C. United draw against Orlando City SC (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
- A Toronto FC loss or draw against Red Bull New York (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
- A New York City FC loss or draw against Los Angeles FC (10/17, 7:30 p.m)
If The Crown clinch a playoff spot, it will mean Head Coach Dean Smith has made the playoffs with Charlotte FC every year he’s led the team.
If Charlotte FC can finish in third place or higher in the Eastern Conference, it would be their highest regular season finish in Club history. The Crown can finish with a maximum of 61 points, which would also be a club-best, beating the 2025 season total of 59 points.
Record Watch
Toklomati and Pep Biel are tied for the Club lead in goals with 12, but in doing so they’ve tied Charlotte FC’s single-season MLS goals record with Karol Świderski.
There’s a strong possibility that either Toklomati or Biel, if not both, will surpass Świderski for the record with five matches left in the season. The 12 goals for both players are career-highs, with Toklomati surpassing his previous career-high (11) in Wednesday’s match against Columbus.
With Charlotte FC still looking to lock up a playoff spot, their ability to find the net will be imperative to The Crown securing a place in the postseason.
“Really pleased that we've got two players on 12 goals,” Smith said. “Even more pleased, one of the first things I said is that we need to score from different areas, a lot more, and we've done that all season. ”
They’re Right Behind Us
While Charlotte FC has had their own ascension on the Eastern Conference table following the end of the World Cup break, Philadelphia Union’s run of form has been unparalleled.
The Union has gone 12-0-2 since returning to play at the end of July, collecting 38 points and winning their last eight matches – just one match away from tying the most consecutive wins in the post-shootout MLS era.
The streak came following the firing of Head Coach Bradley Carnell and the appointment of Ryan Richter, the head coach of Philadelphia Union II, as the interim gaffer. The change has worked as the Union has made their way up the standings, all the way to sixth place with 45 points, just one spot and one point behind Charlotte FC heading into Saturday’s match.
The middle of the Eastern Conference has become tight, with third-place New England and sixth-place Philadelphia separated by four points. The Crown are in the middle of the fight with 46 points, three less than New England and two less than Chicago Fire FC in fourth place.
Matches like Charlotte FC and Philadelphia’s on Saturday will begin to shape what the Eastern Conference seeding looks like with nearly a month left until the playoffs begin.
“The margin for error gets smaller all the time because the lack of games,” Smith said. “When you've got more games, you've got more points to play for, so we know it's a big game. We have a team that's a point below us, a team that's doing really well at the moment on fire.”
Breaking the Union
The Philadelphia Union’s resurgence this season has been led by a youth movement of homegrown talent guiding the way.
Cavan Sullivan is at the forefront of the Union, leading the club with 14 assists and is tied for second in MLS in the category. At just 17 years old, he has been a dynamic figure on the pitch and someone clubs have had to make sure can’t find a way to change the match. Sullivan has 11 of his 14 assists following when the MLS returned from the World Cup break, beginning to rise into superstardom.
Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre are two other local products that the Union has deployed for them this season in the backline. In Westfield’s second season for Philadelphia, he has doubled his assist total from last season to 11. Like Sullivan, Pierre is another teenage sensation for the Union. He has recorded four goals and an assist from the center back position and has started in 12 matches for Philadelphia, as well as starting for the United States in the most recent international break.
While not as youthful as some of his teammates, 27-year-old Milan Iloski has brought an enthusiastic energy into the Union’s attack. Iloski is building on a 12-goal season last season when he was on San Diego and Philadelphia. He has 18 goals this season, the third-most in MLS and just behind Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi and FC Dallas’ Petar Musa.
Philadelphia Union’s offense has scored the fifth-most goals in MLS this season due to players like Iloski and Sullivan. However, they’ve also outscored opponents 36-16 during their 13-match unbeaten streak, meaning Charlotte FC needs to both possess the ball, score and limit Philadelphia’s chances to create inside the box.
“They've got some good players there that work hard as a team and you know what to expect when you play them,” Smith said. “Our job is to stop that. We've had some really tight games against them. We've won there before and we've lost there last-minute last year as well. So, looking forward to another competitive game. ”
NEXT AT HOME
OCTOBER 28 @ 7:30 PM // CHARLOTTE VS. MONTREAL
The Crown takes on CF Montreal in a mid-week matchup on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:30 PM at Bank of America Stadium during Fan Appreciation Week. Don't miss the last regular-season light show, presented by Duke Energy!
