After a three match unbeaten streak, Charlotte FC defaulted to a version of themselves thought to have been the past in their 3-1 loss against Real Salt Lake. Things began to click for RSL after an agonizing start to their 2023 campaign as CLTFC were victims of their best performance of the season.
First Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Tuiloma, Afful, Bronico, Bender, Świderski, Jóźwiak, Copetti, Vargas
The first clear scoring opportunity of the match fell to Real Salt Lake in the 9th minute when a pinpoint cross created a wide open header for striker Rubio Rubin but George Marks's lightning reflexes denied the seemingly inevitable goal. Marks came up with other key saves in the opening 25 minutes as he was the busier of the two keepers with a pedestrian start from Charlotte FC.
But against the run of play it was Karol Świderski that gave Charlotte FC the lead in his return to the starting lineup. After receiving the ball from Ben Bender at the top of the box, some shiftiness from the Pole created enough space to smash the ball into the near post.
The latter portion of the first half was much more eventful than the former. It was end-to-end action as both teams pushed for goals and nearly were successful in doing so. It was almost a contest between which keeper could make more saves as they came up clutch for their teams time and time again keeping the scoreline 1-0 heading into the half.
Second Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Tuiloma, Afful, Bronico, Bender, Świderski, Jóźwiak, Copetti, Vargas
Substitutes: Hegardt (66'), Jones (66'), Shinyashiki (66'), Mello (77'), Cambridge (77')
The second half started with an onslaught of attacks from Real Salt Lake and unlike the first half, it was a storm that the Crown could not weather. Within a seven minute span between the 55th and 62nd minute, Real Salt Lake stunned Charlotte by scoring three consecutive goals capitalizing on flurry of scoring opportunities they created.
On a positive note, winger Brandon Cambridge made his first team debut when he came on in the 77th minute. As for the rest of the half, Charlotte limped to the finish as an inspired RSL side comfortably held on to their lead breaking their own losing streak and Charlotte's three unbeaten one.
Charlotte FC return home next weekend to face the Colorado Rapids.
