Charlotte's first match of their three-game away series kicks off in Vancouver against the Whitecaps.
Here's the ingredients of the match:
Exploit Wide Areas
Whitecaps Head Coach Vanni Sartini sets up his team in a compact 3-4-3 that aims to restrict anything down the middle. Charlotte FC will find openings out wide where the opposing wingbacks will be isolated.
The combination between CLTFC’s wingers and fullbacks will be key in opening up the Whitecaps in their home opener. Both Nathan Byrne and Jere Uronen, who were excellent in the season opener, could prove to be the key to unlocking the Whitecaps with their overlapping runs. Overloading wide areas will also allow for free delivery of crosses which the Whitecaps struggled to defend against when they conceded off two in their 3-0 loss against Tigres in Concacaf Champions Cup.
This game hinges on the performance of the wide players; they will be the ones to watch in Charotte’s second match of the season.
Finishing Touch in Transition
Charlotte's defense was stellar against New York City, conceding only 0.5 Expected Goals (xG). Transitioning swiftly from defense to offense, they initiated promising counterattacks. However, they lacked the finishing touch.
While the Whitecaps are conservative on defense, they aren’t afraid to push numbers forward which can lead to a lot of dangerous transition moments for the visitors.
Players like Enzo Copetti and Kerwin Vargas can really thrive in the open field - as they demonstrated against NYCFC - but will need to take full advantage of these moments on Saturday away from home.
Maintain Standards
Captain Ashley Westwood emphasized the need to sustain high standards beyond a single good performance to keep the momentum going.
“There are the standards we’ve set, and we now need to keep these standards,” said Westwood following the match.
The team showed incredible grit, determination, and discipline for all 90 minutes against New York City FC. They now need to prove they can keep those standards away from home, as they look to spoil the Whitecaps’ season opener.
The hostile atmosphere and the Whitecaps' playoff pedigree present a challenging test for Dean Smith's squad. Yet, if their recent performance is any indication, The Crown will be prepared to rise to the occasion.
