Charlotte FC is set to play against last year's record-setting Supporter's Shield winners, the New England Revolution, in their second home match of the season.
Here are the three ingredients of the match to keep an eye on against the Revolution.
Set The Tone Early
New England Revolution is coming into this match fresh off a midweek CONCACAF Champions League match in Mexico City. The match was a rigorous affair in and of itself, but the high altitude of the match only intensified the physical toll it took on players.
The Revolution will only have two days of recovery before the match against Charlotte FC, which is an opportunity that CLTFC can seize.
It will be necessary for the team to set the tone early against the tired legs of New England. The last thing you want to do is allow the Revolution to get comfortable early in the game.
In the previous two matches, CLTFC started slow but improved as the matches progressed. Once they settled into the game, the team was able to control substantial portions of their matches.
The team needs to start the match with intensity, not giving the Revolution time to settle. Charlotte will have a home crowd which they can use as fuel to gain some early momentum.
Don’t Stop Believin'
As cliché as it may be, it’s undeniable that a team that believes in themselves performs better. We’ve seen early in this season that this Charlotte FC side does have belief in themselves but has been unlucky to not be rewarded for it.
Playing well just to concede penalties against the run of play, losing games by deflections, or not converting great scoring opportunities can take a toll on that self-belief. Negative thoughts can creep into the mind, breeding frustration and doubt.
Charlotte FC scored their first-ever goal in history against Atlanta United but lost in heartbreaking fashion, conceding a 96th-minute goal off a deflection. They were so close to earning their first point of the season, and it would be easier to focus on the negative.
The team needs to keep believing that their effort will eventually be rewarded. Keep working hard, creating scoring opportunities, and the goals and results will come. As head coach Miguel Ramírez said...
“I believe we deserve [goals]. But, as I said before the competition started, sometimes it’s a matter of luck, and we are not in this moment of 'post and goal’. We are in this moment of ‘post and out’. Hopefully, in one moment, it will change.”
Keep believing that the 'post and goal' period can be right around the corner.
Limiting Service to Strikers
The Revolution are spoiled for choices at the striker position, with three MLS starting-caliber forwards in Gustavo Bou, Jozy Altidore, and Adam Buksa. All three are natural goal scorers who possess excellent finishing abilities.
Every striker relies on service, but these three depend on it particularly more than other types of strikers. If given chances to score, they will put them away but creating chances for themselves is their weakness.
It’s usually the 2021 MLS MVP, Carles Gil, who’s providing the brilliant service to enable the strikers ahead of him to do what they do best... score goals. However, there’s a chance that the Revolution’s maestro won’t start because of the quick turnaround from their midweek match.
Regardless of who’s on the pitch for New England, the goal remains the same: limiting the service to the strikers. If Charlotte does this, they will take the primary source of goals away from the Revolution.
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