By Billy McGee
March 27, 2025
Charlotte FC defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 in an eventful match at The Fortress, improving to 3-1-1 on the season and solidifying second place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte was without Patrick Agyemang, Liel Abada, and Tim Ream due to international duties, but Idan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas stepped in on the attack, while new signing Souleyman Doumbia filled in at left back in Ream’s absence.
The Crown opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a great sequence of team play in the buildup. Doumbia received the ball from Zaha with space to carry it up the pitch, creating an attacking opportunity. Brandt Bronico got the ball on the wing and attempted to play it to Toklomati in the box, but the pass was deflected by a defender, falling to Pep Biel, who came running in and finished with a goal to take an early lead. Biel had another chance to score in the 18th minute after Vargas made a sliding effort to keep the ball in play. The ball redirected off a San Jose defender and fell to Biel, who took a touch to create enough space for a shot that was saved by Daniel de Sousa Britto.
Charlotte added to their lead in the 36th minute. After Privett made a clearance from inside their own box, Toklomati pressed San Jose’s Dave Romney, winning the ball and creating a great goal-scoring opportunity for the Crown. He passed it to Vargas on the opposite wing for a shot that beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the goal line by a San Jose defender. Toklomati recovered the ball and placed a pass to Ashley Westwood in the middle of the box for the captain’s first goal of the season, doubling Charlotte’s lead.
The 2-0 scoreline didn’t last long, as Charlotte added a third goal in the 40th minute. Biel played a ball through to Bronico, who beat two defenders, causing the goalkeeper to rush out of the goal. Bronico then scooped the ball over the sliding goalkeeper outside the box and chipped it into the empty net before San Jose’s Bruno Wilson could recover. During the celebration, Bronico took off his shirt and rocked the baby, earning a yellow card in the process.
“I told my wife, the first goal I score this season, I don’t care what minute it’s in, I’m ripping my shirt off and doing the baby rock,” said Bronico, who welcomed his first child with his wife in the offseason.
The three goals marked the most Charlotte has ever scored in the first half of a match, with all three midfielders finding the back of the net. The Crown kept their foot on the gas to start the second half, adding another goal in the 52nd minute to extend their lead to 4-0. Biel played Vargas into space on the right wing, and Vargas dribbled into the box, finishing at the far post. He nearly had another goal in the 54th minute when Zaha found him in the middle of the box for a shot that missed to the left. Toklomati had another opportunity in the 66th minute with a perfectly timed run into the box, receiving another pass from Biel, but his shot went wide left.
San Jose scored their first goal in the 73rd minute after a penalty was awarded. Privett was shown a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity inside the box. The decision was reviewed by VAR, and the referee went to the screen to confirm the call. The red card stood, and Arango converted the penalty to make the score 4-1.
Biel’s goal and two-assist performance got him Man of the Match, Player of the Matchday, and a spot on the Team of the Matchday squad. His season totals now sit at two goals and four assists, tying him for the most goal contributions in Major League Soccer. Biel was not the only Charlotte FC player to receive Team of the Matchday honors, as Westwood was named to the squad as a substitute.
Charlotte is on the road for their next match, facing the Colorado Rapids. They’ll be without Privett, who will be serving his red card suspension, but Agyemang, Abada, and Ream will return from international duty. The starting lineup should resemble what they used in the first four matches of the season, with Ream moving inside to replace Privett and Doumbia remaining at left back.
Colorado currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with eight points and a 2-1-2 record. They are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Portland Timbers, which saw an own goal scored in stoppage time in the first half, another goal in the 47th minute by Antony Alves Santos, and a third goal in the 75th minute, scored by Kevin Kelsy and assisted by Jimer Fory on a cross. In the match, Colorado had 10 shots, with only two on target, and were caught offside five times. Colorado’s goalkeeper Zack Steffen is second in MLS in saves, with 24 through just four matches played, including a match where he recorded 12 saves against San Jose.
Biel has been the key to the team’s success so far this season, acting as the engine behind the attack. If he maintains his form with three starters returning to the lineup, Charlotte should be able to leave Colorado with all three points, provided the defense performs to their standard.
The match against Colorado is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, March 29, and will be available to watch on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.
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