By Billy McGee
April 10, 2026
Photo: Charlotte FC
After their 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union, Charlotte FC are now sitting in third place in the MLS Eastern Conference and are just two points behind first place. They will take on first-place Nashville SC on Saturday, with the opportunity to move to the top of the conference with a win and some help from other results.
Against Philadelphia, Charlotte FC dominated the first half, allowing just two shots from the opposition while holding a majority of possession. They took a 1-0 lead into the break after a 30th-minute strike from Ashley Westwood, who finished from just inside the 18-yard box. The second half was a different story, as Philadelphia came out on the front foot and built a sustained spell of pressure in which they recorded 12 shots without Charlotte registering a single attempt, ultimately culminating in the equalizer in the 78th minute from Danley Jean Jacques.
The Philadelphia goal seemed to awaken Charlotte FC, as shortly after the ensuing kickoff, Pep Biel found space on the wing with plenty of room on the ball. He carried it toward the box and picked out Wilfried Zaha making a run into the area, and Zaha finished the move with a volley to put the home side back ahead 2-1 in the 80th minute. The Crown had another big chance just a couple of minutes later through Liel Abada, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot was saved, and the match ultimately ended 2-1.
Nashville is currently in the midst of a Concacaf Champions Cup run, where they are in the quarterfinals against Club América. They played a 0-0 draw in the home leg midweek leading into their match against Charlotte FC this weekend, and will play the away leg the following week in another midweek fixture.
As a result, Nashville is expected to bring a heavily rotated side to the Queen City, giving Charlotte FC a strong chance to pick up points against one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. In the match against Columbus between Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures, their usual front three of Hany Mukhtar, Christian Espinoza, and MLS-leading goalscorer Sam Surridge did not start, though both came on in the second half as substitutes, with Mukhtar scoring a stoppage-time winner.
The match will still be a challenge for Charlotte, even though a full-strength Nashville lost their most recent MLS game 1-0 to Chicago Fire FC after conceding a first-minute goal to Philip Zinckernagel. Their squad depth is impressive, especially on the back line. Defenders Jack Maher and Josh Bauer are more than capable of holding their own, as both started against Columbus Crew between Concacaf Champions Cup matches with Inter Miami in the Round of 16.
Charlotte will need someone in attack to step up with Wilfried Zaha unavailable as he serves a suspension for yellow-card accumulation. Liel Abada is likely to start in Zaha’s place, making this a major opportunity for him to get his season on track after a slow start that has seen him yet to score a goal and begin on the bench in each of the past two matches. If he fails to produce in this game, it could further complicate his standing at Charlotte, as he has yet to fully justify his status as a designated player and his contract expires at the end of the season.
If Abada or Kerwin Vargas rise to the occasion to help Biel in attack and the defense maintains the steady form fans have become accustomed to over the home stretch, then Charlotte should be able to take all three points from Nashville and would move atop the Eastern Conference if New York City FC drop points against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The game against Nashville will kick off this Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium and will be available to watch via streaming on Apple TV.
In the midweek following the match against Nashville, Charlotte will enter the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32. The Open Cup match will be played against USL League One side Charlotte Independence, marking the first time the two Charlotte teams have ever played each other. Charlotte drew No. 1 priority in their group, meaning that if they advance past this round, they will host the winner of Atlanta United and Chattanooga FC.
The U.S. Open Cup match against Charlotte Independence will be played on Wednesday, April 15, at the Matthews Sportsplex, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed on Paramount+.
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