By Billy McGee
May 9, 2025
Photo: Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC started their four-match road trip with their worst defeat of the season, falling 4-2 to the Columbus Crew on Saturday. However, they bounced back with a 4-1 extra-time win over USL Championship side North Carolina FC in the Round of 32 of the US Open Cup on Tuesday.
The Crown were without Pep Biel for both matches after he suffered a minor hamstring injury against New England. Djibril Diani started in his absence, with Brandt Bronico moving into Biel’s attacking midfielder role against Columbus.
Charlotte nearly struck early against Columbus when Ashley Westwood found Patrick Agyemang over the top, but his chip sailed over the bar. Columbus responded with early pressure and capitalized in the 25th minute after a poor clearance from Kristijan Kahlina led to a rebound goal by Dylan Chambost — his first in MLS. The Crew almost doubled the lead in the 34th minute, but Kahlina tipped Aziel Jackson’s shot over the bar.
A handball on Liel Abada gave Columbus a penalty in the 39th minute, which Diego Rossi slotted home to make it 2-0. Charlotte pulled one back before halftime when Brandt Bronico was fouled in the box and Wilfried Zaha converted the penalty, making it 2-1 at the break.
Columbus extended their lead to 3-1 in the 51st minute through Jackson, finishing a cutback from Mohamed Farsi. Charlotte answered again in the 64th after goalkeeper Patrick Schulte mishandled a delivery, allowing Abada to score. The Crew sealed the win in the 81st minute when Jacen Russell-Rowe headed in a cross from Max Arfsten.
Charlotte’s defense struggled, conceding 18 shots (12 on target) and 3.3 xGA, with the four goals marking their worst defensive outing since a 5-2 playoff loss to the Red Bulls in 2023. Offensively, Charlotte managed nine shots and 1.8 xG, but only two were on target.
I think the biggest thing for us was that we made too many basic errors,” head coach Dean Smith said in the postgame press conference. “When you do that against a good team — rather than just good individuals — you get punished for it.
Charlotte FC advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 with a 4-1 extra-time win over NCFC, despite missing key players. Adilson Malanda was suspended due to yellow cards accumulation in the 2023 Round of 16 loss to Birmingham Legion, while Kristijan Kahlina, Ashley Westwood, and Wilfried Zaha were rested.
In a rematch of their preseason meeting which NCFC won 1-0, both sides had limited chances in regulation. Charlotte nearly scored with a cross into Idan Toklomati that he sent wide, while Nick Scardina cleared an early NCFC attempt off the line. Late substitutions brought a spark, but the match remained 0-0 after 90 minutes.
In extra time, Charlotte took the lead in the 97th minute as Liel Abada punched in a pass from Nicholas Scardina, only for NCFC’s Rafa Mentzingen to equalize a minute later. Agyemang restored the lead in the 104th minute with a header, and late goals from Nikola Petkovic (119’) and Kerwin Vargas (123’) sealed the win.
Charlotte dominated possession with nearly 70% and outshot NCFC 19-10 (8-2 on target). Despite committing 17 fouls and receiving three yellow cards in the first half, they controlled the match after introducing regular starters — with Vargas being the only goalscorer who started the game.
Charlotte will face D.C. United on the road in the next round on May 21, aiming to reach the Open Cup quarterfinals for the first time.
“It’s a really good opportunity for us to go and get some silverware,” said Smith. “I said that to the players before the game, only four years old, it’s a chance for them to make some legacy for themselves and go and try and win the first trophy, so that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”
Charlotte FC continues its road trip with a visit to sixth-place Nashville SC, who sit just two points behind the Crown in the Eastern Conference. Nashville is unbeaten in their last three matches, beating Chicago 7-2, drawing 1-1 against Atlanta United, and defeating Chattanooga Red Wolves 1-0 in the U.S. Open Cup.
In the 1-1 draw with Atlanta, Nashville conceded in the 20th minute after goalkeeper Joe Willis punched a cross straight to Brooks Lennon, who set up Miguel Almirón for a tap-in. Nashville equalized in the 66th minute with Daniel Lovitz scoring from a corner. They pushed for a winner, creating 2.2 expected goals (xG) and putting five of 12 shots on target, but Brad Guzan made several key saves. Defensively, Nashville held Atlanta to just six shots and 1.2 expected goals against (xGA).
In the U.S. Open Cup match, Nashville used a completely rotated lineup but still controlled the game. Josh Bauer scored the lone goal in the 18th minute with a low strike from outside the box. Although they hit the crossbar early and came close on several occasions, Nashville put just three of their 15 shots on target. Defensively, they faced little pressure, conceding only three total shots.
Charlotte faces a tough challenge heading into GEODIS Park, where Nashville holds a 4-1-1 home record this season, including a seven-goal outburst against Chicago on April 26. In that match, Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar each scored twice from open play, with Surridge adding two more from the penalty spot. The Crown defeated Nashville 2-1 in the reverse fixture on April 5, with an 85th-minute penalty from Zaha and Toklomati’s first career goal in the 90th. To snap their two-match MLS skid, Charlotte will need to capitalize on their chances and avoid the basic errors that cost them against Columbus. A likely return for Biel could provide a boost to the attack in both creating and finishing opportunities. A win would mark Charlotte’s first-ever road victory against Nashville.
The match against Nashville is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, and will be available to stream on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
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