By Billy McGee
June 13, 2025
Photo: Charlotte FC
After a week off, Charlotte FC returns to action with an away match against the first-place Philadelphia Union. Now halfway through the MLS regular season with 17 games played, Charlotte sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 8-8-1 and 25 points. The defense has struggled, tied for the third-most shots against and allowing 27 goals — just 10 fewer than they conceded over the entire 2024 season. May was a disappointing month for the Crown, as they went 2-5 in MLS play and allowed 19 goals.
Charlotte’s attack has also underperformed relative to their expected goals this season, with a total of 32 expected goals but only 28 scored thus far. Their output has been inconsistent from game to game, averaging 11.5 shots per match with 4.8 on target. However, they are coming off a bounceback performance against Toronto FC, where they attempted 18 shots with nine on target.
With the week off and fewer games on the schedule in June compared to May, Charlotte is healthier. Souleyman Doumbia returned to the starting lineup against Toronto after suffering a hamstring injury on April 19 against San Diego. Idan Toklomati is also set to make his return, after sustaining a hamstring injury on May 14 against Orlando.
“He’s available to start,” said head coach Dean Smith when asked about Toklomati’s fitness. “He’s been training right from the start of the week. He stayed back when the players had the weekend off and he stayed back to do some extra work to make sure that he was ready.”
Toklomati will be crucial to the team, as Patrick Agyemang will be unavailable due to his call-up to the United States Men’s National Team for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
The Philadelphia Union have been among the best teams in MLS in 2025, ranking fourth in both goals scored (32) and goals allowed (18). They are coming off a scoreless draw against FC Dallas. Dallas defender Lalas Abubakar was shown a red card in the 39th minute, leaving his team with 10 players for the remainder of the match. Philadelphia dominated possession with 63 percent and recorded 23 shots — but only one on target. That 63 percent possession is an outlier for the Union this season, who typically are not a ball-dominant team, averaging 46.7 percent possession on the season.
The two teams have yet to face off this season, but in their two MLS meetings last year, one ended in a scoreless draw in Charlotte, while the Crown won the other 2-0 on the road.
The Crown have a disappointing 2-6-1 record on the road this season, while Philadelphia has been strong at home with a 5-1-3 record. Although MLS’s leading goal scorer Tai Baribo is sidelined with an injury, Charlotte’s defense will still need to contain Quinn Sullivan and Kai Wagner — both of whom are tied for the fourth-most assists in the league with seven.
Going up against one of the league’s top defensive units, Charlotte will likely lean on a counterattacking approach to exploit spaces left by the Union’s backline. A key factor will be getting Pep Biel involved, as his vision and passing ability allow him to spark attacks with through balls in transition.
The match is set to take place on Saturday, June 14, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST, streaming on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
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