Must-win playoff game tonight for Charlotte FC
Must-win playoff game tonight for Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC hosts first MLS playoff game and must beat Orlando for a chance to advance; Smith voices displeasure after playmaker Pep Biel's appeal denied; assistant coach Kah leaving, and more
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Bank of America Stadium will be ‘rocking’ for city’s first playoff game in a major pro sport since 2016; Charlotte FC looks to even the best-of-three series against Orlando 1-1
Contrast the view of an empty Bank of America Stadium with the atmosphere on Friday night, when Charlotte FC hosts Orlando City to stay alive in MLS playoffs. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
For the first time in eight years, the city of Charlotte is hosting a playoff game in a major sport. It’s the first home playoff game ever for Charlotte FC, which hosts Orlando City at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Friday) at Bank of America Stadium in Game 2 of its Round One best-of-three MLS playoff series.
Charlotte, which lost the series opener in Orlando, has to win to force a Game 3 on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Orlando. A playoff win would be a first for Charlotte, which lost in the wildcard play-in game last year 5-2 against the New York Red Bulls.
Like the Charlotte Hornets, who hosted Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat three times in a seven-game series in April of 2016, Charlotte FC is trying to avoid being eliminated by a veteran team from Florida.
The 2-0 loss Sunday in Orlando not only brought Charlotte to the brink of elimination but cost the club winger Pep Biel for a game. Biel picked up a red card in the 90th minute for what was deemed “violent conduct,” which warrants an automatic suspension for the next game. Charlotte appealed the decision, which was denied on Wednesday. If the series goes to Game 3, he’ll be eligible to play again.
The Spanish playmaker has been a bright spot lately for Charlotte, scoring two goals and assisting three others during the Crown’s five-game unbeaten streak.
“We feel aggrieved,” said Smith. (More on his reaction below.) “I think the injustice that we as a team feel will make the club grow stronger.”
Charlotte came out flat in Orlando
Sunday in Orlando, Charlotte looked like the less experienced team, with even the steadiest of players committing a litany of unforced errors. Smith reeled off a handful of names afterward: Kristijan Kahlina, Andrew Privett, Ashley Westwood, Tim Ream, Liel Abada, etc.
“We needed to show composure and be able to handle the pressure of a playoff game,” Smith said afterward. “Some of the lads were in the first one; I thought we gave them the ball too cheaply.”
Midfielder Brandt Bronico put it another way this week.
“I felt like we showed them too much respect,” Bronico said. “We needed to be more aggressive and ultimately bring the game to them.”
Orlando, meanwhile, played like a team in the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The Lions trail only the New York Red Bulls (15th) for the longest current consecutive playoff appearance streak in MLS. (The Red Bulls, by the way, upset defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus, 1-0, in its first-round opener.)
“Orlando is a good team,” Smith said. “They've got good players that are dynamic. They’ve got good movements, but we know we can be better than what we've shown.”
Charlotte hopes to benefit from home field advantage
One way Charlotte appears to have a clear advantage is with the home crowd. Inter&Co Stadium had swaths of purple (empty) seats on display Sunday night, revealing a disconnect, perhaps, in a Disney-centric touristy town with an uptown stadium.
Charlotte figures to have an electric crowd for Game 2. Between 40,000-50,000 are expected. Charlotte has lost just three times in 17 games at Bank of America Stadium this season, while going going 9-3-5 there. Charlotte finished second in regular season attendance in MLS with an average of 35,634 fans per game compared with Orlando’s 11th-place 22,144 average.
The last time Charlotte FC played in a must-win game at home, the team defeated Lionel Messi and Miami 1-0 on the last day of the regular season to claim a spot in the wildcard game.
“I think probably the lowest attendance we had this season was our poorest game (a 3-0 loss) against Minnesota,” Smith said. “The more fans we get in The Bank, the better our performance levels have been. And I think it will be rocking on Friday. And we’re looking forward to that.”
Smith rants after Biel appeal denied
Pep Biel making a move vs. Chicago. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
It’s been clear since Smith first arrived in Charlotte this season that he’s not afraid to voice his displeasure with officiating. After revealing Biel’s red card appeal had been denied Wednesday, it sounded like Smith’s just been warming up.
“I don’t need an explanation,” Smith said, when asked what explanation he received for an independent panel’s decision to deny the appeal. “I’ve asked them not to send the rationale behind it because I’ve seen the incidents. I’ve seen the referee’s report. The video evidence contradicts the referee’s report. We put that in our appeal.”
Biel received a red card after “kicking up” at Orlando defender Robin Jansson after the two got tangled up during a tackle. No foul was called initially, but referee Drew Fischer, who was named MLS Referee of the Year last week, issued a red card after appearing to consult with an assistant referee.
With any red card, the play is reviewed by a Video Assistant Referee, who may only assist the referee in the event of a “clear and obvious error.” Fischer was never given an indication the call was worthy of him checking the video monitor.
“I Googled last night ‘clear and obvious’ in an American dictionary, because I wasn’t sure whether ‘clear and obvious’ was different to an English[man] and it's the same,” Smith said. “I understand the laws of the game and what violent conduct stands for as well. And in my 36 years in professional football, I can’t understand how you can kick somebody when your leg is connected to the other person’s.”
For a slow-motion replay, check out this video from TopBin90.com.
“On the video evidence, [Fischer] definitely doesn’t see the incident,” Smith said. “He doesn’t blow [the whistle] for a free kick. He’s obviously brought to attention that something has happened, and the closest match official to that is 40 yards away. So I think it’s an incorrect decision. I think it’s an incorrect process as well. I think it’s been flawed. But we have to go with it, and it is what it is. I’ll leave it to other people’s judgments if that was somebody else’s DP…”
The inference, perhaps, was that Miami’s Lionel Messi might not have been shown red on a similar play.
Smith ranged from defiant to funny in Wednesday’s press conference. When asked about replays showing that Biel’s leg had in fact lifted into the air, from his position on the ground, Smith said, “The other lad’s leg goes up as well, at the same time. I’d probably give him a gold medal for synchronized swimming.”
Mostly, Smith’s reaction gave an indication of how critical Biel’s absence could be. He’s a designated player acquired right at the close of the summer transfer window. Biel is in a trial period with the club, on loan until Dec. 31.
“Unfortunately, he’s missing, and it’s a problem for our club, because this is the biggest game in our history,” Smith said. “It’s only a short history, but at home, in front of our fans for a playoff game for the first time, and we’ll be missing a DP.”
In Biel’s absence, Smith mentioned using Kerwin Vargas, Iuri Tavares and Jamie Paterson as possible replacements. When asked about the potential to play Karol Swiderski and Patrick Agyemang — both strikers — at the same time, and changing his formation as a result, Smith didn’t sound convinced.
“I've put them together a couple of times before and wasn’t quite sure that that worked,” Smith said. “I think it goes away from what our strengths are as well.”
Kah departing for Phoenix
Pa-Madou Kah (right) cheering on former Charlotte FC player Scott Arfield at a practice last spring. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
The Ledger has confirmed Tom Bogert’s report that Charlotte FC assistant coach Pa-Modou Kah is departing after the playoff run for a head coaching job with Phoenix Rising of the USL Championship. Kah has previously been a head coach for Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League and FC Dallas’ Next Pro team. Last offseason, he interviewed for two head coaching jobs in MLS, with CF Montreal and the Colorado Rapids.
Kah, one of two holdovers from Christian Lattanzio’s staff along with Christian Fuchs, is a vocal presence on the practice field and the sideline, working primarily with the defense.
“For me, personally, and the back line, this year, he’s been huge, especially on my development as a center back,” said Andrew Privett. “He was a center back himself in [MLS] and played internationally, so he’s helped my game a lot. It’ll be tough to lose him, but also I’m grateful for the time spent with him and being able to learn under his mentorship.”
Kah played for Portland and Vancouver of MLS, after also playing in Scandinavia, the Middle East and the Netherlands. He has a richly diverse background that has made him a great ambassador for international players. He speaks seven languages, including Wolof — a language spoken in West Africa — as well as Norwegian, English, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish and French.
Kah was born in Gambia and moved to Norway at age 8 after his father, who played for the Gambian national team, was signed to play for a Norwegian club. After the initial culture shock of a cold weather climate, where “the sun doesn’t come out in winter,” Kah said last spring, he grew to love Norway. He has dual citizenship in Gambia and Norway and became the first black player to play for the Norwegian national team.
“Since I was young, I’ve always been open to see the world,” Kah said. “That helped me grow into the man that I am today. With all those experiences, that helps you relate to people and understand some of the struggles they may go through when they come to a new foreign country. … It’s a life experience that nobody can take away from you.”
Up Next: No. 5 Charlotte FC vs No. 4 Orlando City SC in Game 2 of Round One Series
When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
How to watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Find information about how to subscribe for the season here.
How to listen: WFNZ 92.7 in English, WOLS 106.1 in Spanish.
Notable:
Orlando City leads the best-of-three series 1-0 after defeating Charlotte 2-0 Sunday in Orlando. Facundo Torres scored for the third time against Charlotte FC this season and a club record 19th time this season across all competitions.
Charlotte is winless in three games against Orlando this season, including a 2-2 draw and a 2-0 loss during the regular season.
Charlotte FC was shut out for the first time Sunday since losing in Orlando 2-0 on Sept. 18. Charlotte had scored 14 goals while going undefeated in five games since.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her third season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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