5 things to watch for in Charlotte FC's second half
Plus Malanda's next steps, Jose Tavares steps down as Crown Legacy coach, vacation vibes, and more
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Tough road schedule, summer heat, playoff pressure and new faces await Charlotte FC in the return to play
The starting 11 who helped Charlotte FC end the first half with a 3-2 win in Atlanta, a signature victory under first-year coach Dean Smith. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
If someone had told you in late January — after two star players left Charlotte FC, including two-time leading scorer Karol Swiderski — that the team would climb to fifth place by the midpoint of the season, would you have believed it?
That’s Charlotte FC.
Under the guidance of new coach Dean Smith, Charlotte is playing much-improved defense, just-enough offense and providing a glimpse of the impact new designated player Liel Abada can bring. The Israeli winger scored two goals in a 3-2 win in Atlanta to wrap up the first half, before the international break, in what felt like the first signature win in the Smith era.
Now comes the challenge. As the season progresses from here, the stakes get bigger, the schedule gets less predictable, the weather gets hotter and the screws get tighter — both in the playoff picture and the summer transfer window. For Charlotte FC to emerge as a solid playoff contender — and not just get back into the No. 8-9 play-in game — the club needs significant additions at striker and attacking midfielder. And Charlotte will have to hold on for a wild ride until any new players can get on the field. Their first game eligible would be July 20 in Austin.
5 things to watch for in the second half:
Tough stretch: After playing two home games against teams below the current playoff line (which is ninth place in the conference), D.C. United and Orlando City, Charlotte will play six of seven games on the road. All seven are against teams currently above the playoff line: Philadelphia, Houston, Miami, Cincinnati, Columbus and Austin. Charlotte will play at Cincinnati (second in East), at Columbus (defending MLS Cup winners) and at Austin (sixth in the Western Conference) in seven days. Only in the last game of the stretch — in Austin — will summer transfer additions be eligible to play.
Messi-less Miami: The sole home game of that stretch is July 3 against Inter Miami, the class of MLS this season. There’s a good chance Miami will be without Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Luis Suarez (Uruguay), who have combined for 24 goals and 18 assists, as they head out on international duty for Copa America. (That’s the tournament featuring South American national teams and this year’s host country, the United States. A Copa America semifinal match and the third-place game are coming to Bank of America July 10 and July 13, respectively.) That’s a big break, and Charlotte will take it.
Heat: You won’t hear players complain about it after games because opponents have to deal with the same conditions, but playing in Charlotte’s heat and humidity is grueling, especially for those making the transition from cooler European temps. Defenders Nathan Byrne and Jere Uronen are two who’ve been open about the difficulty of that adjustment. Liel Abada, who’s played his past four professional seasons in Scotland, and whoever Charlotte FC adds during the summer transfer window, might be the most acutely affected. However, Abada grew up and played in Petah Tikva, Israel, which is hot and humid.
Leagues Cup: One of the highlights of an otherwise rocky 2023 season was Charlotte’s run to the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup. And that was despite Charlotte playing in Dallas and Houston because of a Beyoncé concert previously scheduled at Bank of America Stadium. This year, August home dates are more flexible, should Charlotte FC advance in the second go since this tournament was expanded to include every team in MLS and the Mexican League, Liga MX.
New faces. Charlotte FC is poised to add multiple impact players during the summer transfer window. Tim Ream’s name has already surfaced — we’ve confirmed TopBin90’s report that Charlotte FC is in advanced talks for the services of the veteran U.S. National team and premier league center back. And that’s not even the position Charlotte is looking to make the biggest splashes in — striker and attacking midfielder. Offensive firepower should be coming.
Malanda playing his last season in Charlotte?
Center back Adilson Malanda on the ball vs. Nashville. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Center back Adilson Malanda is a big reason why Charlotte FC’s defense has been a strength this season, and he’s making a name as one of the top young players in Major League Soccer. Charlotte FC is hoping Malanda, 22, becomes its first MLS All-Star in club history. (Voting ended Monday. All-Stars are still a few weeks from being announced.)
“Through all the teams that I’ve seen so far, I’ve not seen a better center back,” said Smith, who is new to MLS after arriving this winter from the English soccer ranks.
Teams in Europe are keeping close tabs on Malanda, too. While Charlotte FC has made it clear they have no interest in letting Malanda go this season, there’s reason for fans to savor the next four or five months of Malanda. For his part, though, Malanda is keeping tunnel vision:
I’m just hoping to focus on my season. I want to perform really (well) with the team. We want to achieve goals this year, and I think that’s the main thing. We’ll see what happens in my future, but I think it’s not the principal thing for the moment. I’m really focused with the guys on the team.
Malanda, a native of Rouen, France, is one of the brightest spots on Charlotte FC’s initial roster build. He was a bit of a coup, going unnoticed by more established clubs, when he signed out of Rodez AF during the summer transfer window in the inaugural 2022 season. Malanda played 33 games in Ligue 2, the second level in French soccer, in his first professional season at age 20.
In the big picture, Malanda’s goal is to return to Europe.
“Yeah, for sure, we have dreams, and one of mine is to go back to Europe to play (in the) biggest competition,” said Malanda, who has gone to great lengths to perfect his English the past two years. “I don’t hide this, but we will see the good moment to do it.”
Crown Legacy FC coach steps down: Tavares and his assistant coach cite family reasons for return to Portugal
Less than halfway through his second year at the helm of Charlotte FC’s MLS Next Pro team, Coach Jose Tavares is stepping down to return to his native Portugal, citing family reasons.
Tavares, who is known for his charismatic personality and inspirational post-game chats, took Crown Legacy FC to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference, a league-best 19 wins and an undefeated home record in its inaugural season last year. The club lost to Columbus Crew 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Tavares felt the tug of leaving three sons ages 4 through 12 at home in Portugal. He’s returning to FC Porto, the club he left to come here, for a promotion to general manager of its Academy.
As abrupt as the timing seems — Crown Legacy (4-5-3) has 16 games left — it makes sense considering European leagues just wrapped up their seasons.
“I’m sad that I need to leave this amazing club, these great players,” Tavares said after his final game Thursday, a 3-0 loss to league-leader Philadelphia. “I (am) happy because I’m going to go back to my country, to my family, to my three kids that I love and they’re missing me. I realized during this time that family is really important, and I need to be a great dad as well. This is one of the main responsibilities in life, and I want to do it properly.”
Both he and assistant coach Pedro Mane announced this week they were stepping down to return to Portugal.
“We respect their decision…and wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” said Crown Legacy FC President Darrius Barnes. “They will always be a part of our Crown Legacy FC and Charlotte FC family.”
Assistant coach Kevin Sawchak takes over as interim head coach. He’s expected to be among the candidates for the permanent job as Charlotte opens its search for Tavares’ replacement.
Three Crown Legacy FC players were promoted to the first team last season — Patrick Agyemang, Andrew Privett and Brandon Cambridge — and three more have played key roles this year in winger Iuri Tavares, center back Joao Pedro and midfielder Nikola Petkovic.
Vacay vibes: Charlotte FC players out and about during staggered off time in past two weeks
Kristijan Kahlina (left), Djibril Diani (upper right) and Joao Pedro (bottom right) enjoying a brief break from Charlotte FC’s season. (Photos from players’ respective Instagram accounts.)
Getting off time in the middle of an eight-month season is precious, and Charlotte FC players took full advantage of the few days here and there Smith afforded them. Thanks to Instagram, we got a sneak peek. Among the trips:
Ashley Westwood, his wife, Becca, and their two children spent a few days at Hilton Head Island, S.C., swimming, boating and golfing — near gators, apparently!
Joao Pedro and his girlfriend went to Disney World, where Pedro got in touch with his inner kid.
Adilson Malanda and his girlfriend, and Kristijan Kahlina and his wife and young daughter, all went to the Bahamas, though Malanda said the weather for his trip was a little rainy.
Djibril Diani snorkeled and soaked in the sun in Cancun, Mexico.
Finnish Jere Uronen appears to have caught the NASCAR bug. He and teammates George Marks, Brandt Bronico, and Andrew Privett attended the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day. Judging by his Instagram feed, Uronen was back out at Charlotte Motor Speedway Tuesday for a Legends Cars race, which are smaller replicas of 1930s and 1940s American cars.
Sad goodbyes: Coach Dean Smith, on the other hand, said Thursday that he had to travel home to the U.K. during the break to put down his 14-year-old cocker spaniel, Charlie. Smith said he was a faithful companion, and willing walker, who was great at helping him pick starting lineups and keep things in proper perspective. The Ledger sends condolences in what was a total damper on the vacation vibes note.
On the brighter side, Smith was invited as a guest of club sponsor Ally to visit Pinehurst during the practice rounds of this weekend’s U.S. Open Championship. Smith, who also attended the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow, is a big golfer and golf enthusiast. It’s part of how he ended up in the Carolinas; he has a vacation — and golfing — home in Myrtle Beach.
Fast and FURY-ous: While there has been more time to get out and about, four Charlotte FC players were invited to Carowinds for a recent marketing opportunity. Andrew Privett, Jaylin Lindsey, George Marks and Ashley Westwood were captured on a “roller coaster cam” riding The Fury.
As they climbed to the top, which is 325 feet or 30 stories high, sitting in the front row of an otherwise empty car, they discussed their favorite Charlotte FC games.
Privett mentioned the Miami win to clinch the playoffs last year. Lindsey said his was the inaugural game vs. L.A. Galaxy in 2022. Marks loves the exhibition win over Chelsea in 2022. And Westwood, the most senior member of the group at age 34, and admittedly “scared of heights,” was last to answer as the car reached the crest of the hill. He managed to say “season opening game” and “New York City,” without screaming, complaining, or acknowledging what they were seeing around them: sky.
For insight into what Westwood was actually thinking in that moment? “Get me off this!” we found out later.
Though in true Westwood fashion, when he was captured on video telling his teammates the ride was “incredible” shortly afterward, his hair was still perfectly coifed despite reaching speeds of up to 95 mph in open air.
Up Next: Charlotte FC (7-6-4) vs DC United (4-6-7)
When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 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:
Charlotte FC is unbeaten in eight of nine games at Bank of America Stadium this season, going 5-1-3, while DC United is 1-3-4 on the road.
Christian Benteke of DC United has 13 goals this season, second in MLS, and ahead of both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez (12). He had to leave DC’s 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on June 1 with a muscle injury, so his status is up in the air.
Charlotte last saw DC United coach Troy Lesesne as interim coach of the New York Red Bulls during their 5-2 win over Charlotte in the one-game wildcard playoff last year. The West Columbia (S.C.) native, College of Charleston graduate and former assistant at Charlotte Independence took New York from last place in the East to the playoffs with a 10-9-4 record but was not retained by the Red Bulls after the season.
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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