Charlotte FC's offensive shortcomings are showing
Swiderski's future in flux as Agyemang and company struggle to score; plus Bender scores in return from surgery, Abada engagement, MLS All-Star voting and more
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Agyemang, Charlotte FC attack struggling to convert
Striker Patrick Agyemang lunging for the ball vs. L.A. Galaxy. (Photo by Robert Taylor of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Charlotte FC went nearly a month without allowing a goal — a club record five consecutive games and a 523-minute span. Problem was, the team wasn’t scoring many, either. Ben Bender came off the bench Wednesday to score the lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls (more on Bender below). That broke up 300 minutes Charlotte FC had gone without scoring a goal and accounted for just the fifth Charlotte goal scored in its past six games.
All in all, offense has been hard to come by. Charlotte is tied for the second-fewest goals in MLS with 15 on the season. That the club enters Sunday’s game in Atlanta in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, above the “playoff line,” is largely a testament to defensive play.
For a team employing just one designated player — one of three star players teams can sign with less regard for the salary cap — perhaps it’s not all that surprising. And the sole remaining designated player in a season that’s seen an exodus of them, Liel Abada, just returned to the field after a month out with a quadriceps injury. In his first start back Wednesday, Abada showed what proven quality can do for an attack. His pace and creativity were a welcome sight, though both he and young striker Patrick Agyemang were left with nothing to show for chances each created for the other.
Agyemang hit the post on a first-half chance. Early in the second, he missed on a golden opportunity after breaking into the box with only the goalkeeper ahead. A couple of touches allowed defenders to recover, though, and Agyemang’s shot sailed wide. Abada was rushing the far post and was open for a pass.
Agyemang drew the goalkeeper out of position on another chance soon to follow, but let him off the hook with a slow-paced shot, despite having Kerwin Vargas open at the top of the box. Apple TV color analyst Calen Carr made the point:
Any time you have a striker where decision-making is the problem, the answer for me is always to simplify, to take the simple option right in front of you. To square it across, to pass and move, to connect, to continue to play forward. He’s doing so well to get in these positions, but sometimes it’s best just to make the easy decision and then as the confidence comes that’s where it can get a little bit more complex. You can trust yourself. You earn the respect of your teammates that way.
Agyemang leads Charlotte FC with three goals but hasn’t scored in four games. His last goal came May 11, the day after news broke that veteran striker Enzo Copetti was leaving for a team in his native Argentina, leaving the job squarely in Agyemang’s hands.
The 23-year-old Agyemang, the 12th overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, has drawn increasing attention from MLS defenders, often two at a time, who try to disrupt him with physical play. Agyemang has been equal to the task with his imposing 6-foot-4 frame, but his size seems to be working against him when it comes to officiating. Rarely is he given the benefit of the doubt. Smith was up in arms about a penalty call that never came for Agyemang on Wednesday against New York. “If it’s on the street,” Smith said, “you get arrested for assault.”
To his credit, Agyemang never stopped working Wednesday and supplied the assist on Bender’s extra-time goal.
Swiderski loan in limbo: Verona reportedly refusing purchase option
Just when it looked like the Karol Swiderski situation was cut and dried — that Charlotte FC’s first designated player would stay with Italy’s Hellas Verona beyond a temporary loan — there came a hitch.
When Charlotte loaned Swiderski to the Italian club in late January, it was our understanding that the deal included a provision that if Verona finished in the top 17 of Italy’s Serie A — avoiding relegation to a lower league — the club would be required to purchase Swiderski’s contract. Italian outlets reported this week, however, that Verona sporting director Sean Sogliano said the $6 million price tag was too high and Verona didn’t have the money to trigger the purchase option. Such is the wild, wild west of international soccer?
That decision, which by all accounts has fostered no ill will between the two clubs, leaves Swiderski’s future in the balance. It also had some in the Charlotte FC fanbase eager for his possible return to Charlotte.
The feeling here is that Charlotte FC is still more interested in using Swiderski’s DP roster spot, as well as the one vacated by Copetti, for fresh faces at striker and attacking midfielder. Based on recent conversations with Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta, even if Verona had been relegated, Charlotte planned to shop around for another potential buyer in Europe.
“If not them, then someone else will (sign him) because he’s in Europe (in a shopping) window, people are watching him, he’s playing well,” Krneta told the Ledger in mid-April. “… I’m very confident he’ll be taken, if not by Verona, by some other club. We’ll see.”
Krneta originally explained in a sit-down interview with The Ledger after last season ended that Swiderski asked to be moved to a top-five league in Europe in a face-to-face sit-down with Krneta late last season. After listening to some offers, Charlotte decided to keep its leading scorer for a run at a potential playoff spot. That stance changed after the season, Krneta said, when despite the arrival of Smith as the new coach, Swiderski still wanted a move to Europe.
Krneta said:
Dean doesn’t want a player that doesn’t want to play for him. I don’t want a player that doesn’t want to play for him. So we found a solution that was the best possible solution at the time.
Swiderski’s stint in Italy has not gone as planned. He scored two goals in 15 games for Verona, primarily off the bench. According to a report from his native Poland, Swiderski has been playing through an undisclosed injury.
Krneta and Swiderski have both said they keep in touch. In a subscriber-only interview with Jorge Gonzalez of TopBin90 last month, Swiderski insinuated he was open to the idea of returning to Charlotte FC. Charlotte FC’s front office, however, does not seem as eager.
When asked after Wednesday’s 3-1 loss in New York whether he envisioned Swiderski back in a Charlotte FC uniform, Smith said, “No idea.”
Swiderski’s loan doesn’t expire until June 30. In the meantime, he is set to play with the Polish national team in the (EUROs) EEFA European Championship, which will put him in front of potential European suitors.
Bender scores in return from knee surgery
Ben Bender frustrating Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with a shot deflected in, his fourth goal all-time against New York. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
After last Saturday’s draw against Philadelphia, Dean Smith acknowledged resisting the urge to bring Ben Bender back. It had been seven months since the last time Bender faced Philadelphia. That was Sept. 20, when he landed awkwardly and tore the meniscus in his left knee. Surgery to repair a root tear proved more extensive than typical cartilage tears.
Smith said he wanted the situation to be right. While pouring rain Wednesday in New York wasn’t ideal, a change in momentum was, and he called on Bender just after New York had gone ahead 1-0 on a free kick goal.
In just 15 minutes of action, Bender got off two of Charlotte’s five shots on target, including his stoppage-time strike.
“I didn’t think about my knee once tonight,” Bender said afterward. “That’s always what you want coming off of a big injury.”
Proving that muscle memory can endure a knee reconstruction, Bender scored his fourth goal all-time against the Red Bulls of his seven all-time in MLS play.
Bender scored twice in a 2-2 tie against the Red Bulls last June 21 in New York. He scored once in a 2-0 win over the Red Bulls at Bank of America Stadium June 11, 2022, in a game Smith happened to attend as a spectator.
“Maybe (it’s) the way they play,” Bender said. “They like to press, so they leave maybe a little bit more space. I can get in behind and pick up second balls. So something about their style.”
Notable: Charlotte FC in the hunt for its first All-Star; Berchimas gets invite to U-19 national team
Kahlina helping secure a “clean sheet” in a 0-0 game vs. Philadelphia. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Now in its third year of existence, Charlotte FC is still looking for its first MLS All-Star. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, who leads MLS with seven clean sheets, might be their best shot.
Fans have a chance to vote for their favorites between now and 3 a.m. Eastern time June 10. Fans, players and media will combine to choose 12 players, MLS All-Star head coach Wilfried Nancy of host Columbus will choose 12, and MLS commissioner Don Garber will select two.
MLS All-Stars will play against a team of Liga MX (Mexican League) All-Stars on Wednesday, July 24, in Columbus.
Berchimas gets Under-19 U.S. call-up: Charlotte’s homegrown signee Nimfa Berchimas, 16, who’s playing with Crown Legacy FC, got called up to the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team.
In preparation to attempt to qualify for the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, he will head to South America for training camp. The U.S. will play two opponents in their capital cities: Argentina in Buenos Aires on June 7 and Uruguay in Montevideo on June 11. (The U.S. is preparing for this summer’s Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Guanajuato, Mexico, which will send four teams to U-20 World Cup in Chile.)
Berchimas played for the U.S. Youth National Team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia in November, scoring two goals in the opening 3-1 win over South Korea and the game-winner in a 2-1 win vs. Burkina Faso to help the U.S. advance to the Round of 16. (The U.S. was knocked out by Germany in a 3-2 loss.) At age 15, then, Berchimas became the youngest player to make the USYNT roster in the U-17 World Cup tournament since Freddy Adu at age 14 in 2003.
Abada proposal: Winger making memories
Israeli winger Abada, who left Scotland because of political strife over the Israel-Gaza war, is making happy new memories in Charlotte. The 22-year-old Charlotte FC player proposed to his girlfriend, Bar Rashti, on Sunday in a romantic rooftop scene, complete with bouquets of white roses, a carpet runner and a “Marry Me” banner framing a view of uptown Charlotte. He proposed with a beautiful round diamond with a band of diamond accents from Diamonds Direct.
Up Next: Charlotte FC (6-6-4) at Atlanta United (4-7-4)
When/Where: 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
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:
Atlanta is coming off an eye-opening win Wednesday night over MLS-leading Inter Miami and Lionel Messi 3-1 in Miami. That snapped a nine-game winless streak for Atlanta, which became the first MLS to beat Miami at home in a game Messi started.
Charlotte FC returns to face rival Atlanta United in Mercedes-Benz Stadium where it won 3-1 last May 13 behind two goals from Justin Meram. He celebrated in front of hundreds of fans who had made the bus trip down from Charlotte.
Charlotte is looking for only its second road win of the season. The lone three points on the road came from a 1-0 win in Chicago on May 15.
Joao Pedro left Wednesday’s game with an injury. He’s been filling in for veteran left back Jere Uronen, who’s out with a groin injury. Jaylin Lindsey could be the next man up at fullback.
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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