Coach defends Zaha over recent criticism
Plus: takeaways from US Open cup victory, Westwood's ambitions, Bender lands in Philadelphia, practice facility improvements and advancing Saturday showdown in Nashville
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Smith said critics disrespect MLS when expecting ‘cartwheels’ and ‘10 goals in 10 games’ from star players just entering league
Wilfried Zaha drawing a crowd against San Jose in March. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
After Charlotte FC reached the top of the Eastern Conference standings, it lost back-to-back MLS games, at home against New England and on the road in Columbus. A lightning rod for criticism after both losses has been new star winger Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha scored in his Charlotte FC debut against Atlanta and has three goals in his first nine games with Charlotte FC (two via penalty kicks) but has left some fans clamoring for more. Some of his on-field body language, which has included persistent complaints about officiating and, at one point, interacting with players on New England’s bench, has drawn dismay from some in the Charlotte FC fanbase. Then, Zaha replied to complaints on social media, where fans had criticized him:
Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman questioned how that post would “fly in the locker room.”
In his defense, Zaha seems to attract two or three defenders with nearly every touch, which opens space for his teammates. He is the most fouled player in MLS, drawing 30 so far, despite missing games in Seattle (for the birth of his daughter) and Montreal (following thumb surgery).
And perhaps most telling is that he appears near the top of metrics rating overall individual play among Charlotte FC. Zaha is second only to Pep Biel (7.47) with a 7.46 “FotMob” rating. The internationally recognized statistics app says its rating is “calculated based on more than 300 individual stats per player per match from Opta.”
For those who prefer plain English, Coach Dean Smith addressed the criticism of Zaha this way in his postgame comments following last Saturday’s 4-2 loss in Columbus:
If we’ve got pundits criticizing DPs [designated players] who come into the league because they’re not scoring 10 goals in 10 games and doing cartwheels and walking on their hands, then they need to respect the league better, because if they are coming in and scoring 10 goals, then it doesn't make it a very competitive league. I think it’s a really competitive league. Somebody who’s been not playing for nearly over a year [during stints in Turkey and France], he’s not going to come in straight away and be fluid taking on four players at a time. Pundits see bits of games at times and or see one game. And I think that’s disappointing when they get criticism like that.
One “pundit,” Bradley Wright-Phillips, a star striker in both the English Premier League and in MLS for the New York Red Bulls, made an interesting point in a recent conversation with Charlotte Soccer Show. While he was critical of Zaha’s Snapchat “rant” in his commentary for “MLS Season Pass” because he thought it took attention away from the way he is actually performing, Wright-Phillips offered this warning to critics in Charlotte’s fanbase:
“People have to be careful what they’re asking for from him, because if you take away that passion, that’s also what makes him good. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He plays on the edge. So if you don’t want him to react on certain things, he’s going to lose that edge.”
SPONSORED BY CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
You can help local families achieve housing stability with a donation to Crisis Assistance Ministry, which provides assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency by providing emergency rent and utility assistance as well as basic necessities. Every dollar donated by May 15 will be matched!
U.S. Open Cup provides Charlotte a chance at ‘silverware’
Emotions flared Tuesday night in Cary, N.C. for U.S. Open Cup action. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC’s Twitter feed.)
Charlotte FC got all that it needed from its first foray into this year’s U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday against North Carolina FC of the USL Championship. Play was chippy. A scoreless tie forced 30 minutes of extra time. Charlotte’s breakthrough goal from Liel Abada was answered with an equalizer just moments later.
Ultimately, Charlotte FC got three rapid-fire goals from Patrick Agyemang, Nikola Petkovic and Kerwin Vargas to blow past North Carolina FC 4-1. Charlotte advances to play at D.C. United in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, May 21.
Charlotte was represented by Crown Legacy in last year’s tournament due to a change in format, so this is the club’s first taste of Cup action with Dean Smith at the helm. Smith brings the experience of England’s FA Cup (Football Association), the oldest national soccer tournament in the world played among all the teams in English soccer.
Smith went 6-4 in FA Cup play, though it was a memory from England’s Carabao Cup that was his personal highlight in domestic interleague play. Smith took Jack Grealish and Aston Villa to the final of Carabao Cup with an upset over Leicester City before narrowly losing to Manchester City in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Charlotte FC’s last memory of U.S. Open Cup play was losing 1-0 on the road to Birmingham Legion, of USL Championship, in 2023 under previous coach Christian Lattanzio in the Round of 16.
“It’s a really good opportunity for us to go and get some silverware, and I said that to the players before the game,” Smith said. “(With Charlotte FC) only 4 years old, it’s a chance for them to make some legacy for themselves and go and try to win the first trophy, so that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”
He was gifted a premium bottle of bourbon from North Carolina FC coach John Bradford.
Tuesday’s game provides minutes, milestones for reserves
Smith used the match to get some sorely needed reserves minutes, most notably backup goalkeeper David Bingham, who hadn’t played in a competitive game since the preseason. (Only two would-be regulars started the game: Andrew Privett and Nick Scardina.)
◼️ Century club: Winger Kerwin Vargas became the third player in Charlotte FC history to reach 100 appearances for the club, joining two members of the original 2022 roster in Kristijan Kahlina and Brandt Bronico. He marked the occasion by scoring one goal and assisting another in what was his fourth start of the season.
Vargas put Charlotte ahead 3-1 with a finish off a Patrick Agyemang cross and then found Nikola Petkovic for the 4-1 lead.
“He’s going to have to get cramps in both calves more often because he was brilliant after that,” Smith said afterward, which explained why Vargas celebrated by taking off his jersey rather than his usual back flip.
“He’s a player who’s got an unbelievable attitude,” Smith said of Vargas during his Thursday press conference. “He’s one that coaches look towards and like because of the way he trains and the way he plays. He’s learning all the time. He’s developing all the time. He’s still a young player.”
◼️ Homegrown debut: Defender Jack Neeley made his debut for Charlotte FC, becoming the second homegrown player to follow the pathway from Academy through Crown Legacy to the first team, along with Nimfasha Berchimas. Neeley was signed out of the Charlotte Soccer Academy and South Mecklenburg High School.
“It’s what I’ve been working for this whole time,” Neeley said. “It’s really awesome.” You’ve started to see the pathway: Brian [Cambridge] and Nimfa [Berchimas]. That’s what the club is offering. They give us opportunities when they think we’re ready, and they expect a lot from us, and that’s the way it needs to be.”
◼️ Time off for veterans, for now: Wilfried Zaha, Westwood and Kahlina were all given Tuesday’s game off and didn’t travel with Charlotte FC for its U.S. Open Cup game in Cary.
The team is on baby watch for Kahlina, whose wife is expecting their second child — a son this time — soon. That’s why it was all the more important that Bingham got some minutes of game action Tuesday night. He had not played since the preseason, which is something Smith was reminded of when Kahlina took a shot off the face in the Columbus game last Saturday.
Westwood still logging big minutes
Before resting for Tuesday night’s Cup game, Westwood had played every minute of the season for Charlotte FC. He’s set as a goal to play every MLS game of the season this year, something he fell just shy of a year ago. Westwood, who led MLS in distance covered last season, logged 383.08 kilometers (238 miles), while missing one game all season (in Houston) due to yellow card accumulation.
Interestingly, coming into the season, Smith mentioned that given Westwood’s age — he turned 35 in April — he might be forced to monitor his minutes this season and give him periodic rest.
Here was the quote: “He’s another year older. I might have to manage him more than last season. But at the moment, he’ll be kicking and screaming if I do.”
If it was meant to fire up the captain, it didn’t work, because Westwood said the only thing Smith had mentioned to him directly was giving him some relief in practice.
“I still feel great,” Westwood said. “I’m churning out the numbers. I don't miss many training sessions. I think I had one recovery day . … I feel fit. The numbers are good. I’m up there with BB [Brandt Bronico] — not quite as close as I want to be, but BB’s a unique specimen. I want to play every league game. That’s my ambition. And it’s up to me to keep performing. If the manager thinks I’m performing, I’m sure he’ll keep me on.”
Bender signs with Philadelphia Union
Midfielder Ben Bender, who was released by Charlotte FC last month, has been signed by the Philadelphia Union.
Bender was Charlotte’s first-ever top pick in the MLS SuperDraft but was waived last month to make room for Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty on the roster, in what the club called a “difficult decision.”
Philadelphia sporting director Ernst Tanner said Bender “had a standout inaugural professional season and has the ability to be a great finisher. He adds a goal-scoring threat to our midfield, and we look forward to seeing his contributions.”
Charlotte plays Philadelphia June 14 on the road and Oct. 18 in Charlotte.
Glimpse into golf at Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte FC’s content team posted a montage from when the foursome of Dean Smith, his son Jamie Smith, assistant coach Miles Joseph and captain Ashley Westwood played a recent round at Quail Hollow Club, which is hosting the PGA Championship next weekend.
Practice facility poised for FIFA Club World Cup
If you’ve driven through the Charlotte FC practice facility in southeast Charlotte recently, you’ve noticed a lot of activity. Construction workers have been on hand paving entrances to some of the practice fields, installing a new “Atrium Health Performance Park” sign, landscaping and, most significantly, finishing up renovations to a building near the south end of the complex newly acquired by Charlotte FC.
A new Atrium Health Performance Park sign was installed this week. (Photo by Carroll Walton)
The updates come in anticipation of the arrival of the FIFA Club World Cup in late June, when global soccer powerhouses like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are coming to town. Which of the four teams scheduled to play in the first two games here will be practicing at AHPP has yet to be announced. But upgrades, particularly to the new building, mean the visiting team can come and go without infringing on Charlotte FC’s schedule.
Bank of America is hosting four games in the event. Clubs will start arriving in early June.
June 22: Real Madrid (Spain) vs. CF Pachuca (Mexico) at 3 p.m.
June 24: Bayern Munich (Germany) vs. SL Benfica (Portugal) at 3 p.m.
June 28: TBD
June 30: TBD
Up Next: Charlotte FC (6-4-1) vs Nashville SC (5-4-2)
When/Where: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Geodis Park, Nashville, Tenn.
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:
Midfielder Pep Biel, who has nine goal contributions (three goals and six assists) in 10 games, returns to the lineup after missing the game in Columbus due to hamstring tightness.
Charlotte is ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference and Nashville is sixth.
Charlotte rallied from 1-0 down with two second-half goals to defeat Nashville at Bank of America Stadium on April 5. Charlotte is 3-2-1 in the series.
Nashville center back Walker Zimmermann has been out of action since suffering a concussion in a collision with Vargas in that April 5 game.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her fourth 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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Starters to the rescue on Tuesday night! Need a big win on Saturday! Thanks Carroll!