Stakes rising for Charlotte FC's Agyemang
A second call-up to U.S. Men's National team comes with more on the line for the striker who is scoreless in his MLS start; plus introducing French left back and advancing Saturday vs. Cincinnati
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Agyemang facing more defensive pressure in MLS and stiffer competition in his second call-up to the U.S. Men’s National team
Three Atlanta defenders converge on striker Patrick Agyemang. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
During Patrick Agyemang’s first full season in MLS, he found room to roam. The 6-foot-4 striker feasted on defenses, often by “running in behind,” as Coach Dean Smith says. He found space downfield where he could collect long passes as he beat a trailing defender and take aim on goal. He fired in 10 goals to lead Charlotte FC.
He’s found it more crowded lately. Between last year’s goal tally, a January invitation and two goals in the U.S. Men’s national team camp, and a return call-up to the U.S. team for Nations League next week, Agyemang is finding the final third of the field more congested.
“That’s a good thing for me because it shows that they’re more worried about me than they were last year,” Agyemang said. “Last year, they left me more 1-v-1. Now, I see two players around me, so it makes a little bit harder for me. To create chances for myself and the team, I need to increase my movements and all these things, but I know what I need to do to get in a better position.”
Agyemang has been held without a goal or assist through Charlotte’s first three games. He came close to scoring last Saturday in Miami when he headed a pass from Wilfried Zaha just wide to the right. He’s gotten off four shots this season, none of them on target.
“I hoped to score and assist more. Obviously, it hasn’t been like that, and that’s life sometimes,” Agyemang said. “But for me, it’s keep my head down, keep going.”
Smith thought Miami was packing the box anyway following a red card and playing with 10 men in a 1-0 win over Charlotte last Saturday. But Atlanta’s defensive adjustment to Agyemang two weeks ago was more noticeable.
“I think they're more aware of him now,” Smith said.
Agyemang facing bigger challenges with U.S.
Agyemang celebrating with Ream in his first stint with U.S. team in January. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
The stakes are higher for Agyemang with the U.S. Men’s national team, too. Next week’s games aren’t “friendlies,” or exhibitions, they’re for a chance to defend a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title.
And this time, the top American players have returned from their club teams in Europe on an international break. Agyemang got a clearer path to the roster, given long-term injuries to Ricardo Pepi (knee) and Folarin Balogun (shoulder), but he’ll be competing for minutes behind Josh Sargent, who is returning to form with Norwich City in the English Championship, England’s second-tier league.
U.S. Men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a press conference this week that Agyemang earned his trust while scoring two goals in two games in January, against Venezuela and Costa Rica.
“I think he’s still a little bit raw,” Pochettino said. “[He’s] a player you feel that he can evolve and learn a lot, but I see the potential and the characteristics if he continues his progression. Now it’s up to him.”
Agyemang said this week he looks at the stiffer competition as an opportunity.
“Now, I can really compete with players in that caliber,” he said. “And it just puts me in an environment [where I] will ultimately develop more.”
Both Agyemang and Ream were called up for the Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20 at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles. The winner will play either Mexico or Canada in the final March 23. Both Agyemang and Ream will leave after Saturday’s game against Cincinnati and are expected to miss Charlotte’s March 22 game against San Jose.
“I don’t quite like him going next week because [Pochettino] takes him away from me,” said Smith, who has a good rapport with Pochettino from their days coaching against each other in the Premier League. “But you know, somebody’s had this brainwave of us having [an MLS game scheduled] during international windows, which I don't agree with, but it is what it is.”
New left back Souleyman joins Charlotte FC
Souleyman Doumbia joined Charlotte FC this week on loan from Belgian club Standard Liege. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
Charlotte FC addressed a need at left back with the acquisition of Souleyman Doumbia, a 28-year-old Frenchman with experience in the top leagues in France and Belgium. He arrives on loan through Dec. 31 from the Belgian club Standard Liege. Doumbia joined Charlotte FC in practice this week but is still awaiting a visa and won’t be eligible to play Saturday.
Doumbia comes with some familiarity to the club. He was teammates with midfielder Djibril Diani in the Swiss Super League with the Grasshoppers Club Zurich. And he played with Wilfried Zaha internationally for Ivory Coast at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tim Ream has been starting at left back for Charlotte since late last season but didn’t have a seasoned backup behind him. His arrival gives Smith the flexibility of moving Ream back to center back. It also gives him a player on the left flank more comfortable with moving the ball upfield, as the more offensive-minded Nathan Byrne typically does from right back spot.
“He’s got a similar skill set to Nathan Byrne,” Smith said. “He can get up and down. He’s good on the ball. It gives us another option, and that's what we've needed.”
Charlotte has been thin at the position since the departure of Jere Uronen to Stockholm and Joao Pedro on loan to Rio Ave FC of Portugal.
Up Next: Charlotte FC (1-1-1) vs FC Cincinnati (2-1-0)
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 back for its first night game at Bank of America Stadium this season and mark the occasion with a “Back in Black” night, asking fans to wear black as a nod to the new all black Fortress alternate jersey.
Charlotte took its first loss of the season 1-0 in Miami, despite playing with Lionel Messi on the bench throughout and a man up for the final 50 minutes following a goalkeeper red card.
Smith said attacking midfielder Pep Biel is still playing through the effects of a knee injury, which he suffered during preseason.
Ashley Westwood assisted all three goals in Charlotte’s 3-1 win in Cincinnati the last time these two teams faced each other July 13. The series is even at 2-2-2.
Cincinnati played Tuesday in Monterrey Mexico, getting eliminated by Tigres UANL of the Mexican League in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Luciano Acosta, the 2023 MLS MVP, left Cincinnati for FC Dallas in the new MLS trade-for-cash rule, while Cincinnati then dropped $12 million in exchange for midfielder Evander (da Silva Ferreira) from Portland. The Brazilian is known strictly by his first name, not to mention for his 34 goal contributions (15 goals, 19 assists) last season, which trailed only Lionel Messi in MLS.
Cincinnati made an even bigger splash by breaking the MLS transfer record by spending $16 million to land Kevin Denkey, a 24-year-old striker who led the Belgian Pro League with 27 goals in 2023-24.
Diani returns after the birth of a child kept him off the roster in Miami.
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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Great as always Carroll! Just a little fix - Norwich City is in the English Championship, not PL.