The stakes are high against Messi-led Miami
Charlotte FC travels to Miami with a playoff berth on the line, right back Byrne latest to sign long-term deal, Bronico making impact off the field
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Charlotte can clinch a playoff berth in Miami, where Messi is back in the lineup after an injury
Charlotte FC has its hands full with Messi this weekend in Miami. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
The last time Charlotte FC played against Miami with Lionel Messi, it clinched the franchise’s first playoff spot with a 1-0 win on the final day of last season. This time, Charlotte could clinch its second playoff berth.
Charlotte needs to win Saturday night — and a collection of teams not to — but clinching a playoff spot is at least mathematically possible. After Miami, No. 6 Charlotte FC will face three opponents lower down in the Eastern Conference standings in Chicago, Montreal and DC United.
Miami, which has proven to be the class of Major League Soccer this season, has already clinched a playoff spot but is gunning for the Supporters’ Shield as the regular season champion and the MLS points record. Inter Miami sits atop the standings with 64 points and four games left to match the 2021 New England Revolution’s 73 points.
The Herons need to win at least three of their final four games [collecting three points apiece] to tie the record, and a positive result — either win or draw — in the other game to break it. They’re in prime position to win the Supporters’ Shield as well, as the MLS regular season champion, sitting six points ahead of No. 2 LAFC.
Miami has tied each of its past two games, though, 1-1 at New York City FC and 2-2 at Atlanta United.
“There’ll be no fear for us going to Miami,” said Dean Smith, who is poised to coach against a team with Messi on the field for the first time. “We respect who they are, what they’re doing, all the points they’ve gathered so far. But we know how close the game was [in July] at the Bank of America [Stadium], and we should have taken something out of that game. We were disappointed that we didn’t. So we'll be going there with no fears but full of respect.”
Messi was playing for Argentina in the Copa America when Charlotte FC last faced Miami on July 3. Charlotte was poised to tie that game 1-1 until surrendering a goal in the 86th minute to lose 2-1.
Shortly thereafter, on July 14, Messi suffered an ankle injury in the Copa America final against Colombia and was out of action for six weeks. But he’s been back to form since his return with Miami earlier this month. The 37-year-old global superstar has two goals and two assists in three games back. Messi played the full 90 minutes in Miami’s last game against New York City FC, a 1-1 draw.
Miami forward Luis Suarez was also on international duty for Uruguay when Charlotte played Miami at home July 3. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets both played in that game.
Charlotte FC has yet to win in three games in Miami in what was formerly called DRV PNK Stadium and has been rebranded Chase Stadium. Charlotte has two losses and a draw there, including a 2-2 game last Oct. 18 when Messi did not play. Messi and company are 10-2-3 at Chase Stadium this season.
“If we want to win things this season, then you have to play against the best teams and the best players,” defender Nathan Byrne said. “So it’s just another challenge, and we’re going to go into with full confidence.”
Byrne signed to new contract, third defender to be locked up long-term
Defender Nathan Byrne inks new contract with Charlotte FC. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Nathan Byrne lost his luggage shortly after arriving in Charlotte, already scrambling to get to know a place where he knew next to nothing about the weather, the culture, the town or the team. But after loading up on some T-shirts at SouthPark, and making his way one step at a time, he found what he was looking for — a fresh start.
This week Byrne, 32, signed a new contract that will keep him here through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. With it, he’ll have a chance to make Charlotte his longest stop on a 15-season journey as a professional. He would surpass the four seasons he spent with Wigan Athletic in the English Championship. Byrne played in both League One and the Championship in his 12 seasons in England, before signing with Charlotte on Aug. 4, 2022.
“I think being in one place for so long, naturally for anyone, they can sometimes start feeling like Groundhog Day,” Byrne said. “So that was pretty much the reason why I pushed to come out here and experience something different. And I have zero regrets. I love my time here so far, and I want to create more memories.”
What Charlotte gets out of it is more backline security for a group that has combined to help Charlotte allow the second fewest goals in MLS (33) behind Columbus (31). The right back joins the litany of defensive players to sign long-term contracts this summer, along with center backs Adilson Malanda and Andrew Privett, defensive midfielder Ashley Westwood and winger Kerwin Vargas as well. Byrne has played in 72 games for Charlotte, which is tied for fifth most in the club’s three-year history.
“Nate has been a core part of our defensive line from the moment he arrived in Charlotte, and we’re excited he has chosen to commit his future to the Club,” General Manager Zoran Krneta said in a statement. “He has established himself as one of the best at his position in the league and has been an integral part of our stellar defensive record this season.”
Bronico event raises $50,000 for Beds for Kids
Brandt Bronico (center front row) joins Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (to Bronico’s left) at Beds for Kids event Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Tepper Sports & Entertainment.)
Playing for a relatively new franchise that’s finding its footing in the community, Brandt Bronico is setting the tone for how to approach community service. “The mayor” not only seems to understand his role as one of the faces of this franchise but to embrace it. Last Sunday, he hosted his third annual Beds for Kids event at HopFly Brewing Co., where he mingled, signed and smiled for pictures throughout the afternoon to help raise $50,000 to benefit a local charity.
On Tuesday he took it a step further, after he was invited by club sponsor Coca-Cola Consolidated to team up with Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard and help assemble furniture for Beds for Kids. Coke Consolidated chipped in another $5,000 donation.
“One thousand dollars furnishes a whole home for one family,” Bronico said. “So with [the HopFly event], we were able to fully furnish 50 homes, and Coca-Cola added another five homes. That is 55 homes for families this year. That’s a major impact.”
Bronico and Hubbard compared notes on victories for both teams last weekend, while loading up a truck to deliver the furniture. Bronico said they weren’t among the volunteers to deliver furniture and personally install it in homes, but he’s done it before and considers it an “eye-opening experience and a good thing to do for those who can’t.” Bronico said it means even more to him that he can help people close by.
“Mainly, I just wanted to partner with a local charity in Charlotte,” said Bronico, who grew up in High Point and played his college soccer for the Charlotte 49ers. “There are always opportunities to help people that are far away, or big organizations, when really we can just help people in our backyard. We can stay at home and grow the city that we live in, that we care about so much. Just trying to try to help people in the Charlotte area was what I was passionate about.”
Up Next: Charlotte FC (11-11-8) at Inter Miami (19-4-7)
When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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 snapped a three-game losing streak with a commanding 4-0 win against New England on Saturday, scoring a season-high four goals. Pep Biel scored his first MLS goal and added an assist, and Patrick Agyemang added a goal and an assist off the bench.
Tim Ream moved from center back to left back against New England, while Smith put Andrew Privett back in the lineup at center back for the first time since Ream joined the club. The lineup allowed for Byrne to play with more freedom going forward up the right side while in essence, three center back, covered the line behind him.
Agyemang picked up a red card against Miami on July 3 after stomping defender Yannick Bright’s during stoppage time.
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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