Fresh off their first win in over a month, Charlotte FC begin a season-long, five-match road trip against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday in Harrison, N.J.
Charlotte (7-7-1, 22 points) ended a five-match MLS losing streak with a 3-2 win over Columbus on Saturday. It was the club’s first victory in the league since April 19.
For coach Dean Smith, the end of the skid was always just around the corner for his side.
“The results not a surprise to me,” Smith said after Charlotte won its sixth home game in eight tries this season.
“I think our performances have probably deserved more points than we’ve got in the last five games. And we probably achieved more points than we should have in the first nine games where we overachieved.”
Charlotte leaned heavily on its most dangerous attackers after conceding an early goal to Columbus in what initially looked like another defeat.
Patrick Agyemang, who leads the club with five goals, scored his first brace of the season in a five-minute span to give Charlotte the lead while Pep Biel provided the late game winner. Wilfried Zaha recorded his first two assists of the season. The trio has combined for 13 goals on the season.
“We felt dangerous today,” Agyemang said on Saturday.
“That’s how we are supposed to be as a front three.”
Charlotte will now have to try and produce on the road, something that hasn’t happened much to date with one win in seven matches (1-5-1) away from home.
The Red Bulls (6-6-3, 21 points) ended a two-match losing streak of their own on Saturday with a 2-0 victory at rivals D.C. United.
Cameron Harper opened the scoring just before halftime with his second goal of the season while substitute Mohammed Sofo finished the match off with a goal in stoppage time, his third of the campaign.
It was New York’s first road win of the season (1-5-2).
After the match, Red Bulls defender Cameron Harper spoke about the importance of not only winning away from home for the first time but jumping back into one of the final playoff spots, at least for the moment.
“There was a lot kind of riding on this game,” Harper said after the Red Bulls collected all three points on Saturday.
“It’s wins like these that can change your season around. Now we have two home games coming up and obviously our home record is good so hopefully we can get to good form.”
New York, which has yet to post consecutive league wins this season, boasts a 5-1-1 record at home.
The Red Bulls (3-0-3) are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions with Charlotte.
–Field Level Media
