Charlotte FC will aim to clinch a postseason spot by avoiding a loss to visiting CF Montreal on Wednesday evening.
Charlotte (13-10-8, 47 points) can secure a trip to the MLS Cup playoffs in several ways, the easiest being a win or draw against Montreal (6-18-7, 25 points), which sits last in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte would also clinch a playoff spot if either the New York Red Bulls or the Columbus Crew do not win on Wednesday.
Charlotte has gone 0-2-1 in its past three games, each of them away from home. The club allowed a combined eight goals, including a game-winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage its last time out against the Portland Timbers.
Coach Dean Smith pointed to executing clearances and defending give-and-gos as the biggest points of emphasis as Charlotte looks to improve defensively.
“The number does concern me,” Smith said about Charlotte’s 27 conceded shot attempts against Portland. “But it’s more where they’re from. If they’re getting inside the scoring zone, it’s a bigger problem. I just felt we didn’t defend well enough on little give-and-gos, and that’s something we talked about (in practice).”
Although Charlotte will miss midfielder Brandt Bronico with a groin injury for the second straight match, Smith said that Bronico could return on Saturday.
Montreal is trying to snap a four-game winless streak when it travels to Charlotte. Montreal has scored the fewest goals in the league (36) and was eliminated from playoff contention after a 2-0 loss to league leaders Nashville SC last weekend.
With virtually nothing to play for, interim head coach Philippe Eullaffroy said he would prioritize developing the club’s young prospects over handing reps to established players.
“We have to optimize the last three games that we have left of the regular season to develop (younger players),” Eullaffroy said, “to improve the performance that they will be able to give us in the near future. And when I say near future, I mean already projecting ourselves into next season.”
Eullaffroy started 17-year-old goalkeeper Samsy Keita in the loss to Nashville and could draw on a deep bank of academy talents and rising first-team players for the road match against Charlotte.
Prince Owusu, who leads Montreal in goals scored (15), and center back Jalen Neal will miss the game with lower-body injuries.
Idan Toklomati (14) and Pep Biel (13) pace Charlotte in goals.
–Field Level Media
