Keeping the Same Energy Against the Galaxy | Ingredients of the Match

Caleb Adams

Charlotte FC has the opportunity to start life at Bank of America Stadium in Hollywood fashion. Let’s take a look at some important factors that could influence the inaugural home match.

Here are the three ingredients to the match to keep an eye on against L.A. Galaxy.

Keep the Same Energy

In their season opener against D.C. United, Charlotte FC didn’t look like an expansion team playing their first-ever MLS game away from home. They came out fearless, were assertive on the pitch from the opening minutes, and even when down 3-0, they kept the same intensity throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes.

The team needs to keep their foot on the gas and approach the inaugural home match with the same energy. Despite the result, the team felt positive and proud of their play and can take that momentum into the game against the LA Galaxy.

This doesn’t only apply to the effort of the team but also keeping that same energy tactically. Instead of being cautious with their tactics against D.C., CLTFC stayed true to the attacking, possession-based playing style that head coach Miguel Ramírez wants to play.

That same belief in themselves they had against D.C. will only be amplified by the potential record-breaking home crowd supporting them at Bank of America Stadium. It will provide more fuel for the team to use to keep that energy going throughout the match.

Just as important, however, is making sure that they also remain calm and composed amid all the adrenaline and excitement that will ensue during the Club’s first-ever match at home.

Świderski is Back

Charlotte FC’s marquee striker, Karol Świderski, wasn’t available for the match against D.C. United. It was a huge blow for the team, who throughout the game got into good scoring positions but were just lacking a striker’s touch in the final third to put those chances away.

Not having him also forced Titi Ortíz to play out of his favored attacking midfielder/winger positions to fill in at striker. Despite Ortíz's valiant effort at striker, having a natural number nine for the match against the Galaxy will give Ramírez more flexibility to work with and add a whole new dynamic to the team.

Świderski will offer a more physical presence up top and will serve as a focal point for the attack. He excels in linking up play and of course... scoring goals.

This will potentially be Świderski’s MLS debut so it will be important to get him involved early in the match to settle him into the game. If Charlotte FC can do this and provide him with service, their chances of scoring their first-ever goal in history against the Galaxy will only go up.

Don’t Sleep on Chicharito

Speaking of strikers, the Galaxy have in their arsenal Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, a renowned goal scorer who has played with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United. Chicharito is coming off an MLS season where he scored 17 goals, just narrowly missing out on winning the Golden Boot despite missing 12 games to injury.

He’s a poacher in the most traditional sense. He may barely touch the ball in a match, and at times it may seem he has disappeared altogether, but next thing you know he puts himself in the right spot at the right time and stuns you with a goal seemingly out of nowhere.

A perfect example of this was in the Galaxy’s 2022 season opener against NYCFC. Chicharito had been relatively silent all game but in the 90th minute he received a pass, took two touches, and then buried the game-winning goal.

Charlotte FC needs to stay on high alert throughout the entire game, making sure to keep note of where Chicharito is at all times. If you fall asleep for just one moment, Chicharito can and will punish you. He’s one of the favorites to win the Golden Boot this season for good reason.

While easier said than done, keeping Chicharito under wraps will be key in Charlotte’s pursuit of three points.

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