Managing Rhythm | Ingredients of the Match

It's a battle of the Southeast as Charlotte FC host their neighbors Nashville SC and strengthening their playoff positions is on the line.

Here are the three ingredients of the match for Nashville.

Managing Rhythm

Knowing when to slow down the game or speed it up is important in every match. And recognizing what sort of rhythm a match requires at what stage can make all the difference.

Against Austin FC, a team with a solid defensive structure, CLTFC did well to build up patiently but things got stagnant once the team got into the final attacking third. Play was too slow and predictable to ever disrupt Austin’s well-drilled side.

It's okay to build up slowly, but picking up the rhythm in the final third is going be necessary to break down the resolute Nashville defense. Dynamism off the ball, combining quickly, and being sharper close to goal will help disorganize the Coyote’s defense and lead to scoring opportunities.

Finish Chances

Charlotte have proven to be able play on the front foot and create chances at home against good teams. And while Nashville still remain as one of the better defensive teams in the league, they are no longer the defensive powerhouse of 2021.

CLTFC will have opportunities to score but they probably won’t come as often as they did against the Dynamo. For that reason, it will be vital for the team to put away the chances they do get. Composure will go a long way in helping secure those goals and boosting the confidence of the attackers who do so.

Build Momentum

Speaking of confidence, the team has been injected with a dose of it after notching their first away win against the Houston Dynamo. For the first time, the team has come back to Charlotte in good spirits. A perfect opportunity to get back-to-back positive results to begin building some momentum.

“I think momentum is a really big thing in this league. Sometimes there are teams who go on runs and I think that if we can do that right now it would huge for us,” said forward Andre Shinyashiki. “So, we just need to carry that confidence because I think when you play with confidence you have a better chance of winning than when you don’t.”

Earning back-to-back wins fresh off the first away win could serve as a catalyst to jumpstart momentum as the Crown head into an important stretch of matches.

In partnership with Harris Teeter, CLTFC is bringing you the Ingredients of the Match ahead of every time our team takes the pitch during this inaugural season. While the ingredients may differ from week to week, one thing we can all agree on is when it comes to matchday, it’s all about the food and the preparation and Harris Teeter has what you need. Score big with deals from great brands like BODYARMOR, SmartWater, the new Coca-Cola Starlight available for a limited time and Goldfish Crackers, Cape Cod Potato Chips, & Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels form Campbells Snacks for your matchday personal prep! Harris Teeter, an Official Grocery Store of Charlotte FC!