The month of May has treated Charlotte FC well. They’re currently in the midst of a three-match winning streak and haven’t conceded a single goal.
After a midweek away game, Charlotte returns home for a quick turnaround to a Saturday night match against one of the original MLS teams, LA Galaxy. A win on Saturday would extend Charlotte's winning streak to four games, setting a new all-time record for The Crown.
Match: Charlotte FC vs LA Galaxy
When: Saturday, May 18
Where: Bank of America Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
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Previous Matches:
Charlotte FC 1 – 0 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer | May 15)
LA Galaxy 2 – 3 Minnesota United (Major League Soccer | May 15)
Eastern Conference Table: For the full live table, click here.
4. New York City FC – 20 points, 13 GP
5. Charlotte FC – 20 points, 13 GP
6. Toronto FC – 19 points, 13 GP
7. Columbus Crew – 18 points, 12 GP
8. DC United – 17 points, 13GP
---------- Playoff Line ----------
First Away Win
Charlotte FC have consistently demonstrated their ability to compete against any team in the league at Bank of America Stadium, earning the second-most home points in MLS so far this season.
However, their away form had been a persistent issue, going into this past week with only one point earned from five road matches. The pressure was mounting for Charlotte to overcome this hurdle.
Heading into the midweek away trip to Chicago, Dean Smith challenged his team to change their mental approach. “I believe some people, before they even leave, have accepted that it's going to be tougher,” he said. “And the only reason it's tougher is because that's in your head.”
The players responded with a performance characterized by mental resilience. It wasn’t pretty, and the team had to grind, but they accomplished their goal—earning their first road win.
“It wasn’t a pretty performance, but the main thing is we’ve come here and shown character,” said Westwood. “A lot of people have been saying we can’t win on the road. So, we’ve shown a lot of people up tonight by digging in, and working hard, and showing we’ve got personality.”
This was a significant mental milestone for the team, reinforcing that they are on the right track this season. The confidence gained from this result will be beneficial not only for away matches but also as they prepare for their clash against the LA Galaxy.
Related:
The Opponent
After years of mediocrity, the LA Galaxy made significant changes to their front office and roster for the 2024 season. These changes are yielding results, as the Galaxy are tied for the fourth-most points in MLS 13 games into the season.
Offensively, they have been particularly impressive, ranking as the second most prolific offense in MLS. New signings like Designated Players Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec have collectively scored 13 goals, while familiar faces like Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic have directly contributed to 16 goals.
Dean Smith referred to the Galaxy’s roster as an “All-Star team” and described the match as “probably our toughest game of the season so far.”
While Charlotte is in excellent form with three consecutive wins, the Galaxy are winless in their last three matches, though they have managed to secure a point in each. There are also concerns that DP winger Paintsil might not be available due to an injury sustained in their midweek match against Minnesota.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy remain one of the most formidable offensive teams in the league, and Charlotte will need to be at their defensive best to counter them.
The Season So Far
CLTFC won their first match of the season over NYCFC with a gritty 1-0 win at home. They then faced three consecutive games on the road, securing a 1-1 draw in Vancouver before tight losses to Toronto (1-0) and Nashville (2-1).
Upon finally returning to Bank of America Stadium, the team impressively downed the defending MLS Cup Champions, the Columbus Crew, by a 2-0 score. Then, they secured another impressive result, drawing the defending Supporter’s Shield Champions, FC Cincinnati, in a 1-1 match.
After a disappointing road loss in New England, CLTFC won a thrilling back-and-forth match against Toronto at home courtesy of a late Patrick Agyemang match-winner but then suffered two disappointing results in a row with losses to Minnesota and NYCFC.
Now, they return to Bank of America Stadium riding a three-match win streak, having defeated Portland, Nashville, and Chicago without conceding a single goal.
With a fourth consecutive victory on the line, they face one of the premier teams in MLS – the LA Galaxy.
May 18 | East Coast Meets West Coast | vs LA Galaxy
The Crown hosts LA Galaxy on Saturday May 18th as the Mayhem continues in the Queen City! Arrive early to score a Charlotte FC scarf presented by Carolina Ford Dealers.
