As the playoff race enters the final stretch, CLTFC still controls their own destiny. Four wins from four would guarantee The Crown one of the two remaining playoff spots.
Their first opportunity to start that streak is against Toronto at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, October 4th. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Match: Charlotte FC vs Toronto FC
When: Wednesday, October 4
Where: Bank of America Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV – How to Watch & Listen
Listen: WFNZ 92.7 FM (English) & WOLS 106.1 FM (Spanish)
For all other radio station affiliates in the Carolinas, click here.
Know Before You Go: For details on match day at Bank of America Stadium, click here.
Previous Matches:
Charlotte FC 1 – 2 New England Revolution (Major League Soccer | September 30)
Toronto FC 2 – 3 FC Cincinnati (Major League Soccer | September 30)
Eastern Conference Table: For the full live table, click here.
8. NYCFC – 38 points, 32 GP
9. CF Montreal – 37 points, 31 GP
---------- Playoff Line ----------
10. D.C. United – 37 points, 32 GP
11. Chicago Fire FC – 37 points, 31 GP
12. New York Red Bulls – 34 points, 31 GP
13. Inter Miami – 33 points, 30 GP
14. Charlotte FC – 33 points, 30 GP
15. Toronto FC – 22 points, 31 GP (eliminated)
Keeping Control of Your Own Destiny
Despite two consecutive losses, Charlotte FC can still make the playoffs without needing help or favorable results from other matches – for now. If the team can string together four straight wins from their final four matches, they are guaranteed either the #8 or #9 place in the table and a berth in the playoffs.
That potential run starts Wednesday against Toronto FC. If The Crown drop one result, their road to the playoffs gets trickier. Portions of the playoff scenarios would be out of the players’ hands.
That is a scenario the entire team would much prefer to avoid. For lack of a better phrase, the playoffs for Charlotte FC really start now if they want to keep control of their own destiny. The margin for error is razor thin.
This should, though, provide extra motivation and sharpened focus ahead of a critical run-in. Writer Caleb Adams broke this down, along with other keys to success, in his weekly Ingredients of the Match.
Related:
The Opponent
Toronto FC, already eliminated from playoff contention with 22 points, have been in a tailspin over the second half of the season. In their last 12 league matches, they have lost 11 and won just once (3-1 over Philadelphia in August).
They are currently led by Interim Head Coach Terry Dunfield, who has been in charge since the club parted ways with Bob Bradley in late June. Toronto have hired former Canada Men’s National Team Manager John Herdman as their new permanent Head Coach, but he will not take charge of the team until their final match of the season on October 21.
Additionally, the Canadian outfit have had their fair share of road struggles with zero wins on the road in over a year – their last was in August 2022 in Charlotte. Despite that loss last season, CLTFC have been in good form lately at Bank of America Stadium, losing only once in the last 16 home matches in all competitions.
Regardless of their recent struggles, Toronto FC are still very much a dangerous opponent. Italian international Federico Bernardeschi has plenty of talent on the wing and can change any match in just a moment, despite his modest 2023 return of five goals and four assists. Toronto stormed back from two goals down to equalize against Supporter’s Shield winners FC Cincinnati last time out but conceded a second half winner to drop the result.
The Season So Far
Charlotte FC’s second season got off to a tough start, with one win, three draws, and five losses in the opening eight matches. However, The Crown were able to stabilize in an extremely congested April and May, rattling off five straight wins at home in the league and the U.S. Open Cup. Over the course of the summer, wins were hard to come by, but the team kept themselves in touching distance of the playoffs with five draws in their last six games before the Leagues Cup break.
Leagues Cup served as a great reset for Charlotte FC. One penalty shootout win and one outright win put them through to the knockout stage as group winners, where CLTFC won two straight road games before falling to eventual champions Inter Miami in the quarterfinals.
Head Coach Christian Lattanzio’s side have been carrying that tournament momentum over to the last third of the MLS regular season but have generally been unable to turn draws into key victories. Following two consecutive losses away at Cincinnati and New England, the team will need to string together a win streak to make a playoff push, starting on Wednesday against Toronto FC.
REDEFINING ROYALTY | CLT V TOR
Bring the noise as Charlotte FC take on Toronto FC on Wednesday, October 4 @ 7:30PM.
