Charlotte FC with a 4 – 1 win over Club Necaxa

After what has been a rough MLS season for the crown. The Leagues Cop break may be just what the doctor ordered. Needing a win or draw to advance to the Round of 32, Charlotte FC rode a chaotic but ultimately dominant first half to a 4-1 victory over Liga MX side Club Necaxa. Bronico, Swiderski, Arfield, and Agyemang all contributed goals in the victory. 

The Crown got off to a fast start and scored very early in this match just six minutes in Karol Swiderski spotted Brandt Bronico making a diagonal run in behind and slipped in a sublime pass across his body. Bronico collected himself with a good first touch and calmly chipped it over the onrushing Necaxa keeper to put the Crown up 1-0.

The next four minutes of the match seemed like an emotional roller coaster as Necaxa would score two goals only to have both taken off the board for two different penalties the first was essentially a hold by Andres Colorado had prevented Nathan Byrne and Brandt Bronico from defending the play. The second goal to be removed was for Facundo Batista was standing in Kristijan Kahlina’s line of vision, essentially interfering with Kahlinia's ability to defend the goal. 

From this point on the match never eased up as these two teams would seemingly come to the edge of a brawl on a few occasions with some very rough play and trash talk that worked its way onto the pitch. 

Charlotte FC would find Karol Swiderski picking up a goal late in the first half when Kamil Jozwiak found himself inside the box on the opposite side of the field from his right winger position. He picked up his head and picked out Swiderski, who read his teammate’s cross perfectly to knock it into the back of the net. Giving Charlotte a 2- 0 lead.

After an additioanl nine minutes of stoppage time was added to the first half. Scott Arfield would find his first every Charlotte FC goal with Bronico stripping the ball off Brayan Garnica in midfield before Swiderski dished the assist to Arfield. Arfield calmly finished to the bottom corner for his first goal in a CLTFC jersey, and the Crown exited the first half with a commanding lead.

The second half started just as chippy and physical as the first half ended. Just four minutes in, Edgar Mendez of Necaxa went over the edge after getting tackled off the ball by Jaylin Lindsey. As a loose ball rolled towards Swiderski, Mendez charged in with no attempt to play the ball and leveled the forward. The referee had the straight red card out of his pocket nearly simultaneously, reducing Necaxa to ten men for the second straight match.

The match seemed to get into a bit of a lull after Charlotte FC would take a one-man advantage from a red penalty for a dirty hit during the second half when Edgar Mendez of Necaxa went over the edge after getting tackled off the ball by Jaylin Lindsey. As a loose ball rolled towards Swiderski, Mendez charged in with no attempt to play the ball and leveled the forward. 

The game sparked back to life late on as the two teams traded goals. Lindsey slipped in Agyemang in the 87th minute and the forward calmly dispatched the breakaway, but Necaxa scored through Poggi just a minute later. making the score 4-1 with the Crown holding the lead. 

Charlotte FC moves on to the round of 32 in Leagues Cup play next week. However, there is one slight hiccup for the team as they are to host the next match. The issue is Beyonce is coming to Bank of America Stadium for a concert which involves major setup for her stage production. The concert was scheduled over a year ago before Leagues Cup play was scheduled. The team made every attempt to find a neutral site in the Carolina's to host the match but was unable to for various reasons. The Crown will head to Texas to host the next match.