Charlotte FC Midfielder Ashley Westwood Named to MLS Team of the Matchday

CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, May 16, 2024) – Charlotte FC midfielder Ashley Westwood earned a spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday after his second half free kick goal helped earn Charlotte FC a victory over Chicago Fire FC. Defender Adilson Malanda helped earn the team a third consecutive defensive shutout, landing him a spot on the Team of the Matchday bench.  

The match was Charlotte FC’s third consecutive win in May and their first away victory of the 2024 season.  

In a tight 1-0 victory, Club Captain Ashley Westwood’s 60th minute goal was the difference. Forward Patrick Agyemang earned a foul on top of the box after a physical battle with Chicago’s Carlos Teran, and Westwood calmly curled the resulting free kick up and over the wall for the match-winner.  

The Englishman was acquired from Premier League side Burnley FC. Westwood has accumulated over 3,700 minutes with the Club since his debut in early 2023 and has started and played the full 90 minutes in all 13 matches so far in 2024. 

Charlotte FC sealed Wednesday’s victory by keeping their third consecutive clean sheet for the first time in Club history. Adilson Malanda was recognized for CLTFC’s defensive performance with a spot on the Team of the Matchday bench. It is Malanda’s second time appearing on the Team of the Matchday after he was in the first eleven for Matchday One after his match-winning goal over New York City FC in the team’s home opener. 

Malanda’s recognition comes on the heels of Andrew Privett’s Team of the Matchday selection earlier this week after a 2-0 home win over the Portland Timbers. For more information, please click here. 

Westwood spoke to media following the match. Video assets for his availability, along with assets for Head Coach Dean Smith, can be accessed by clicking here. 

Next up, The Crown has two home matches over the next two weeks. Continuing their quick turnaround, the Club returns home to play the LA Galaxy on Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET followed by the Philadelphia Union at home on May 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

For the full MLS Team of the Matchday, please see below: 
 
F: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Jonathan Rodríguez (POR), Hannes Wolf (NYC) 

M: Diego Luna (RSL), Ashley Westwood (CLT), Frankie Amaya (RBNY), Sebastián Driussi (ATX) 

D: Miles Robinson (CIN), Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Steven Moreira (CLB) 

GK: Hugo Lloris (LAFC) 

Coach: Sandro Schwarz (RBNY) 

Bench: Carlos Coronel (RBNY), Adilson Malanda (CLT), Joseph Rosales (MIN), Max Arfsten (CLB), Timothy Tillman (LAFC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Evander (POR), Kevin Kelsy (CIN), Rafael Navarro (COL)