Charlotte FC have been solid at keeping the ball out of their own net. Now, if only they could find a way to get the ball into the opposing net.
Charlotte (6-6-4, 22 points) entered the weekend having conceded just 16 goals in 16 matches, tied for second-fewest allowed in MLS. They recorded five consecutive shutouts before the streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday and lead the league with seven clean sheets.
At the other end of the pitch, they’ve scored 15, also tied for second fewest in the league. The goal against New York is their lone tally in their past three matches, going 0-1-2 in that stretch.
They’ll look to build off that goal and the chances created against New York when they visit Atlanta United (4-7-4, 16 points) on Sunday.
“For us, it’s about putting the last one right and going on another run what we’d been on recently,” Charlotte captain Ashley Westwood said. “It’s a little bump in the road. We’ve been there before. It’s time to put another run together.”
Patrick Agyemang leads the club with three goals, though he hasn’t scored in four matches. Kerwin Vargas and Westwood follow with a pair each. No one else on the team has more than one.
Whether Agyemang will be available, however, is to be determined. The second-year striker turned his ankle against the Red Bulls.
“It’s going to be tough for him to feature, but we’ll see how it goes,” coach Dean Smith said. “Hopefully, (the trainers) can get him on the pitch.”
Atlanta, meanwhile, enters the match on a high coming off a midweek 3-1 victory against league-leading Inter Miami.
“Stay grounded, and not go too high,” Atlanta midfielder Tristan Muyumba said. “Of course, we have a good game on Wednesday, but the best way to be consistent is to win the next game.”
To do so, they’ll have to turn things around at home. Though United is 3-4-1 on their pitch, they enter Sunday having lost four straight home matches and are winless in their past five (0-4-1).
They haven’t won at home since March 31.
“Massively important, because we have not won at home in a while,” coach Gonzalo Pineda said.
Saba Lobjanidze doubled his season output with a brace against Miami and now sits second on the team with four goals.
–Field Level Media