Charlotte FC have shown signs of solving some of their scoring woes. Minnesota United would like to do the same.
The teams are scheduled to meet Sunday night in Charlotte, where the home team has enjoyed some jolts of energy.
“The crowd gives us a different kind of energy boost,” Charlotte striker Patrick Agyemang said. “We never want to disappoint at home. We want to snatch as many points as we can.”
Minnesota (3-2-2, 11 points), meanwhile, has scored a total of two goals in its last three matches.
“We’re always trying to find the silver lining,” United coach Eric Ramsay said.
Charlotte (3-3-2, 11 points), which rallied to defeat Toronto FC 3-2 last weekend, is aiming for back-to-back victories for the first time this season. It also was the highest scoring match in 2024 for Charlotte.
That type of offense could be a spark that’s needed.
“It will boost confidence,” Charlotte coach Dean Smith said. “It will boost confidence for the whole team to prove to themselves that they can go and do it now. We just need to take it forward.”
That might be particularly relevant for Agyemang, whose missed scoring chances had mounted before he converted against Toronto.
“I just need to focus on what I could do to get better,” Agyemang said. “So I did so.”
A boost also came from Liel Abada, who recorded his first MLS goal. He’ll be looking for more.
“I’ve had a really difficult time, but now I really feel happy,” Abada said. “I just want to enjoy everything in our attempt to achieve our targets.”
For Smith, the scoring will come as players better adapt to how they’ll best be in scoring positions.
“That’s where we’re working with the players to be better decision makers,” Smith said. “They’re starting to do that.”
Minnesota’s lineup took a ding when the team announced Friday that defender Hugo Bacharach underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and could miss up to two months. He was injured during last weekend’s match in his MLS debut.
The status of Minnesota center back Micky Tapias is less clear after a hamstring annoyance developed in training this week. Ramsay called it likely “only minor” with the possibility that Tapias could be ready by the weekend.
This is the first-ever regular-season meeting between the teams.
–Field Level Media