Charlotte FC Pulls Off a Miracle in Cincinnati

Charlotte FC, doubted and short-handed, ventured into the home of the mighty FC Cincinnati and pulled off an astonishing 3-1 victory. It was Matchday 26, a day that started gloomy for the visitors, carrying the weight of two consecutive defeats and the absence of key players.

Right from the start, Ashley Westwood, the maestro of this unlikely orchestra, made his intentions clear. His three decisive passes, a club record, were like strokes from an inspired artist. Iuri Tavares and Liel Abada, stepping in for the suspended Patrick Agyemang, didn’t disappoint and secured the early lead. Within just 22 minutes, Charlotte had done enough to leave the home crowd stunned.

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But, of course, every epic tale needs a villain. Luciano Acosta, the reigning MLS MVP, had his chance to turn the game in Cincinnati’s favor with a penalty kick. And that’s when goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina decided to steal the spotlight. With the coolness of a veteran and the reflexes of a cat, Kahlina saved the penalty, keeping the victory flame alive.

Kerwin Vargas, with a crucial goal, and the sending off of Miles Robinson, which buried Cincinnati’s hopes, sealed the deal. In the end, the 3-1 scoreline not only secured three precious points but also kept Charlotte in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just a step away from hosting an Audi MLS Cup playoff match.

Westwood summed up the sentiment perfectly: “It was a statement performance tonight. I think today, we came here and really showed what we’re made of. For the first 35, 40 minutes, we were exceptional. They couldn’t keep up with us. We put on a really good performance tonight. And I think the game plan during the week was unbelievable.”

Coach Dean Smith, always pragmatic, reminded everyone that there’s still work to be done. “I keep talking in our dressing room about how good we can be. And we have to be consistent,” he said. “We lost the last two games. I think we played really well against Inter Miami. Our first half against Houston, we dropped our standards and got beat because of it. So, we wanted to make sure our standards were back. And I think it was a good follow-up performance to the Inter Miami game.”

Even with a depleted squad, Charlotte showed they are a force to be reckoned with. The confidence emanating from the players was palpable. And, despite needing reinforcements in the transfer window opening on July 18, the team spirit and determination shown suggest this squad could surprise even more.

Westwood, who shone as a true leader, highlighted this confidence. “We never know when we’re beaten, and that’s a good thing to have,” he said, with a sparkle in his eyes. “We get knocked down, but we always get back up. And it’s a real togetherness. All the lads are running for each other. We know how organized we are. Everyone knows what they’re doing. And tonight, I think the game plan was perfect, and we knew we could come here and win. That was the confidence we had coming into this game.”