Charlotte FC's journey in the Leagues Cup presses on as they remain in Texas, ready to collide with fellow MLS contender Houston Dynamo in the Round of 16.
Here are the three ingredients of the match:
Attack with Boldness
In their encounter with Cruz Azul, Charlotte FC encountered difficulties in posing the level of threat they were capable of, despite finding themselves in promising positions. Head Coach Christian Lattanzio attributed this struggle to a degree of tentativeness within his team. He noted that they exhibited too much respect for their opponents, even though they had the potential to truly challenge them in the attacking third.
When facing a well-organized team like Houston, it becomes imperative to play with extra creativity and calculated risk-taking in order to break down their defensive structure. Displaying more audacity in the final third, whether through more assertive dribbles or attempting incisive passes, will be instrumental in unlocking Dynamo's defense.
Free Ashley Westwood
A brief film study of Charlotte FC reveals the central role that Ashley Westwood plays within the team. The flow of ball progression often revolves around him. Given the space to operate, Westwood has the ability to dictate the match's tempo and generate scoring opportunities through his passing proficiency.
One factor contributing to Charlotte's offensive limitations against Cruz Azul was the constant marking of Westwood by their opponents. Their objective was to obstruct passing lanes and, if he gained possession, deny him the time to survey and execute progressive passes. To facilitate ball progression through the midfield and infuse greater dynamism into the attack, Charlotte must find ways to free Westwood.
Draw from Past
Much like their previous visit to Dallas in the Leagues Cup, Charlotte FC holds a historical connection with their upcoming venue, Shell Energy Stadium. This stadium witnessed Charlotte securing their inaugural away victory, a 2-1 triumph that could easily have seen them score even more.
This achievement serves as a poignant reminder that the club has achieved success at this venue before and possesses the capability to do so again. While Houston may be building momentum, so too is The Crown, and what Houston has yet to accomplish is besting Charlotte. Despite the relatively brief history, this achievement stands as an additional source of confidence and motivation.
WATCH PARTY
Leagues Cup Round of 16 vs. Houston Dynamo
August 7th @ 9:00PM | Kickoff at 9:30PM @ Big Ben Pub
