Cambridge scored a brace from the bench to lead CLTFC to a come-from-behind victory over Chicago Fire FC
Charlotte FC will look to extend their home unbeaten streak this Saturday at Bank of America Stadium versus Nashville SC
CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, May 18, 2023) – Charlotte FC forward Brandon Cambridge was voted MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 13 of the 2023 MLS season. Cambridge had previously been named to the Team of the Matchday, along with defender Jan Sobocinski who made the bench.
Cambridge is the first player in league history to be named both MLS Player of the Matchday and MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchday, after he received the MLS NEXT Pro award for his brace in a victory over FC Cincinnati 2 on Matchday 2.
When trailing 1-0 in the 59th minute, Head Coach Christian Lattanzio looked to Cambridge off the bench to change the game. The substitution paid immediate dividends when Cambridge fired home the equalizer and game-winner for his first career MLS goals in just his fourth MLS appearance.
With his two goals on Saturday, Cambridge became the third player in league history to score a game-tying and game-winning goal as a substitute within his first four appearances. The last player to accomplish this feat inside his first four appearances was the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in El Trafico on March 31, 2018.
The 21-year-old also became the youngest player in Charlotte FC history to score multiple goals in a match and the first to do so as a substitute. He is also the second-youngest player (21 years, 97 days) to win the award in 2023, behind only Atlanta United’s Caleb Wiley (18 years, 79 days).
After the match, Head Coach Christian Lattanzio and Man of the Match Brandon Cambridge spoke to media
CLTFC has now won five straight games at home and has gone seven games unbeaten, both of which are the longest streaks in Club history. Additionally, the win moved Charlotte FC to 7th place in the Eastern Conference, two places above the playoff line. The Club sits on 18 points, level with Columbus and Philadelphia in 5th and 6th place, respectively.
Charlotte FC will now look to extend their unbeaten home run when the Club hosts Nashville SC in a Rivalry Week matchup at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
For the full MLS Team of the Matchday, please see below:
F: Ethan Finlay (ATX), Jesús Ferreira (DAL), Luiz Araújo (ATL)
M: Brandon Cambridge (CLT – Player of the Matchday), Keaton Parks (NYC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (MIN)
D: Malte Amundsen (CLB), Lukas MacNaughton (NSH), Brooks Lennon (ATL)
GK: Pedro Gallese (ORL)
Coach: Josh Wolff (ATX)
Bench: Andre Blake (PHI), Jan Sobociński (CLT), Richie Laryea (TOR), John Tolkin (RBNY), Obinna Nwobodo (CIN), Thiago Almada (ATL), Kwadwo Opoku (LAFC), Johnny Russell (SKC), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL)
HOME THIS SATURDAY
On the hunt for six straight home wins, Charlotte FC takes on Nashville SC to close out MLS Rivalry Week. It's time to party at The Fortress.
