After topping MLS-best FC Cincinnati, Charlotte FC are ready to take on another Ohio giant as they hit the road to face the surging Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. It would seem like a tough task for Charlotte (10-8-5, 35 points) considering the defending MLS Cup champion Crew (12-3-6, 42 points) have won five straight matches and nine of their past 10 after blowing out Los Angeles FC 5-1 on Saturday in a rematch of the 2023 league final. "My players found a way to be ourselves and to play the way we wanted to play and to play really good sequences, but also to be disgusting to play against," Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy said. Charlotte had a formidable challenge as well on Saturday and responded with a 3-1 victory over Supporters' Shield leader Cincinnati. "It was a statement performance," Charlotte FC midfielder Ashley Westwood said. "We've come here and really put on a performance. The first 35, 40 minutes, I thought we were outstanding. They couldn't live with us." Adding to Charlotte's confidence is its 2-0 win over the Crew on March 23. Forward Patrick Agyemang will be available against Columbus following a one-match league suspension for a red card. He and Westwood scored late in the second half against the 10-man Crew to lift Charlotte FC to the March victory. The goals were scored against goalkeeper Evan Bush, who replaced Patrick Schulte while he was with the United States' U-23 team. Charlotte will not face Bush or Schulte this time around. Schulte joined the Olympic team and Bush (arm) is injured, leaving Nicholas Hagen to start. Nancy missed the match in Charlotte back on March 23 due to an illness, while leading scorer Cucho Hernandez was suspended by the team for the next two weeks for reportedly disrespecting an assistant coach after being subbed out against Charlotte FC. Hernandez is on a roll now with eight goals in his past seven matches. The Crew are on a tear, outscoring opponents 20-2 during their five-match winning streak. --Field Level Media
Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina (1) clears the ball in the second half of the MLS match at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 13, 2024.