MLS

Charlotte FC v New York Red Bulls: Smith adopts new playoff focus

By Sports Desk August 22, 2024

Dean Smith is solely focused on pushing for a playoff place as Charlotte FC prepare to return to MLS action against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Charlotte endured a disappointing Leagues Cup campaign as they finished bottom of a group containing the Philadelphia Union and Cruz Azul, recording one draw and one defeat.

That early exit gave former Aston Villa boss Smith three weeks to work with his players ahead of MLS' return this weekend, with Charlotte currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, some 10 points clear of the teams outside the playoff picture. 

"In the two or three weeks since the exit from the Leagues Cup, we've been solely focused on a playoff push, on getting our mindset right for what it's going to take," Smith said.

"The players have responded really well. We've had some days off when they've needed them, but our focus now is on New York, and then on Atlanta.

"We can take a lot of confidence from what we did in our last three games, all tough away from home, and we came away with five points. We'll take the positives from that."

The Red Bulls also went out of the Leagues Cup early, drawing both of their group matches with Toronto FC and Pachuca before losing penalty shoot-outs to both.

They are four points clear of Charlotte in the standings, but boss Sandro Schwarz feels they needed the time off.

"First of all, we needed to take a break, it was important for us. We played every week at the highest intensity, working since the middle of January without a break," Schwarz said.

"At this point it's good to have the break, then we have clear preparations for how we want to start in Charlotte."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte FC – Ben Bender 

Bender has scored four goals in five career matches against the Red Bulls. No Charlotte player has scored more goals against a single opponent than Bender has against New York.

New York Red Bulls – Elias Manoel 

Manoel has scored six goals in five career matches against Charlotte (including playoffs) while scoring more than once against just one other opponent (two versus D.C. United). 

In fact, Manoel has scored just seven goals in 57 MLS matches against teams other than Charlotte.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN

The Red Bulls have only lost one of their seven games against Charlotte in all competitions (four wins, two draws) but have never defeated the Crown on the road (one draw, one loss).

Saturday's visitors are unbeaten in 10 straight matches (two wins, eight draws), though both of their Leagues Cup matches were draws followed by penalty shoot-out defeats. On the road, they are winless in six (three draws, three defeats).

Charlotte, meanwhile, have kept nine clean sheets in their last 14 regular-season home games dating back to last October, the most in MLS during that time. That solidity could get them over the line here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 41.7%

New York Red Bulls – 31.6%

Draw – 26.7%

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  • Cushing aiming to create ‘incredible’ Citi Field atmosphere to inspire playoff comeback Cushing aiming to create ‘incredible’ Citi Field atmosphere to inspire playoff comeback

    Nick Cushing acknowledged the importance of New York City FC’s supporters at Citi Field for Game 2 of their best-of-three series MLS playoff clash with FC Cincinnati.

    Yamil Asad’s only goal handed the Orange and Blue a slender advantage heading into their upcoming encounter, though the Pigeons head coach was confident about his sides chances on home soil.

    NYCFC won 10 games at Citi Field during the regular season, with only Inter Miami (11) winning more in the Eastern Conference.

    And Cushing believes that his players must start the game well to ensure their home fans generate an “incredible” atmosphere to push them over the line.

    “We love playing at home in front of our people,” Cushing said. “I said post-game - irrelevant of what happened in Cincinnati - we're now playing in front of our people, and that is where we play our best football, but we need everybody behind us.

    “The players are incredibly hungry. They have a huge desire to win this football game and to make sure that we win the game with our people. They've been amazing all season. I can always go back to the Miami game [this season]. That was incredible.

    “It was actually interesting because the Miami game at Yankee Stadium was an amazing game in front of our fans. Our fans delivered so much for us, but the last playoff game I did at Citi Field was also against Miami.

    “That was an incredible atmosphere and a good performance from the team. We know that if we play well and we start well we get our people behind us, and that is our aim.”

    Pat Noonan, meanwhile, expects another difficult “chaotic” playoff encounter, evident when NYCFC’s goalkeeper Matt Freese was sent up from the back late on to try and steal a point in the opening game.

    Cincinnati boasts an impressive record away from home, though, and Noonan said the ending of their previous match was a timely reminder to his players about the aggressive nature of the postseason.

    “On Monday, we experienced what it looks like when there is no aggregate, and that’s teams going for it with no repercussions if they concede another goal,” Noonan said.

    “We have a one goal lead, and they were going after it. You could see it when the goalkeeper came up at the end. It’s a little bit chaotic, so you must be prepared for it.

    “That was a good reminder of what the game can look like when you’re playing with a lead and, on the other side of it, the ability to go after it in a very aggressive way to find the leveller – that was the reminder we needed from that particular game.”

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    NYCFC – Alonzo Martinez

    Since his move to NYCFC in August 2023, Martinez has found home comfort at Citi Field, netting 11 of his 16 goals in the 2024 regular season on home soil.

    Along with team-mate Santiago Rodriguez, who scored in 10 of his 12 games at home, the Pigeons, along with Inter Miami (Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez), were the only two teams to feature two different players with 10 home goals this term.

    Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta

    Acosta continued his fine regular season form into the postseason, setting up Asad for the only goal in Cincinnati’s 1-0 win in Game 1 on Monday.

    The Argentine has now scored (three) or assisted (three) in six of Cincinnati’s 10 all-time playoff goals.

    MATCH PREDICTION: NYCFC WIN

    The Pigeons have won five of their seven home matches against Cincinnati (D1 L1), though both of Cincinnati’s games away from home against NYCFC have come in their three visits since 2022.

    NYCFC have lost only four of their last 25 home matches in all competitions dating back to late August 2023 (W15 D6). They have won their last two home matches, scoring three goals in each, including a 3-2 win over Cincinnati in October. 

    However, Cincinnati, along with Inter Miami, won 11 away matches in the 2024 regular season, equalling CF Montreal’s single-season MLS record set in 2022. They only managed two wins in their last six on the road (D1 L3) though, after winning nine of their first 11 away matches in 2024 (D1 L1).

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    NYCFC – 43.7%

    Draw – 26.8%

    Cincinnati – 29.5%

  • Valentino relying on home comforts to overcome Inter Miami ‘superstars’ Valentino relying on home comforts to overcome Inter Miami ‘superstars’

    Rob Valentino is confident Atlanta United can overcome their one-goal deficit against the “superstars” of Inter Miami in Game 2 of their best-of-three series in the MLS playoffs.

    The Five Stripes lost their opening game of the postseason 2-1, with Jordi Alba’s long-range stunner sealing the triumph for Inter Miami, who will look to book their place in the next round with a victory.

    But ahead of the encounter at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, interim head coach Valentino was excited to welcome the Herons to Georgia, believing his side are not out of the fight just yet.

    “I’m already buzzing about what that place is going to be like,” Valentino said.

    “My message to the team was that these people are waiting to cheer for you, you’ve been three on the road to finish into the playoffs and you can feel the buzz getting back for them.

    “Even all the people coming to see [Lionel] Messi, no problem. I love it, because eventually, like last time when things were going well, they were also cheering [for us].

    “I get it, come to see the superstars, come and see our team fight and compete but these boys aren’t done yet.”

    Inter Miami, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their win from Game 1, a game that their dominance was not reflected by the scoreline.

    The Herons managed 22 shots, 12 of which were on target, compared to Atlanta’s eight shots with only two on Drake Callender’s goal.

    Gerardo Martino’s side were met with the imposing figure of Brad Guzan, who made nine saves during the contest.

    The Miami head coach believes had it not been for the veteran shot stopper, the game could have been out of site.

    “It was a match where what I liked the most was the control we had on the field for almost the entire game,” Martino said.

    “We didn’t make many mistakes that would allow the opponent to break out into space. We had five clear chances in the first half, and one of them came very close to the post.

    “We were patient. I believe that if it weren’t for Brad (Guzan)’s performance, the match should have ended with a clear difference.”

    PLAYERS TO WATCH:

    Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

    Messi carried his fine form into the postseason, notching the assist for Alba’s winning goal against the Five Stripes in Game 1.

    Across the Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs, he has appeared in 10 knockout round matches for Inter Miami (single and multi-leg) and contributed to at least one goal in all of them (nine goals, five assists).

    Atlanta United - Pedro Amador

    Amador set up Saba Lobjanidze for Atlanta’s only goal in Game 1 on Friday, his sixth assist for the Five Stripes in the regular season and playoffs since debuting for the club in late August.

    Only Alba (nine) and Riqui Puig (seven) have more assists than Amador in that time (including the playoffs).

    MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

    Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta in Game 1 was the club’s 23rd MLS win of the campaign (regular season and playoffs). The only two teams in the post-shootout era with more wins in a single season, including playoffs, were Atlanta United (25) and the New York Red Bulls (24).

    However, Atlanta are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Inter Miami (W4 D1), though Miami’s 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 18 ended a four-match home winning streak for the Five Stripes.

    The Herons’ only-ever win at Atlanta was a 2-1 victory in September 2020, but they will have confidence of adding another on enemy territory.

    Atlanta have won only four of their last 18 home matches in all competitions (D6 L8) dating back to April, however. The Five Stripes won just six regular-season home matches in 2024, their fewest in a full regular season in club history (excluding the shortened 2020 season).

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Atlanta United – 27.8%

    Draw – 24.1%

    Inter Miami – 48.1%

  • Kompany yet to decide on Dier and Upamecano's Bundesliga return Kompany yet to decide on Dier and Upamecano's Bundesliga return

    Vincent Kompany said he would wait until Saturday to decide whether Eric Dier and Dayot Upamecano are fit enough to return to action for Bayern Munich. 

    Bayern welcome Union Berlin to the Allianz Arena, hoping to maintain their advantage over RB Leipzig at the summit of the Bundesliga standings.

    Both Dier and Upamecano are nursing injuries, with the former Tottenham defender replaced by Arijon Ibrahimovic in Bayern's DFB-Pokal win over Mainz in midweek. 

    Upamecano also missed the trip to the Mewa Arena with a thigh injury, only adding to the defensive woes Kompany has suffered this season. 

    Bayern are already without Hiroki Ito, Sacha Boey and Josip Stanisic, but Kompany is yet to make a decision on Dier and Upamecano's role in Saturday's fixture. 

    "It's a pity when players are unavailable. I have 18 fit players, so I have 18 options for the positions," Kompany told a press conference.

    "There have obviously been a lot of games in the last few weeks. I have full confidence in the other boys and in the squad."

    "The tendency (for Dier and Upamecano) is good but still I will take my time until tomorrow. But it looks good."

    During their win over Mainz on Wednesday, Kompany was forced to play a central defensive partnership made up of Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer. 

    And the Bayern boss was not against starting that same duo against Union Berlin this weekend after their strong showing in the DFB-Pokal. 

    "I could say it is bad for us with two, three or four defenders missing," Kompany added. 

    "But I have full faith in the other players. I hope they will be fit but in any other case I have faith in the other lads."

    Kompany has collected 20 points in his first eight Bundesliga games as Bayern head coach, the best return since Carlo Ancelotti in 2016.

    No coach in top-flight history has seen his side score as many goals in their first eight games as Kompany (29), and the Belgian has reason to be confident this weekend.

    They have not lost any of their 10 league meetings with Union Berlin (W7, D3) – the only other side Bayern have faced as often in the top-flight without losing is Darmstadt.

    However, Kompany was wary of the threat Bo Svensson's side, who have picked up 15 points after eight Bundesliga games – only ever being better off in 2022-23 (17).

    "They have done it well so far. They are up there and we will not be underestimating them. But the game is about us," Kompany said.

    "You can see that they are very strong in defence and on the counter. This is a team that knows what it has to do. But in the end it is a home game for us."

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