A Trip Up North: Charlotte v Montreal
Fourth place Charlotte FC hopes to continue a run of good play as the boys make a trip north with a date against Montreal on Saturday. This is a matchup of top and bottom, Charlotte sitting pretty in the top ten while Montreal sits in last in the east. Through seven games, Charlotte has scored twelve and conceded seven for a plus five goal difference. However, it’s been a different story north of the border. While Montreal sits in last place, they have managed to put four in the back of the net while allowing twelve, giving them a horrendous goal difference of minus eight. Both teams have firsts at stake, Charlotte is still searching for their first win away from home while Montreal is hoping to put a W in the win column for the first time this season. When the whistle blows, anything can happen and both teams have 90 minutes to secure a first for the season.
I think Dean has found a lineup that works with Ream moving to center back and Doumbia taking over on the left. There will be one change coming this week as Wilfried Zaha is out this week with hopes that he can return next week. Zaha has been dealing with thumb issues and a successful operation was completed this week. Hoping for a quick recovery and return to the starting xi for Zaha. I Think that Kerwin Vargas gets the start on the left in place of Zaha and the rest of the lineup remains unchanged from last week.
This is a game Charlotte needs to dominate if they want to prove a top four spot isn’t a fluke. I predict another 4-1 with Pep Biel adding to his MLS leading assist total. I think Biel assists Kerwin Vargas and Ashley Westwood in the first half to go to the break up 2-0. In the second half, I think Biel finds the ball at his feet after a rebound and puts one in the back of the net. Finally, I think Patrick Agyemang begins to find his form and gives the Crown their fourth of the night before Montreal finds a consolation prize in the dying embers. When the whistle blows, the scoreboard will read 4-1 in favor of Charlotte.
This is a quick trip away from home as the boys are back in the QC next week as they welcome San Diego to The Fortress for a 7:30 pm kickoff on the 19th.