Can FC Cincinnati finally solve Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium?
There's just something about Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium that FC Cincinnati can't quite solve.
Cincinnati's only visited Charlotte, the other "Queen City," twice, but it remains one of two Eastern Conference stadiums in which FCC's never won (the other is Philadelphia Union's Subaru Park). Furthermore, FC Cincinnati's had to scramble just to remain respectable at the approximately 75,000-seat stadium.
Last season, FC Cincinnati clawed back from a two-goal deficit at Bank of America Stadium just to steal a point. Two years ago, there was no coming back after FCC fell behind, 2-0, in one of the early, low points in Pat Noonan's tenure as FCC's head coach.
"I think it's a great atmosphere," Noonan said during a Thursday news conference. "In '22, I think we lost 2-nil. And we were under pressure early and conceded early. And then there was the same last year where we were able to come back and get a point out of the game. But when you have a slow start, and you know, you allow that team on their home field and that crowd to get into it, you can feel it. And so hopefully, we can have a stronger start than previous years.
"But, you know, the turf obviously plays a factor in the speed at times of how the game is played and how the ball bounces. So, we'll talk about that similar to the New England game where it can be choppy at times and when you're maybe unfamiliar with the surface, you've got to figure out the weight of your passes, where and when to take risk so you're not putting yourself in difficult positions, defensively. But yeah, I think the biggest takeaways the last couple matchups have been us chasing the game. And hopefully we can find a way to get the first goal."
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A host of factors − from spectator noise to the hard, artificial playing surface to swirling winds in 2022 − have all conspired to help make Bank of America Stadium one of the most inhospitable stops on the MLS circuit for FCC, which will take another shot at Charlotte's home stadium on Saturday.
Under first-year head coach Dean Smith, Charlotte went 2-2-1 over its first five regular-season matches, including a 2-0-0 mark at home. The club last week dealt defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew its first defeat of 2024, although Noonan said a Columbus red-card limited what his team could learn from that game.
Charlotte won the match, 2-0, while playing with a man advantage for more than an hour.
"Defensively, a very organized team in watching a lot more of them over the last couple days having, you know, been unfamiliar with obviously a new coach and some new personnel and some pieces that departed, you see a very organized team," Noonan said. "I think, defensively, tough to break down. They recover well in transition, I just haven't seen a lot of teams being able to put them under consistent pressure and create a lot of chances because of the strengths defensively.
"And then good transition team, you know, not afraid to play direct if they don't like what they see to move the ball on the ground. So they become very effective in how they'll challenge for the aerial duels, how they position themselves to pick up knock downs and get field position. I think they've been a very effective team in that regard. Good size, good physicality, this is certainly going to be a difficult game from what we're seeing."
Of the players that are no longer with Charlotte, FC Cincinnati will be especially glad to be rid of Karol Swiderski, now of Italy's Hellas Verona, who scored four goals against FCC over the club's four all-time matches. All four goals came in the matches played at Bank of America Stadium.
In Swiderski's absence, this year's team has netted five goals.
FC Cincinnati comes to Charlotte sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings, and having finally broken through at TQL Stadium last weekend with its first regular-season home victory of 2024. FCC defeated New York City FC, 1-0.
Cincinnati will have at its disposal both Miles Robinson and Obinna Nwobodo, both of whom could provide an injection of skill and veteran presence.
Robinson missed the NYCFC win while away with the U.S. men's national team. His absence was time well-spent as he started a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Jamaica and was then an unused substitute in the title-clinching victory over Mexico.
Nwobodo is available to play after he was injured in the club scoreless draw with D.C. United on March 10.
The game
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte
Broadcast: Apple TV
All-time series: FC Cincinnati leads the all-time series with two wins, a draw and a loss (2-1-1).
Cincinnati.com prediction: Charlotte FC 2, FC Cincinnati 1.
FC Cincinnati
Record (MLS): 3-0-2, 11 points; first place in Eastern Conference
Goals for: Five.
Goals against: Two.
Head coach: Pat Noonan, third season as head coach
Projected starting XI: Roman Celentano, goalkeeper; Luca Orellano, left wing back; Ian Murphy, center back; Matt Miazga, center back; Miles Robinson, center back; DeAndre Yedlin, right wing back; Yuya Kubo, midfielder; Pavel Bucha, midfielder; Luciano Acosta, midfielder; Corey Baird, forward; Aaron Boupendza, forward.
Charlotte FC
Regular season record: 2-2-1, Seven points; Tied for sixth in Eastern Conference
Goals for: Five.
Goals against: Four.
Head coach: Dean Smith, first season as Charlotte head coach
Projected starting XI: Kristijan Kahlina, goalkeeper; Nathan Byrne, right back; Adilson Malanda, center back; Andrew Privett, center back; J.P. Reginaldo, left back; Ashley Westwood, midfielder; Djibril Diani, midfielder; Kerwin Vargas, midfielder/winger; Scott Arfield, midfielder; Brecht Dejaegere, midfielder/winger; Patrick Agyemang, forward.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati looks to solve Charlotte FC's Bank of America Stadium
