Messi-less Miami Ties Charlotte, 0-0
Even with Messi MIA, Charlotte couldn't find the back of the net. Also: Ascent win; Independence tie in their season opener; Legacy leads MLS NEXT Pro; and the U.S. Open Cup kicks off this week.
March 14 is Pi Day, so it’s fitting Charlotte FC’s match against Inter Miami CF ended with two round numbers, O-O, as the final score at Bank of America Stadium.
In front of a sold-out crowd of 34,780, Charlotte FC battled defending champions Inter Miami CF to a physical draw Saturday night in a match defined by goalkeeping rather than goals, including the most memorable play of the night, belonging to Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
In the 34th minute, some good ball movement for Miami caused danger in the area. Sergio Reguilón, in his MLS debut, launched a cross into the goal box to defender Ian Fray, who headed the ball at point blank range. Kahlina saved the header in the air with his left hand, the ball bounced on the ground as Kahlina also fell to the pitch, and as it trickled dangerously towards the goal line the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year kept the ball out with his right hand, mid flight.
The dramatic sequence sparked chants of his name throughout the lower bowl. He would go on to have three saves on the night.
Soccer Sheet asked Kahlina about the juggling save after the match, and he compared the play to something he would face from Jordi Alba, the Inter Miami player who retired after last season.
“Yeah, it was a really difficult save, I think. Really, really good save. It was completely reaction from me that even I didn’t expect,” Kahlina said. “[Reguilón makes] a really good cross and I was moving all in that time even to the second post, middle goal, second post, and [Fray shoots] in front of me and it was like, ‘fast hands,’ I saved it. What is really important is [it was for the team], and yeah, it was a nice save for me.”
The Lineups
The lack of scoring could be chalked up to the conspicuous absence of the most famous footballer in the world. Many fans arrived expecting to see Lionel Messi chase a career milestone of 900 goals, but Soccer Sheet learned early Saturday that Lionel Messi had not travelled with Inter Miami on Friday, with his status up in the air until shortly before lineups were announced.
Instead, Miami elected to keep the superlative scorer in Florida as the club manages a crowded schedule that includes a CONCACAF Champions Cup coming up later this week.
Messi wasn’t the only notable absence. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul — who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and Messi — also stayed home, leaving Miami to rely on a rotated lineup that still featured veteran striker Luis Suárez wearing the captain’s armband, as well as academy products making their debut for the Herons.
“Competition is good, it’s healthy in a team, and ultimately it breeds excellence. So I think we have a really good midfield group that pushes each other every single day, and we’ll continue to do that, making each other better.” - Brandt Bronico
On Charlotte’s side, USMNT star Luca de la Torre was out after observing concussion protocol earlier in the week, and center back Henry Kessler — who is yet to make his debut with Charlotte — continues to recover from a lower body injury.
Despite an unfortunate miscommunication with Kahlina that led to an own goal in last week’s match against Austin FC, Morrison Agyemang still got the start at center back over Andrew Privett.
Kahlina told reporters after the match about how he was adjusting to the new faces on the back line, and helping Morrison integrate into the squad.
“What happened in the previous game, [I told him], ‘don’t play something like I think you are there.’ If something goes to the goal, we can be really punished,” said Kahlina. “But overall, he trained really well. And I think maybe in the start he lost a few balls, but overall, in the end, he played very well.”
After not starting in the first two matches, Brandt Bronico got his second consecutive start at home. It would be Bronico’s 150th appearance for the club.
Soccer Sheet asked him how he was working to stay in the lineup with more competition in the midfield this year.
“[It’s] the same work I’ve always been doing: just giving my best, pushing guys,” said Bronico. “Like I said, competition is good, it’s healthy in a team, and ultimately it breeds excellence. So I think we have a really good midfield group that pushes each other every single day, and we’ll continue to do that, making each other better.”
The Match
The match started with an early scare.
Charlotte defender Nathan Byrne and Miami forward Mateo Silvetti collided in the 4th minute, forcing both players into concussion protocol before they returned to the field.
The physical tone continued throughout the half, with fouls and yellow cards piling up. Toklomati was on the receiving end of much of Inter Miami’s physicality, even getting jumped on by Miami’s back line.
One of Charlotte’s best chances to score came from a Liel Abada breakaway in the 22nd minute. Ashley Westwood volleyed the ball to Toklomati, who quickly headed it to Abada on the run. With an open shot, Abada sent it wide, to the right of the goal, immediately grabbing his head in frustration.
As tempers continued to flare, designated player Wilfried Zaha saw his fourth yellow card in as many matches at the 32 minute mark, yet again for dissent. His next yellow will result in an automatic one match suspension.
Charlotte’s Westwood and Harry Toffolo also saw yellow cards, the latter for a bad foul in the 77th minute.
Soccer Sheet asked Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith if he had talked to Zaha about the infractions, and he pointed to what he perceives as a disparity between how the former Premier League star is treated relative to others players in MLS.
“I'm probably the wrong person you should be asking about it, to be honest,” said Smith. “The officials should maybe be in front of you explaining why some of them are cautions. Then you see similar situations happen with other players and not similar results.”
Smith also defended how Zaha shows up in tense moments.
“Listen, Wilf knows the league, he knows the officials. He’s been here 14 months now, so he’s understanding of that,” said Smith. “Yeah, we want to see emotion on the pitch, but we also want to see consistency from officials with how it's managed.”
Zaha came closest for The Crown in the 63rd minute, firing a shot from the center of the box that forced a sharp save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo.
Then, Kahlina was seriously challenged for the final time, saving a Germán Berterame header from the center of the box in the 79th minute.
Charlotte nearly earned a opportunity to steal the match in the 89th minute when Kerwin Vargas went down in the penalty area after a challenge. Officials waved play on, awarding a corner instead in a decision that frustrated Smith.
“Kerwin's come on straight away and had a big chance. He should have had a penalty at the end, there's no doubt in my mind,” said Smith, “There's a tangle of legs. The one thing it can't be is a corner. It's either a goal kick or a penalty because the lad hasn't touched the ball at all. And VAR, in my opinion, has made a mistake there by not sending the referee to the monitor. So he comes on and makes an impact straight away. He probably should have hit the target with his chance, but creates some opportunities.”
Smith also tried to change the game with fresh legs off the bench from Archie Goodwin, Tyger Smalls, and Djibril Diani,
The crowd at Bank of America Stadium was the loudest with cheers when Miami head coach Javier Mascherano was shown a red card in stoppage time after protesting a foul call and was sent off.
Shortly after, the match ended in a draw. Kahlina was the clear choice for Man of the Match.
While Smith later described Charlotte’s overall performance as “average,” the result still carries weight. The Crown held the defending MLS Cup champions scoreless, and extended their unbeaten run at home this season.
Soccer Sheet asked Smith if he thought any performances stood out.
“I thought Ashley Westwood was excellent. I thought Pep Biel worked his socks off today,” said Smith. “And [Kahlina] made one outstanding save. Other than that, as I say, it was a bit of a stalemate of a game.”
Personal Note: Seth Avett (of the Avett Brothers) band was coronated at the match, and it was a thrill to see one of NC’s greatest current musicians celebrated. It doesn’t hurt that he he’s married to Dexter star Jennifer Carpenter, who joined him for the festivities.
Yara Al Bayyari, Gabriel Seth Koch, and Sam Spencer contributed to this report.
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