Charlotte FC’s crazy comeback extends Leagues Cup run. Lionel Messi is next.
Charlotte FC has a high-stakes match against Lionel Messi to prepare for.
The plucky MLS team based in the Carolinas defeated Houston Dynamo FC, 2-1, in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup on Monday.
With the win, Charlotte will next play the Messi-led Inter Miami side on the road Friday night in the tournament quarterfinals.
Monday’s win was remarkable for a variety of reasons. Among those reasons: It extended a run that has now featured four straight wins for Charlotte through the Leagues Cup — a single-elimination tournament and officially sanctioned CONCACAF event that features competition between clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX. (The top three Leagues Cup teams qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the champions receiving a bye to the Round of 16.)
It was also remarkable in and of itself.
Charlotte FC went from down 1-0 to up 2-1 in a matter of seconds.
Houston struck first. In the 10th minute, a Dynamo counter-attack found the Charlotte defense disorganized, and the team capitalized on that thanks to a Corey Baird goal on a cross from Nelson Quiñónes.
Charlotte responded, though.
After exiting the first half leading in shots (10-3) and shots on goal (3-1) — and after building a few promising chances early in the second half — Charlotte finally found the back of the net in the 80th minute.
The equalizer came by virtue of the strength of substitute striker Patrick Agyemang. The 22-year-old goal-scorer chased down a beautiful ball from Jaylin Lindsey, juked past Houston keeper Steve Clark and filed the ball into the open net to level the score at one.
Then, in the 81st minute, Houston defender Micael was trying to pass the ball to his goalkeeper — but he hit it too hard, and the ball flew by his teammate for an own goal. That put the score at 2-1 and left the home crowd at Shell Energy Stadium stunned.
Houston had chances after that — including a set piece on the attacking side of the field in extra time — but none resulted in goals.
Charlotte now faces one of the hottest teams in MLS in Inter Miami. It also faces one of the most popular teams in the world at the moment — and that’s largely thanks to the magic of Messi, who has scored seven goals in his four appearances for the team, including an awe-inspiring free kick that kept Miami’s Leagues Cup dreams alive on Sunday night.
Friday’s match may be among Charlotte’s most important contests in club history, alongside the club’s record-breaking home opener in 2022 and the club’s exhibition win over Chelsea last summer.
This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 12:18 AM.
