Defensive collapse, poor first half end Charlotte FC’s longest win streak
It’s been a problem all season, but it was easy to forget about in July.
Charlotte FC was riding a program-best four-game winning streak. The Crown was meeting its goal to capitalize on the month’s home match-heavy schedule. Whatever plagued the team during May — which featured six losses and 23 conceded goals — disappeared.
Well, until Thursday.
The Crown gave up three goals in the first half in a 4-1 loss to FC Juarez at Bank of America Stadium during Phase One of the Leagues Cup. Charlotte won the possession battle, but had only one shot on goal in the half compared with Juarez’s 10.
“An abysmal first half cost us the game,” head coach Dean Smith said. “Abysmal goals cost us this game.”
In 2024, Smith’s first season, his team allowed the second-fewest goals in MLS. In 2025, the program has conceded 39 goals, the seventh most in the league.
And FC Juarez exploited the defense by the seventh minute.
During a fast-break opportunity, midfielder José Luis Rodríguez sent a cross to forward Madson de Souza Silva, who headed in the ball from the right side of the goal 6 yards out.
“Especially at home, the last thing we want to do is concede a goal that early,” defender Andrew Privett said. “We started that uphill battle from the start.”
But Charlotte worked to make up for it.
Forward Idan Toklomati left-footed a shot close to the goal to make it even. A glimmer of the team’s attack made up of Toklomati, Pep Biel, Kerwin Vargas and Wilfried Zah showed itself. The foursome has recorded 19 goal contributions in the last five matches. Toklomati has recorded six of his own in the last eight matches. The attack has become the team’s lifeline.
But Charlotte couldn’t rely on it completely as FC Juarez continued to outpace it, beating defenders off the dribble and finding space behind the backline.
Madson beat Charlotte on the near post again in the 21st minute, sending a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Smith said the team had no tempo or care, a criticism echoed by midfielder Ashley Westwood.
“We were too sloppy on the ball,” Westwood said. “Too slow on the ball, and if you’re doing that, you get what you deserve.”
During extra time at the end of the first half, defender Moisés Mosquera headed the ball into the center of the goal.
Charlotte entered the locker room down 3-1. Smith was blunt during halftime.
“I actually told them that it felt like my eyes were bleeding,” Smith said. “That’s how bad that first half was.”
Although The Crown attempted to revive the game, hope was lost by the 80th minute. Charlotte failed to generate any momentum. Frustrations led to a fight on the field, resulting in Toklomati receiving a red card.
By the 90th minute, Juarez scored again. Striker Óscar Estupiñán sent a shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. The Crown had no response.
“You could see how much it meant to (Juarez) getting the victory,” Smith said. “I don’t think it meant that much to our players, and that’s a disappointing thing for me.”
Despite making progress over the last four weeks, Charlotte looked like the team it tried to leave behind in June. Now, not only is the team’s winning streak over, but the players also have a long road ahead to make it to the next phase of the Leagues Cup.
