Andrew Privett, however, was handed a red card late in the match.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Charlotte FC was back home again Saturday, hosting the San Jose Earthquakes at the usual spot (Bank of America Stadium). This match was fresh off the announcement that head coach Dean Smith would stay on through 2027 and just a week after the black and blue blanked FC Cincinnati in a battle over who could be the real Queen City.
The Quakes, however, found themselves shook.
Pep Biel, a midfielder for Charlotte, tapped in for the first goal of the night just 11 minutes into the match. 25 minutes later, fellow midfielder and team captain Ashley Westwood found the net, getting an assist from winger Idan Gorno.
If that wasn’t enough scoring for Charlotte FC’s faithful, then perhaps a third goal would be just four minutes later. This time, Biel assisted fellow midfielder Brandt Bronico to add to the tally.
At the break, it was clear that Charlotte was up. And not long after, it was evident the team would not be so easily moved by San Jose.
Midfielder Kerwin Vargas got his goal – and his customary flip celebration – at the 52-minute mark, with an assist from Biel. The club had announced on X during the match that the speed with which the team scored meant they had run out of pyrotechnics for the match.
“PLEASE CELEBRATE ACCORDINGLY,” the club asked of fans.
That would be all the scoring Charlotte got in for the night, but defender Andrew Privett would face a red card in the penalty box. He was thus out for the remainder of the match and – unless Charlotte FC appeals to the MLS – will be out for next week’s match as well.
Charlotte almost had a clean sheet, but the penalty meant San Jose got a penalty kick. Midfielder Cristian Arango found the net, granting the Earthquakes their only point of the night.
After 90 minutes of regulation time and seven minutes for stoppage, Charlotte FC left the home pitch with a hefty 4-1 win over San Jose.
Charlotte is on the road on March 29 for its next match, taking on the Colorado Rapids. Since the black and blue are two time zones behind the Queen City, a friendly reminder that kickoff will be earlier in the day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Charlotte FC and Colorado have only met twice before historically, both resulting in draws. Neither team could find the net in April 2022 when they first faced off, but their second meeting a year later saw a 2-2 draw.
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