C.F. Monterrey was unable to find the net at all on Thursday.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Charlotte FCΒ needed a win Thursday as the first phase of the Leagues Cup wound down. Badly.
The first of the three-match phase was a disaster for the black and blue, with FC Juarez dominating 4-1 at Bank of America Stadium. The team did hit a draw with Chivas de Guadalajara, but this isn’t Major League Soccer; no draws allowed. Instead, the visiting team won 4-2 on penalty kicks.
So the big question for Thursday: could Charlotte get back into the groove it found when facing CF Monterrey from Liga MX?
Scoring didn’t happen until the second half of the match. At the 56-minute mark, defender Bill Tuiloma found the net, assisted by winger/forward Liel Abada. The goal was subject to VAR review, but awarded to Charlotte nonetheless.
Just four minutes later, midfielder Tyger Smalls kicked it in, assisted by forward Brandon Cambridge. To note: Cambridge signed with Charlotte FC’s MLS Next Pro team, Crown Legacy FC, in 2022. He made his debut with that team in 2023. Smalls made his own MLS debut earlier this year.
There was plenty of match left for an answer from Monterrey, but the visiting team had no reply. Charlotte FC gets its first win in the Leagues Cup, 2-0 against Monterrey. The black and blue’s future in the cup is set to be determined after the remaining matches conclude.
Charlotte won’t have much time to rest. The team hits the road on Sunday, Aug. 10, to take on FC Cincinnati in MLS play. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Eastern time. Fans who can’t fly out for the match can instead join an official away watch party presented by Modelo at Blinders Sports Lounge, located at 225 West Tremont Avenue in Charlotte.
The next home MLS match for Charlotte is Saturday, Aug. 16, against Real Salt Lake. Kickoff then is at the usual 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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