Assertive Preseason Performance by Charlotte FC Ends in a 1-1 Draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps

February 4, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Charlotte FC News Release

Charlotte FC’s second preseason match of the Coachella Invitational came against the Vancouver Whitecaps in what ended up being a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes. All in all it was an assertive performance by the Crown that built upon the previous preseason match against D.C. United. Following the match there was also an additional 45 minutes played.

The team showed improvement at exerting control with possession and through that possession generating scoring opportunities on a consistent basis throughout the match. Defensively the team was sound, really only conceded one clear opportunity that resulted the Whitecap’s lone goal.

There is still preseason rust but head coach Christian Lattanzio’s principles of play are becoming clearer with every preseason match.

First Half

Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Jones, Sobocinski, Bronico, Hegardt, Gaines, Swiderski, Vargas, Copetti

Charlotte had the vast majority of possession in the opening 15 minutes. They were able to create a half-chance when the ball was sprayed wide to Kerwin Vargas who cut onto his right foot and sent a shot just wide of the near post. Vargas remained lively throughout the first half delivering threatening balls into the box for teammates.

A spurt of chances came in quick succession in the 36 minute when Jaylin Lindsey floated a cross inches over Enzo Copetti’s head and Chris Hegardt’s followed up from the top of the 18 but was well blocked by a Vancouver defender.

The half almost ended in the Whitecaps’s favor as they nearly scored in dying moments but an excellent double save from George Marks kept the game at 0-0 heading into halftime.

Second Half

Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Jones, Sobocinski, Bronico, Hegardt, Gaines, Swiderski, Vargas, Copetti

Substitutes: Marks, Byrne, Neeley, Diop, Mora, Bender, Afful, Santos, Mello, Jozwiak, Shinyashiki

Seven minutes into the start of the second half, a recycled freekick gets set back to Lindsey who whips in an out-swinging cross that Swiderski meets but it flies over the bar. In the 58th minute, Mckinze Gaines looked for Copetti on the back post but the ball barely evades the Argentine for a goal kick.

On the defensive side, Adilson Malanda continued to be steadfast on defense. In the 64th minute he made a crucial sliding block to extinguish a dangerous situation to force a corner. Following this, Charlotte went back the other way, building up smartly until slipping it in…