Match Preview: Charlotte FC vs Inter Miami CF

July 2, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Charlotte FC News Release

Charlotte FC returns to Bank of America Stadium this Wednesday for a match against the league leaders, Inter Miami CF. It will be a rare summer home match for The Crown, as they are coming off a two-match away trip and will be embarking on a four-match away stretch through the rest of July.

Head Coach Dean Smith and his players will then be looking for a big home result to grab some momentum to carry them through the rest of the summer.

Match: Charlotte FC vs Inter Miami CF

When: Wednesday, July 3

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV – How to Watch & Listen

Listen: WFNZ 92.7 FM (English) & WOLS 106.1 FM (Spanish)

For all other radio station affiliates in the Carolinas, click here.

Previous Matches:

Houston Dynamo FC 1 – 0 Charlotte FC (Major League Soccer | June 29)

Nashville SC 1 – 2 Inter Miami CF (Major League Soccer | June 29)

Eastern Conference Table: For the full live table, click here.

1. Inter Miami CF – 44 points, 21 GP

2. FC Cincinnati – 42 points, 20 GP

3. New York Red Bulls – 35 points, 21 GP

4. Columbus Crew – 33 points, 18 GP

5. New York City FC – 32 points, 20 GP

6. Charlotte FC – 32 points, 21 GP

7. Nashville SC – 26 points, 20 GP

8. Toronto FC – 24 points, 21 GP

9. Atlanta United – 24 points, 20 GP

———- Playoff Line ———-

Strong Start

“Starting strong”. It’s perhaps one of the most overused phrases coaches will use before the start of a match. Everyone wants to come out swinging, leveraging a strong start to dominate the entire game. So, why is a generic “strong start” important in Wednesday’s match?

Well, first, Charlotte FC decidedly did NOT have a strong start last time out against Houston. They allowed a goal just five minutes into the game, creating a deficit the team would ultimately never overcome in a 1-0 loss.

Here’s Head Coach Dean Smith in his pre-match press conference:

“Reviewing the game, we were just off it intensity-wise in the first half of the game… we just lacked the intensity we normally have, in terms of when we go and hunt the ball down. And that was what was disappointing, to be honest.”

That poor first-half hour in Houston was especially shocking because of how good CLTFC has been over that period this year. Before that 5th-minute goal, Charlotte had yet to concede a goal before the 31st minute. Period.

So, the team’s recipe for success so far this season has been maintaining that…