NEWS & OPINION FEATURE
The match could have gone either way until Galaxy’s Efraín Álvarez came off the bench and broke the deadlock in the 77th minute. The goal was perfect — Álvarez hit the upper ninety from outside the box, denying goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina a save — so Charlotte fans couldn’t feel too bad about the 0-1 loss. The supporters section was rowdy and the team received a standing ovation at the end, but the Analyzing the first half of Charlotte FC’s inaugural season most important moment for the club’s culture was BY SAM SPENCER when a microphone went out during the national anthem and the crowd took over, a tradition that has continued at Bank of America Stadium throughout the season. Charlotte Football Club is at a fork in the road. In 2021, as Charlotte FC built its bench, the club In that moment, it was clear that soccer was The team has played 20 matches of their inaugural lent players to minor league Charlotte Independence here to stay. campaign and have 14 to go before the MLS Cup to prepare for 2022, including captain Christian Playoffs. As of press time, Charlotte FC sits in sixth Fuchs, box-to-box midfielder Brandt Bronico, and place in the Eastern Conference, with 26 points and defender Adam Armour. an 8-10-2 record. If they finish in seventh place or In addition to signing players, the community above, they make the playoffs. and the club prepared for soccer to be a success in The season could go in any direction from Charlotte. New supporters groups like Mint City this point. The last two home matches are great Collective, Blue Furia, and Southbound and Crown examples; in their 0-1 loss to Austin, Charlotte built community and a Supporters Council, a tifo played well but their offense never clicked, and committee, and the infrastructure for Charlotte’s Austin got lucky. More matches like that, and soccer fandom. Charlotte misses the playoffs with a respectable but On the club side, Miguel Ángel Ramírez was unimpressive first season. appointed head coach on July 7 and experienced Then there’s the explosive 4-1 win against assistant coach Christian Lattanzio came aboard Nashville on June 9. If Charlotte FC keeps playing the next week. Through the rest of 2021, Charlotte like they did that Saturday night, then they’ll be the FC added players to the roster, including three MLS first major league team in Charlotte history to make veterans: forward McKinze Gaines, defender Anton the playoffs in their first year. Walkes, and defender Joseph Mora. Then 2022 brought the MLS SuperDraft. With their first pick, Charlotte chose midfielder Ben A foundation for fandom Charlotte FC’s first season was supposed to take Bender, who would become one of the squad’s most place in 2021, but COVID-19 got in the way. However, popular players. After a long search for a designated even before Panthers owner David Tepper paid MLS player, Charlotte signed Polish striker Karol Świderski a record $325-million franchise fee, professional just a month before the season started. However, by mid-February Ramírez still didn’t soccer was an inevitability for Charlotte. think he had put all the pieces together. In response The foundation for a fan base was already here; hundreds of Charlotteans belong to supporters clubs to a media question about making the playoffs, he for international teams like Liverpool, Real Madrid, admitted his squad wasn’t ready yet and that he and Bayern. Many Charlotte millennials, myself was still building the roster. He should have stopped included, spent more time playing youth soccer there, but he added, “Right now, we’re screwed.” Pg. 4 JULY 13 - JULY 26, 2022 - QCNERVE.COM
FEVER PITCH
than any other sport growing up. Twenty percent of Charlotteans were born in a country other than the United States, in most of which football — and not American football — is the most popular sport. Marcus Smith, son of late Charlotte billionaire and NASCAR titan Bruton Smith, already tried to bring MLS to Charlotte. While that attempt failed, it brought together what would become the first Charlotte FC supporters group, the Queen’s Firm.
After the first home fixture, the young club continued to celebrate “firsts” — Adam Armour scored the team’s first-ever goal against Atlanta before being sidelined for the season with a knee injury. At home against New England Revolution, Charlotte earned its first win, Świderski got his first brace (two goals in a match), and Ben Bender kicked his first corner flag after a goal. The next week, Kahlina would earn his first clean sheet and Świderski would pick up a second brace in a dominant 2-0 win over Cincinnati. Two weeks later, Charlotte would best Atlanta 1-0 at home as Jordy Alcivar scored the team’s first olimpico (a direct goal from a corner kick), in what is still my choice for Charlotte’s goal of the year. The mood on Mint Street after the Atlanta
Charlotte FC finally takes the pitch
Technically, Charlotte FC lost their first MLS match to DC United 3-0, but the match that set the tone and expectations for the season was the first home fixture against LA Galaxy. An MLS recod 74,479 fans witnessed the match, and Lattanzio would later tell me that crowd and its energy was CHARLOTTE FC FORWARD DANIEL RÍOS. one of his favorite moments from the season.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR BANNER/CHARLOTTE FC
