Second-year Major League Soccer side Charlotte Football Club comes into Leagues Cup 2023 with a bit of an identity crisis. Despite not winning a match since May 23, the club has managed six draws in its last eight matches. So is the club playing poorly or just unlucky?
One thing the club has struggled with is starting and finishing halves. Charlotte has been outscored by opponents in the first and final 15 minutes of both halves this season. Interestingly, they outscored their opponents in the middle 15 minutes of both halves. So there is a dangerous team there somewhere. A step away from the MLS regular season and opponents they haven’t played in 2023 could be what the team needs to reinvent itself.
Karol Świderski, from Poland to Major League Soccer
Karol Świderski, 26, is the engine for Charlotte FC’s attack. If the team generates any offense, it’s usually the Polish star at the forefront, providing headaches to the opposition. He currently leads the club in goals (7) and assists (3). This World Cup-esque format will be familiar to him as he was a member of the Polish National Team for the 2022 World Cup.
The attacker's career began at Jagiellonia Białystok in Poland, and in January 2019, his career took him to PAOK, where he won a Greek Super League and two Greek Cups. He arrived at Charlotte FC in January 2022 on a Designated Player contract that doesn’t expire until December 2025 season but also has a one-year option for 2026.
Kerwin Vargas, the Colombian talent for the future
The 21-year-old Colombian-born forward could be the future of the club. In his second season with the club, he’s already notched more starts (15) than he did during his rookie campaign (8). He’s been used on the left and right side all season long in the midfield and out wide as a winger. He hasn’t scored a goal since bagging one back on April 15th against the Colorado Rapids, but he did notch an assist more recently on July 8th against FC Cincinnati.
Vargas leads the team in expected assists (3.0) so he understands how to put the ball into dangerous areas. Perhaps his luck will be better during this tournament.
