Charlotte FC Through the First Nine Games: What’s Worked, What Can Improve

Charlotte FC have begun the 2025 season with their best-ever start through nine games since their inaugural season in 2022.  The team have started the season with six wins, one draw, and two losses, accumulating nineteen points in the league at this stage.  Charlotte currently is tied for first place in the Eastern division of the MLS.  Charlotte’s home record is 5-0-0, an MLS best currently.  

What Has Worked?

Charlotte has many positive actions going for them so far through nine games.  Pep Biel, our attacking midfielder, is currently leading the league in assists with six and has scored three goals to go along with it.  Biel has nine goal contributions through nine games.  Wilfred Zaha, Liel Abada, and Patrick Agyemang are all tied for the second most goals with two.  Along with our goals, our passing percentage has increased to 85%, allowing us a better control of the game. 

Dean Smith has created a dynamic team, a group of players that can contribute to different positions and formations.  This dynamic team allows us to play different styles and gives us the opportunity to grow in different areas.  Goals have not been a weakness for us, we’ve scored sixteen goals so far this season which puts us in the top three of goal-scoring teams so far. 

Defending the goal has also been a strong suit, conceding only seven goals which puts us in the bottom third of goals against.  Kristijan Kahlina, our starting goalie, has begun the year tremendously.  Currently sitting second in most saves so far this year with 37, having only conceded seven goals, there’s great signs of strength in our defense as we have kept four clean sheets to start off the year.   

What Can Improve? 

While we have had some positive beginnings to the 2025 season, there are a few areas that need improving.  Key Passes from other areas of the squad would positively impact our attacking output.  Patrick Agyemang, our striker, has the second highest Key Passes on the team with nine, almost half of our leading man Pep Biel.  Apart from that the second leading behind Patrick is Abada with seven key passes.  When comparing this to other teams in the MLS, we are near the bottom of chances created which in turn; gives us a slimmer opportunity to score goals. 

Key Passes go hand in hand with our Scoring Attempts, which currently sit at 92, the sixth worst in the league. We also have issues stopping shots on goal, so far this season Charlotte has conceded 46 shots in nine games, tied for eighth worst in the MLS.  With two of those being penalty kicks, tied for fifth highest in the league, our aerial duels have been lackluster as well, winning only 48.5%.  Charlotte also needs to improve their away record; our current away record is 1-1-2, accumulating only four points from a possible twelve. 

What can we do to improve? 

Charlotte FC has shown signs of growth through their first nine games, leading us to our highest place in the table ever.  With our chances being created primarily through Pep Biel, there’s room for improvement to create chances from other parts of the field.  Charlotte will have to utilize the strength of other players to create opportunities in front of goal.  With Biel being implemented on the right-hand side of our front three, our midfield trio has the opportunity to showcase their creativity and create chances for our attackers.  Our midfield that consists of Ashley Westwood and Brandt Bronico bring stability to the center of the pitch, which allows Biel to contribute further forward. 

Young exciting players like Idan Toklomati have created sparks off the bench this season, contributing the winning goal in our 2-1-win vs Nashville.  Allowing Idan and other young players the ability to contribute will give us more attacking options in the final third.  It also allows other senior players to be rotated for matches which in turn, helps us keep a healthier squad.  

The push for the playoffs has begun early for Charlotte FC, inviting the opportunity to secure playoffs for our third consecutive year.  Through the first nine games Charlotte has shown some promising performances under Dean Smith.  Charlotte will host the New England Revolution on April 26^th, with the hopes of continuing our flawless home record.