MLS Cup Playoffs - November 7 - Charlotte (Away)

Anyone travel lately? TSA slowdowns and air traffic controller shortages make me wonder if it'll be worth the headache...
My wife's co-worker went to a CFB game in Clemson SC on Saturday. She and her husband flew down but drove home.
 
CHARLOTTE FC vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Predicted Winner: New York City FC
Charlotte FC haven’t been great in this Round One series. Actually, check that. Charlotte haven’t been great since Pep Biel got injured during Leagues Cup.
Don’t believe me? See for yourself here.
Their non-penalty xG differential has been dwindling for months. Not coincidentally, their struggles started to pop in the underlying numbers at almost the moment their Best XI-level No. 10 went down. For as much as Wilfried Zaha could be that ball-dominant threat for Charlotte this year, he largely hasn’t been. He was suspended for Charlotte’s Game 1 loss before starting and was only slightly more noticeable during a narrow Game 2 penalty shootout victory.
Charlotte don’t seem to have the horses in Biel’s absence. That's a huge problem.
New York City FC, for their part, do have the horses – at least relative to their Round One opponent. While Pascal Jansen has been incredibly conservative with his lineup choices through two games, he at least has game-changers like Alonso Martínez who can tilt the game towards his team.
NYCFC have more talent, more balance, and they’ve been the better team in this series. I don’t expect that to change in Game 3, even back on the road.

Star Trek Wow GIF


 
Star Trek Wow GIF
Lowery's emphasis on non-Penalty xG reminded me that when we beat Charlotte 2-0 it was on 2 Martinez PKs.
In 4 games this year, NYC and Charlotte have combined to score just 3 non PK goals against each other.
On the basis of nothing, I think one or both teams will bust out this game: 4-0, 5-3.
 
Pierre-Luc is terrible. Slows down the game. Wrong calls. Not D1 level.

REF: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
AR1: Corey Parker
AR2: Jeremy Kieso
4TH: Alexis Da Silva
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
 
Pierre-Luc is terrible. Slows down the game. Wrong calls. Not D1 level.

REF: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
AR1: Corey Parker
AR2: Jeremy Kieso
4TH: Alexis Da Silva
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
From 0 to Seattle Sounders, how much does Charlotte flop?
 
From 0 to Seattle Sounders, how much does Charlotte flop?

This game will come down to how many mistakes we make. When we get sloppy, slow, and complacent we make mistakes and get punished. Lack of discipline with fouls and taking yellows unnecessarily doesn't help either. Gray gets a yellow and he's out the next game if we advance. Same with Oneill. I'm sure they know that as well and will not be as aggressive. It's going to be an interesting game. Add to that the wild, unpredictable nature of that shitty fake grass and who knows.
 
FootyLovin, bringing out the big gun for a critical game!
Truthfully, I was kind of hoping for Bakrar based on recent news. But I still leave it up to the gods (aka, internet random number generator). So the gods are the ones delivering the big gun. I am merely their vessel.
 
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