Orlando City (9-10-6, 33 pts.) makes their first-ever trip to the Queen City for an MLS game this Sunday, battling 2022 expansion side Charlotte FC (9-14-2, 29 pts.) at Bank of America Stadium. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. Local radio coverage will also be available from 7 p.m. ET on FM 96.9 the Game in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Charlotte:
Key Transactions
Key Additions - CF Andre Shinyashiki (Colorado Rapids), CF Kerwin Vargas (Feirense), RB Nathan Byrne (Derby County), CB Adilson Malanda (Rodez), AM Nuno Santos (Benfica B)
Key Departures - Head Coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez, AM/W Christian “Titi” Ortiz (Club Tijuana), CB/LB Christian Makoun (New England Revolution), CM Sergio Ruiz (Granada), CM Alan Franco (Tallares, loan)
Take a look at Charlotte’s full roster here.
News
It’s been a busy few months for Charlotte FC since we last saw them on April 30 – all of those additions and departures happened after Charlotte and Orlando played at Exploria Stadium on that date. Head coach Ramírez was shown the door in late May, replaced by former NYCFC assistant Christian Lattanzio, who has a 4-6-1 record since taking charge. Santos was the headliner of Charlotte’s summer window, coming from prestigious Portuguese club Benfica.
Team News
Charlotte has struggled badly on the road, most recently falling 5-0 to LAFC this past weekend (they face NYCFC at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night). At home, however, the Crown have played well, boasting an 8-4-0 record. The eight wins are tied with NYCFC for the most in the Eastern Conference.
Head-to-Head
Orlando City beat Charlotte 2-1 in their first encounter on April 30. Ruan scored the first goal and assisted the second on a full-field sprint, countering a corner and laying off to Facundo Torres for what ended up being the game-winner.
Rasmussen University Fact
Sunday’s game will be Orlando’s first in the state of North Carolina as an MLS club. Its last game in the state at all was on September 3, 2014, a 0-0 draw against the Wilmington Hammerheads that marked current Club broadcaster Miguel Gallardo’s final road clean sheet as Orlando City goalkeeper.
