Lineup: Kahlina, Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Uronen, Westwood, Bronico, Świderski (75′), Jozwiak (67′), Vargas (67′), Copetti (89′)
Substitutes: Dejaegere (67′), Meram (67′), Arfield (75′), Jones (89′)
Charlotte kicked off the second half with confidence, displaying quick combinations and a touch of swagger in their playing style. Their dynamic play nearly resulted in a great opportunity to increase their lead shortly after the half, but Copetti’s lofted cross to Vargas lacked enough power.
In response, Miami launched a counterattack of their own, with Messi finding himself in a clear position against the goalkeeper, attempting a chip that was ruled offside. However, Messi was given another chance from a free kick in the 62nd minute, just outside the right side of the penalty box. He struck the ball with aggression, but a Charlotte defender managed to get a slight touch on it, deflected as it grazed off the crossbar. Two minutes later, Messi had another opportunity to display his signature free-kick prowess, but to the relief of Charlotte, it was blocked by their defensive wall.
Charlotte decided to inject fresh energy into the game in the 67th minute by introducing Brecht Dejaegere and Justin Meram, who replaced goalscorer Kerwin Vargas and winger Kamil Jóźwiak. This change had an instant impact, as just moments later, Charlotte found themselves in an excellent position to double their lead. They took advantage of a turnover caused by their high-pressing strategy deep within Miami’s territory. Enzo Copetti collected the loose ball and played it into Bronico’s charging run into Miami’s penalty area. Bronico spotted Świderski on his right, with ample space, and attempted to pass the ball to him. However, Świderski hesitated and was quickly closed down by Miami’s goalkeeper, who blocked the opportunity.
From that moment onward, The Crown dominated the game, applying relentless pressure on Miami and refusing to give an inch to their struggling opponents. Every touch by Miami players was fiercely contested, clearly demonstrating Charlotte’s determination not to concede any ground easily.
In the 90th minute, it seemed as if Miami was on the brink of equalizing with a header, but once again, Kristijan Kahlina stepped up for his team with an acrobatic fingertip save, preserving Charlotte’s lead. Following this chance, two corners were awarded, and during the ensuing chaos in the box from the second corner, a Miami player had what appeared to be an open net to score. However, a heroic sliding effort by Scott Arfield blocked the shot, helping secure a historic victory for Charlotte FC.
With the assistance of results from other matches, The Crown’s tireless efforts over the full 90 minutes paid off as they clinched a playoff spot for the first time in their history.
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