With their playoff destiny in their hands, Charlotte FC head to DRV PNK Stadium to face Inter Miami in the first of a home-and-home series between these clubs to wrap up the MLS regular season.
In their previous encounter, the Herons were eliminated from post-season contention, losing 1-0 at home to FC Cincinnati, while the Crown picked up a critical three points, defeating the Chicago Fire 2-0.
Match preview
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Not even the greatness of Lionel Messi was enough to dig Miami out of the massive hole they dug themselves before his arrival as the Herons' dream of another post-season appearance has fallen by the wayside.
The leading candidate to capture an eighth Ballon d'Or played the final 25 minutes of their previous encounter after missing their last four competitive fixtures with an injury, with Miami going winless over that stretch, though the number 10 did not appear to be 100% versus Cincinnati.
For those who do not believe in the Messi effect, the form of Inter Miami may make you a believer, as six of the Herons' previous eight victories in all competitions transpired when the Argentine was in the starting 11.
Tata Martino will likely have to finish the campaign without him, and although his side cannot make the post-season, they can maintain their 100% record against Charlotte at DRV PNK Stadium, outscoring them 7-2 in their two home triumphs.
Even if the Herons can capture their final two regular season fixtures, it would still go down as the worst 34-game campaign for the club regarding points.
Miami have triumphed in three of their previous four MLS encounter when scoring first, though they have not been able to draw first blood since a 4-0 victory over Toronto on September 20 in a game where Messi was taken off early because of an injury.
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Out of nowhere, Charlotte have started to string some results together, winning back-to-back league contests after going winless in five straight MLS affairs.
Christian Lattanzio's crew ended an eight-game winless run away from home in this competition, by putting out the Fire in the Windy City in their previous encounter, the fourth road victory for the Crown in this competition, setting a new single-season franchise record.
Incredibly, after winning just one of 15 domestic encounters heading into October, Charlotte remained in contention for a post-season berth and thanks to their two victories this month, all they need now is to win two more and they will make the playoff for the first time in club history.
All but one of their domestic victories this year have come when they have drawn first blood, though they have also lost three matches in this competition in that scenario.
With clean sheets in consecutive outings, it is the longest this team have gone without conceding a goal in this competition, while the Crown have a chance on Wednesday to win back-to-back domestic road fixtures for only the second time ever in MLS.
A win and draw from their final two encounters would set a single-season club record for points, and it might also be enough to get them into the playoffs, though they would need the New York Red Bulls and Chicago to slip up if that were to happen.
Team News
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The Herons could be without Jordi Alba (muscle fatigue), Leonardo Campana (hamstring), Diego Gomez (hamstring), Corentin Jean (ACL), Franco Negri (ACL), Ian Fray (ACL) and Gregore on Wednesday because of injuries.
Martino could be deprived even more with the fact that several players are away on international duty, including Messi (Argentina), Robert Taylor (Finland), David Ruiz (Honduras), Josef Martinez (Venezuela), Serhiy Kryvtsov (Ukraine), Facundo Farias (Argentina), Benjamin Cremaschi (USA Under-23) and Edison Azcona (Dominican Republic).
Tomas Aviles was the last player to find the back of the net for them on home soil when his 95th-minute strike helped the Herons to a 1-1 draw with New York City FC, while Drake Callender has conceded five goals in his last two domestic outings.
Charlotte could be missing Ben Bender for this critical encounter because of a sore left knee, Vinicius Mello has a right lower leg injury, while Derrick Jones will have to sit out due to yellow card accumulation.
Jere Uronen is on international duty with the Finish national team, Bill Tuiloma was called up for New Zealand and Karol Swiderski was named to the Polish squad.
Swiderski has scored in three successive matches for the Crown, and it was he and Ashley Westwood who netted in their victory against Chicago, while Kristijan Kahlina has not conceded since Noel Buck put one past him in the 85th minute of their 2-1 defeat at the New England Revolution.
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Aviles, McVey, Sailor; Ulloa, Busquets, Mota; Robinson, Stefanelli, Valencia
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Afful; Jozwiak, Westwood, Arfield, Vargas; Meram, Copetti
We say: Inter Miami 0-1 Charlotte FC
The fact that Charlotte can make the playoffs is pretty remarkable, and we expect them to carry their recent momentum into Fort Lauderdale for this one, while morale in Miami might be understandably low.
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