Charlotte FC got a surprise 1-0 win over Cincinnati Sunday night – the perfect start to this last stretch of the season.

David is joined this week by Donny (aka Fat Bird) to discuss:

• Charlotte's unbeaten run in MLS play, showcasing resilience after a League Cup exit.
• Kahlina's crucial performance to keep Charlotte in the match with FCC.
• The red card, refs and fans.
• The potential signing of Drake Callender and what that means for the future of Charlotte's goalkeeping situation.

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We've started doing occasional special episodes as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

What is there to say about the first two Leagues Cup matches? A lot, apparently.

David, Matt and Corey are back together this week to discuss Charlotte FC's 4-1 loss to Juarez and the penalty shootout loss to Chivas. There were some positives (yay Nathan Byrne!) but also a lot of negatives (😢 Pep).

We break it all down this week, while also answering your listener questions around the summer transfer window. Finally, we discuss the meaning of time in a soccer match. Stay to the end to see what we mean.

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We've started doing occasional special episodes as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

We're letting y'all in on a little secret by sharing the latest episode of the Mint City Soccer Show Secret Show!

You may have heard us mention on the show that we've started doing weekly bonus episodes for our paying Patreon members. If you want to hear more like this, you can join our Patreon here – patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow – and become a paying member of The Corndog Stand to get access to the Secret Show and our Discord.

Now about this episode ...

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Welcome to the Mint City Soccer Show Secret Show Game Show, the only Charlotte FC game show that is a run-on sentence.

Your host, David Gusler, has invited Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman onto the stage to try and answer 20 questions about Charlotte FC. The rules are made up and the points don't matter, which will quickly become very clear.

Listen in to see if you could do better than our contestants – and see if you remember the No. 1 song of 2022, just for fun.

Four wins in a row heading into Leagues Cup – not too shabby. Charlotte FC is on a hot streak after a 2-0 win over Toronto FC. But is the Crown really back, or has it benefitted from the quality (or lack thereof) of the teams on the schedule?

David Gusler is joined by good friends of the show Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman to discuss this run of form, plus:

• Zaha's recent form.
• Toklomati's potential.
• The summer transfer window rumors and hopes.
• And they answer listener questions.

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We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Charlotte FC and a few thousand of their closest fans made the short drive down I-85 to take on Atlanta United Saturday. And, despite an incredibly slow start and shaky first half, the Crown did as it often does and turned that stadium into a library.

Charlotte FC won 3-2, winning its third match in a row during this important stretch before Leagues Cup. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe break down the match and also discuss:

• How the same defensive issue led to both ATL goals.
• The beautiful link-up play between Zaha and Pep.
• The debut of the Lightnin' kit against D.C. United (we have some thoughts on that collar).
• And we answer your listener questions as we get ready for the summer transfer window.

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We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

It wasn't always pretty, but the Crown got it done. Charlotte FC kept a clean sheet (somehow) and got a badly needed home win over New York City FC 2-0. Matt and Corey break down the match, then discuss some other big news:

• A big match coming to Charlotte next summer.
• Wednesday's kit release.
• Goodbye, Pat.

And we answer your questions!

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We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Charlotte FC finally returned home Saturday to play Orlando City at the Bank. A game that started with so much promise and a two-goal lead ended with a defensive collapse and only a point for the Crown.

Matt, David and Corey return this week to discuss:

• The problems at right back.
• Bill Tuiloma's strong performance.
• The ... interesting ... substitutions.
• The roster decisions that got us to this place.
• And we answer some listener questions.

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We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Charlotte FC wrapped up its brutal five-game road trip with two equally brutal performances against Sporting KC and Chicago Fire. Matt, David and Corey are back this week to talk about those two matches, what's gone wrong over the past 10 games, and where the team goes from here.

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⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks and get access to our exclusive Discord channel.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

After a week off, Charlotte FC heads up to Philadelphia to take on top-of-the-East Union Saturday. Which means its time to bring on great friend of the show and Union beat reporter José Nuñez!

José joined David and a late-arriving Corey to discuss:

• The Union's performance so far.
• His perspective on Charlotte's season from the outside.
• Why he didn't like the Zaha signing.
• His feelings on the Club World Cup.
• And what Charlotte needs to do to grab three points Saturday.

You can find José on Twitter @JoserNunez91, read his Substack here – nunezj.substack.com – and find his writing on mlssoccer.com. He's a must-follow for any MLS fan.

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Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks and get access to our exclusive Discord channel.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Charlotte FC got a much-needed road win in Toronto, playing one of the best matches of the entire season. David and Corey are here to talk about it. Topics include:

• Can we keep this up?
• Is this the defensive lineup we need to keep going forward?
• When does Kahlina return after getting benched for Bingham?
• The attack is finally clicking.
• Summer transfer rumors.
• And beach music.

Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks and get access to our exclusive Discord channel.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow