Friday night is winner take all as Charlotte FC hosts New York City FC in game 3 of the first round of the MLS playoffs. Matt and Corey are here to talk through the disappointing first match of the series and the nailbiter in New York City that got us here. Who stood out? Who struggled? And what does the Crown need to do to advance to the next round?
Also, we answer your questions and ask for your help picking a new theme song for the show. (It's a long story ... which we tell you right at the beginning.)
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Want to get into our Discord to discuss the upcoming match and ask us questions for the show? Support us on Patreon for just a few bucks to get access to that and more, including special Secret Show episodes we release just to supporters.
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At times this season it didn't seem possible, but Charlotte FC clinched a top four spot and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 2-0 win over the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union.
Matt and Corey discuss the match, from the beautiful first half goals to the ugly second half red card that will leave the Crown without Zaha in the first playoff game.
They also discuss fan concerns with the playoff scheduling, look back on our favorite parts of the regular season and answer your questions!
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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
DC United received two red cards in the first thirty minutes of the match, which means Charlotte FC played 11 vs. 9 for 60 minutes against the worst team in the East. And the Crown only managed to score one goal to get the win.
David and Corey are here to talk about the overall performance, focusing especially on a few midfielders who had a shot to show they deserved a spot on this team. They also talk a bit about the playoff seeding outlook for Charlotte as we get closer to decision day. And we finally answer a few of the fun questions listeners have sent us that Corey has been hanging on to for way too long.
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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
In a special live show, the whole gang is back together to talk about Charlotte FC's streak-ending loss to New York City FC last weekend. How does it affect the Crown's playoff chances? Was it a blip or were there signs of deeper problems? When should Biel return to the starting lineup? What does Charlotte need to do to bounce back against CF Montreal this weekend?
We talk about all of that, plus answer listener questions and, because it was a live show, we went off the rails a few times talking about David's Sunday beer league, Drake and ... the weather?
---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
Charlotte FC tied the MLS record with nine straight wins and clinched a playoff spot with one of the most perfect nights of soccer, beating Inter Miami 3-0.
Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe revel in Kahlina's save of Messi's penalty, Toklomati's hat trick, and the impressive play of basically the entire team in front of a sold out lower bowl.
We also look at Charlotte FC's realistic chances for No. 1 in the East (and the Supporters' Shield??) and answer your questions, including one about the wave (yeah, we're going there again).
(Episode title inspired by Eric Hill on Discord.)
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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
Eight. Games. In a row. Charlotte FC is on a hot streak and the whole gang is back together (mostly) to dig into the 2-1 road win over New England Revolution.
Matt, David and (eventually) Corey discuss:
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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
David Gusler is joined by the legendary Fat Bird (Donny Embleton) and Mr. Reliable Matt Chantry to break down Charlotte FC's 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls and the teams seven – 7! – game win streak.
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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
Charlotte FC won its sixth MLS match in a row 1-0 over Real Salt Lake Saturday and are in the heat of a tight race for playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the team has been busy in the transfer market, saying hello to some new (surprising) players and goodbye to some (not-so-surprising) players.
Matt, David and Corey are back together this week to talk through the match, the latest transfer news and what might come in this final week of the window and answer your many great questions.
Oh, and we talk about Zaha being Zaha.
Because we mentioned it, you can find our interview with George Marks here.
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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
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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
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:
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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:
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:
Support us on Patreon for just a few bucks and get access to our exclusive Discord channel.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow
If we recorded this one on Tuesday, the tone would be very different. Charlotte FC looked great in a home win over Columbus Crew Saturday, but followed that with a disappointing performance in New Jersey Wednesday.
David, Matt and Corey are back together to discuss the matches. Topics include:
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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
Lie down, close your eyes (unless you're driving) and take a deep breath in ... hold it ... and breathe out ...
We'll get through this together. Charlotte FC lost two more matches – Saturday at home against Chicago in one of the worst home performances in club history and Wednesday on the road at D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. David and Corey are here to try to talk you through it and search for any positives we can find in this horrible run of form.
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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED. Grab The Chairman™ Pro for 15% OFF with code "corndog" at Manscaped.com!
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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