Charlotte FC making lineup changes for Wednesday’s soccer match due to injuries

Steve Lyttle
·2 min read

Charlotte FC will need contributions from its bench this week, with several starters not expected to play in either of the team’s home matches.

The first of those MLS matches is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, when Charlotte FC hosts the Chicago Fire at Bank of America Stadium.

Nashville visits the Queen City on Saturday night.

Charlotte has won five of its past six contests, but Saturday’s impressive 3-1 victory in Atlanta cost the local side three starters.

Forwards Kamil Jozwiak and McKinzie Gaines and midfielder Ben Bender suffered injuries and were listed by the team Tuesday as out of the lineup for at least Wednesday’s match. Also sidelined is goalkeeper George Marks, who was injured earlier this month.

All three players have been a big part of Charlotte FC’s recent surge, but coach Christian Lattanzio said Tuesday that he expects other players to step up.

“That is what we expect of them,” Lattanzio said.

He said Jozwiak, the team’s No. 3 scorer, could be the first of the trio to return.

“We will see, but it shouldn’t be that long,” Lattanzio said of Jozwiak, who has a thigh injury.

Gaines suffered a knee injury in Atlanta, and Lattanzio said he could miss two to three weeks. Bender, whose ankle sprain was “substantial,” according to Charlotte’s coach, is not that far away from returning to play, Lattanzio said.

Also listed as questionable is forward Kerwin Vargas, who has two goals this season.

The good news is that defenders Bill Tuiloma, Addison Malanda and Joseph More are expected to return to the lineup Wednesday. That could be vital against a Chicago Fire team that can score quickly.

“They have really good players up front,” Lattanzio said of the Fire. “We will need to be ready to play a strong defensive game.”

He described the returning defenders as “important, experienced players. They will bring a lot of positive energy to the team.”

Despite the injuries, Charlotte FC will put a lot of firepower on the pitch Wednesday night.

Veteran midfielder Justin Meram, who scored two goals against Atlanta, was named this week to the MLS Team of the Matchday. Forwards Karol Swiderski (three goals and two assists this season) and Enzo Copetti (four goals) also are expected to be in the lineup against Chicago.