MLS Match Preview: Charlotte FC (13-11-2) vs. Real Salt Lake (9-12-4)

Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET / 12:30 AM UK (Aug 18)
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV+)

Match Context

Charlotte FC enters this inter-conference clash riding a five-match winning streak and sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. A win here would equal their club record for home victories in a single season.  Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, sits 10th in the West and is coming off a 2–1 loss to New York Red Bulls, here they conceded twice in the second half. Charlotte is 2–0 at home this season against Western Conference opponents, outscoring them 7–1. Real Salt Lake has not won a regular-season road match against an Eastern Conference team since April 2024.

Key Players to Watch

Charlotte FC

Pep Biel – 10 goals and 11 assists; leads the team in both categories

Kerwin Vargas – 6 goals; dangerous in transition and wide areas

Kristijan Kahlina – Veteran goalkeeper with 7 clean sheets

Real Salt Lake

Cristian Arango – 11 goals; clinical finisher and focal point of attack

Andrés Gómez – 5 assists; key to RSL’s wide play

Justen Glad – Defensive anchor with aerial dominance

Team Form & Stats

Team	Record	Goals For	Goals Against	Last 5 Matches
Charlotte FC	13-11-2	44	39	W-W-W-W-W
Real Salt Lake	9-12-4	27	36	L-W-D-L-D

Charlotte has scored 2+ goals in 5 straight matches

RSL has dropped 7 points in away matches after scoring first

Charlotte has conceded just 1 goal in their last 3 home games

Tactical Breakdown

Charlotte FC plays a high-energy 4-2-3-1 under Dean Smith, with Biel orchestrating attacks and Vargas stretching defenses.

Real Salt Lake uses a 4-4-2 diamond under Pablo Mastroeni, relying on Arango’s finishing and Gómez’s pace.

Expect Charlotte to press early and dominate possession, while RSL will look to counter and exploit set pieces.