Forward Allan Saint-Maximin had already scored, and Charlotte FC led Orlando City 3-0, when he was sent off in the 89th minute last Saturday. Coach Dean Smith still doesn't think the red card was deserved. "Nobody else in the stadium saw it," Smith said Thursday.
The one-match suspension keeps Saint-Maximin out of Saturday's regular-season finale against Inter Miami, though he will be eligible for the first playoff game, Smith said. "It's a bummer, but we have a lot of talented players, and it's just kind of next man up," said midfielder Brandt Bronico, who is back from a groin injury. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET at Nu Stadium.
Charlotte (15-10-8), already in the playoffs, is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 53 points, two behind the Chicago Fire, according to Major League Soccer's official standings. To finish fourth, it has to win, and Chicago has to lose or draw against the Columbus Crew. A Charlotte win and a Chicago draw would leave the teams level on points and wins, and Charlotte would take fourth on goal difference, the club says.
Charlotte and Chicago meet in the first round of the playoffs either way. Fourth place decides only which team would host a third game, if the series needs one, Charlotte FC says.
Miami is second in the East with 59 points, one ahead of the New England Revolution. At home it has won six, lost two and drawn eight. Charlotte FC says Miami has scored 77 goals, the most in MLS, that Lionel Messi leads the league in scoring, and that he missed the teams' March 14 meeting, a 0-0 draw in Charlotte.
"His balance is unbelievable. His technique is unbelievable," Smith said of Messi. Smith's approach for Saturday: "Respect the opposition, but don't fear them."
Charlotte comes in on two straight 4-0 wins, over CF Montréal and Orlando City, and has scored 63 goals this season, a club record. "My background is from the home of the Peaky Blinders, so let's hope we are peaking at the right time," Smith said.
Defenders Tim Ream and Will Cleary will miss Saturday's finale. Smith said the plan is to have them back for the playoffs.
Apple TV carries the match in English and Spanish, and Tubi carries the English broadcast. WFNZ has the English radio call, and WOLS the Spanish.