Charlotte FC, Red Bulls aim to pick up offense

Last week, the New York Red Bulls were on the verge of going scoreless until a clutch goal in stoppage time.

Charlotte FC, meanwhile, couldn't even find the back of the net but took solace in holding Inter Miami CF scoreless.

Both New York and Charlotte will attempt to improve their offense Saturday night when they meet in Charlotte.

The Red Bulls (2-1-1, 7 points) were mere seconds away from getting nothing out of last week's visit to Toronto FC. They salvaged a 1-1 tie in the final minute of second-half stoppage time when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored after entering the contest as a substitute in the 77th minute.

"To be able to go to a place like Toronto in their home opener and push the game the way that we did, play the way that we did but even when it didn't go perfectly, even when it didn't come easily, to be able to just keep going and keep playing and keep pushing until the bitter end, that part was really important," Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley said Thursday. "That part's special."

The clutch goal occurred off a scramble and capped a contest that saw the Red Bulls attempt 18 shots and hold possession for 63.6% of the contest.

"We're excited, proud to have kept pushing," Bradley said. "I said to players after that, in some ways, probably two points too, too few for how we played and how we went after the game. But that's football."

Charlotte (1-1-2, 5 points) has four goals so far and netted three in its two-goal win over Austin FC two weeks ago. Last week, Charlotte had 11 shot attempts and was blanked for the second time while Inter Miami rested Lionel Messi and several other regulars.

Charlotte also is 1-3-3 in its past seven matches dating to the start of last year's playoffs after entering the postseason 12-3-1 in its previous 16 matches across all competitions.

"They've got a system and style of play that I think most people know about," Charlotte coach Dean Smith said. "So you're not second-guessing what's to come. I think you know what's to come, and you've got to be ready for it."