Soccer Sheet

Charlotte FC Picks Up Their First Point in St. Louis; Ascent Climb Back Into Playoff Position Charlotte FC kicked off the 2026 MLS season with a 1–1 draw against St Louis CITY SC. Also: Ascent snap a 5-match winless streak thanks to a Sydney Studer brace; Tormenta won't play in 2026.

Charlotte FC kicked off the 2026 MLS season with a 1–1 draw against St Louis CITY SC. Also: Ascent snap a 5-match winless streak thanks to a Sydney Studer brace; Tormenta won't play in 2026.

www.soccersheet.com/p/charlotte-...

Charlotte FC Picks Up Their First Point in St. Louis; Ascent Climb Back Into Playoff Position Charlotte FC kicked off the 2026 MLS season with a 1–1 draw against St Louis CITY SC. Also: Ascent snap a 5-match winless streak thanks to a Sydney Studer brace; Tormenta won't play in 2026.

Charlotte FC kicked off the 2026 MLS season with a 1–1 draw against St Louis CITY SC. Also: Ascent snap a 5-match winless streak thanks to a Sydney Studer brace; Tormenta won't play in 2026.

open.substack.com/pub/samssocc...

Soccer Sheet’s Jorge Torres spoke with Charlotte Football Club head coach Dean Smith and goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina after the Crown’s 1-1 draw against St. Louis CITY FC. #ForTheCrown

Shoutout in today’s publication on the way.

So sorry for you and your community, Luke.

One of the things that’s really depressing to us about this story is that - according to our sources - all of the USL owners were also in the dark about what was actually happening, even after Alex’s story broke

Those things were fun, and fun is good Same, Bolt. Same. So this is hard. My North Star of this blog, my guiding principle, is that sports are supposed to be fun. We can take them...

New at #Stormwatch912: Those things were fun, and fun is good.

Tormenta suspends operations for 2026 and I wrote a lot of words that, hopefully, make sense.

stormwatch912.blogspot.com/2026/02/thos...

Official from USL Headquarters:

“South Georgia Tormenta FC will not compete in the USL League One season in 2026.

“Tormenta FC has been part of USL1 since its inaugural season and has played an important role in the league’s growth, including winning the League One title in 2022.”

MLS Player of the Week- 1st choice * Sam Surridge MLS Player of the Week- 2nd choice * Kristijan Kahlina

Sam Surridge

Sonny the Corgi with a “Kahlina Saves” sign

As a member of North American Soccer Reporters, our publisher Sam Spencer gets a vote for MLS Player of the Matchday.

Below are his Week 1 votes:

For those following the Tormenta story …

Per our sources, other League One clubs are still in the dark about Tormenta’s status for this season and have not received official word one way or the other.

For the Löwens ♥️

Dean Smith calls it an average performance in an average game.

“[Splitting the points] is probably the right result.”

“I would expect our players to be better next week.”

#STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

“I think defense today played a really good game … I think St. Louis played very well, they changed the coach and changed the system, really tough opponent for anyone who comes here.” -Kristijan Kahlina

#STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

So … uh … Kristijan Kahlina still got that dog in him, huh?

1-1 at Full Time

#STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

It’s been clear St. Louis CITY is playing for one of their own today. Prayers for Ilona & Edu Löwen and their family.

Kahlina basically worth a goal or two for Charlotte today.

STL 1-1 CLT | 90’ | #STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

Good work from Vargas to rob the defense in the box and create a corner.

Pep takes the corner but nothing comes of it.

STL 1-1 CLT | 86’ | #STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

STL 1-1 CLT | 75’ | #STLvCLT #ForTheCrown

Biellllllllllllllll

Wild end to the match at Memorial Stadium, but @carolinaascentfc.bsky.social snap the winless streak with a 2-0 win over Dallas.

Sydney Studer brace (26’, 63’) and a red card apiece in the closing minutes (Lily Nabet 86’, Lauren Flynn - 90+1').

Defending goes through the back of Zaha. “He went down on the first sign of contact.” Huh???
#ForTheCrown

St. Louis finally breaks through.

STL 1-0 CLT | 60’ | #STLvCLT

Watching STL v CLT on Apple TV. On-air talent on these broadcasts has never been the issue, it has always been the production - the sound on this broadcast is dreadful. Poorly mixed, there've been multiple times when commentary/ambient noise have cut out completely. Just awful.

Abada doing the work with another shot on target.

No one from Charlotte there to get the bounce as Bürki is able to recover.

STL 0-0 CLT | 58’ | #STLvCLT

Looks like Zaha got robbed on that one … that wasn’t that much contact in the box.

Meanwhile, does Dean Smith know you have to get a lead before you park the bus?

STL 0-0 CLT | 54’ | #STLvCLT

Another Kahlina save … not as much going on in St. Louis’ box.

One minute into the second half and Kahlina already being called upon again.

STL 0-0 CLT | 51’ | #STLvCLT

One minute into the second half and Kahlina already being called upon again.

STL 0-0 CLT | 46’ | #STLvCLT

Meanwhile at American Legion Memorial Stadium - a Sydney Studer brace has @carolinaascentfc.bsky.social ahead of Dallas Trinity 2-0 after 70’ as Tyler Lussi joins the climb for the first time.

CAR 2 - 0 DAL after 70’

Kahlina’s heroics keep it level at the half.

Not the best opening half #ForTheCrown.

STL 0-0 CLT | HT | #STLvCLT

Our yearly predictions for Charlotte FC’s Eastern Conference finish …

Adrian: 6th Place, 50 Pts
Jake: 4th Place, 57 Pts
Jorge: 6th Place, 55 Pts
Matt : 5th Place, 55 Pts
Rebekah: 5th Place, 55 Pts
Sam: 2nd Place, 65 Pts
Yara: 3rd Place, 57 Pts