Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith believes his team have evolved as they aim to go three games without defeat against Austin FC.

The Crown came from behind to draw 1-1 with Columbus Crew on Wednesday, which followed an impressive 3-1 victory over high-flying FC Cincinnati last weekend.

Charlotte sit sixth in the Eastern Conference and a win on Saturday could see them move higher if other results go their way.

Smith noted how impressed he has been with the team's progress in recent weeks and backed them to get the job done this weekend.

"I think we've evolved as a team," Smith said. "As well as being really good without the ball, I think we're starting to learn how to use it a little bit better.

"[The players] believe in the way we play and the structure. I think the big thing is that there is belief in going and competing against these teams."

Meanwhile, Austin are 10th in the Western Conference, having lost their last two matches with a man sent off in both.

Having won just two of their last 10 games in MLS, head coach Josh Wolff admitted they needed to improve their discipline if they wanted to stay in with a chance of reaching the playoffs.

"We need to keep 11 guys on the field is the first thing," Wolff said, "that gives us a better chance.

"Discipline outside the red cards is also important. We have to make plays - getting a little more quality will help us, but we have to execute better by scoring goals.

"We do a lot of things good, but we can't shoot ourselves in the foot."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin – Gyasi Zardes

Gyasi Zardes has scored each of Austin's last three goals, with a brace against New York City FC prior to his goal against Dallas on Wednesday.

Zardes is the first Austin player to score three consecutive team goals since he, himself, did so in May 2023.

Charlotte – Patrick Agyemang

Patrick Agyemang has scored four goals in his last four matches for Charlotte, including each of the last two.

The only player in Charlotte FC's MLS history to score in three straight league matches is Karol Swiderski in October 2023.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Austin won the only previous meeting between the sides, 1-0, in Charlotte in June 2022. Daniel Pereira scored the game's only goal from outside the box in the 62nd minute.

Over the last year (since July 21, 2023), Austin have lost 18 of their 37 matches in all competitions (nine wins, 10 draws). The Verde were held to one or zero goals in 24 of those games, including their 3-1 loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday.

Charlotte have collected 13 points from their last seven away matches (four wins, one draw, two losses), including a 1-1 draw at reigning MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew on Wednesday. Charlotte had totaled just eight points in their previous 15 regular-season away matches dating back to last May (one win, five draws, nine defeats).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin – 34.6%

Draw – 25.9%

Charlotte – 39.6%

Pablo Mastroeni believes Real Salt Lake's mindset has been the key to their long unbeaten run, which they will look to extend to 13 matches when they host Austin FC on Saturday.

RSL made it 12 MLS games without defeat in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday, as Andres Gomez scored nine minutes into stoppage time in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders.

Salt Lake remained two points clear of LA Galaxy at the top of the Western Conference with what was their third straight comeback, following a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rapids and a 3-3 draw at FC Dallas – who had led by three goals.

"I think one of the things we pride ourselves on is being a team that shows a strong mindset," Mastroeni said this week.

"You can use it in all aspects of life, it's five per cent what happens to you and 95 per cent how you react. 

"Unfortunately, in the last few games, we've found ourselves on the wrong side of the scoreline, and it's really easy to put your head down when things aren't going your way.

"There's this belief within the group that, regardless of what's happening, we're going to stay in it, we're going to keep our heads and not quit. Fortune favours the brave."

Austin are seven points behind RSL in fifth, though their momentum has stalled in recent weeks.

Since recording back-to-back wins over Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City, Josh Wolff's team have played out a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes and been beaten 2-0 by the Portland Timbers.

To make matters worse, that latter match saw forward Sebastian Driussi suffer an injury that is expected to keep him out for several weeks. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Real Salt Lake – Andres Gomez 

Gomez has contributed to at least one goal in five straight league matches, becoming the second Real Salt Lake player to do so this year after Cristian Arango (six).

This is the first time since 2016 (Joao Plata and Yura Movsisyan) that multiple RSL players have had a run of five or more games with a goal contribution in the same season.

Austin FC – Gyasi Zardes

Zardes' importance could be heightened after Driussi suffered a muscle injury during Austin's midweek loss.

He is yet to score in 16 MLS appearances this season, though only three have been starts.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

The visiting side won both meetings between Real Salt Lake and Austin last season, including a 2-1 win for the Verde at America First Field in March. 

The six regular-season meetings between the sides have been split evenly, with each team winning three times.

However, RSL are favourites here, having gone unbeaten in 12 straight league games to equal the second-longest streak in their history.

Since the start of 2019, the Sounders are the only MLS team to record a longer run, going 13 unbeaten to start the 2021 campaign. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 60.3%

Austin FC – 18.9%

Draw – 20.8%