MLS NEXT Pro: Crown Legacy Claims Matchweek 5 Honors Amid Historic Start
- Staff Writer
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The "Legacy" continues to grow in the Queen City. Following a clinical 2-0 victory over Atlanta United 2, Crown Legacy FC (CLFC) has officially been named the MLS NEXT Pro Team of the Matchweek for Matchweek 5. This marks the second time this season the club has taken home the weekly honors, further cementing their status as the league's undisputed powerhouse.
The award caps off a perfect opening month for the club, which now sits alone at the top of the Eastern Conference with an unblemished 5-0-0 record.
A Blitz in Matthews
Crown Legacy’s victory on April 3 was decided almost before the fans at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex could find their seats. In the first minute, winger Nathan Richmond carved through the Atlanta defense before finding Hugo Mbongue, who slid the ball home from point-blank range.
The relentless pressure continued throughout the first half, with Richmond nearly finding his own goal off the far post in the 6th minute. The "dagger" eventually arrived in the 50th minute when Charlotte FC's Henry Kessler, making a rehab appearance, rose highest on a corner kick to glance a header into the bottom corner.
The Wall: Syrett’s Historic Clean Sheet
While the offense has grabbed the headlines with a league-best +16 goal differential, the defense has quietly become a brick wall. 18-year-old Academy goalkeeper Quinn Syrett earned his first professional clean sheet in the win, marking the club’s third consecutive shutout.
Syrett's composure, paired with a backline that only allowed two shots on target all evening, highlights a developmental system that is firing on all cylinders from the senior roster down to the academy.
By The Numbers: CLFC’s Perfect Start
Category | Statistic |
Record | 5-0-0 |
Goal Differential | +16 (1st in MLS NEXT Pro) |
Points | 15 (1st in Eastern Conference) |
Active Streak | 3 Consecutive Clean Sheets |
Up Next: Crossing the Border
Crown Legacy will look to keep the "five-star" momentum alive as they head north for their first international road trip of the season.
Match: CLFC at Toronto FC II
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Location: York Lions Stadium (Toronto, ON)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Stream via MLSNEXTPro.com or OneFootball
As the calendar turns to April, the rest of the league is left wondering: Who, if anyone, can slow down the Crown?
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