Eighteen months ago, Matt Edwards was squaring off against college attackers in the ACC, donning the University of North Carolina’s colors. Fast forward to Saturday, and the 22-year-old found himself in a very different battle—one that pitted him against a Premier League veteran in a packed Bank of America Stadium.
Wilfried Zaha, Charlotte FC’s marquee offseason signing, made his club debut against Atlanta United, bringing a decade of English top-flight experience with him. And the responsibility of shutting him down? That fell to Edwards, making just his second career MLS start.
And he didn’t disappoint.
“He played a fantastic first half,” Atlanta United head coach Ronny Deila said post-match. “I didn’t see Zaha. He didn’t do anything [until] the second half.”
Edwards stuck with the dynamic winger, limiting him to just one shot. According to MLSSoccer.com, Zaha completed only one of his five dribbles, was dispossessed six times, and lost 18 of 22 duels. The Atlanta United fullback’s persistence even got under Zaha’s skin—a fiery moment in the 26th minute saw Zaha shove Edwards in frustration after being beaten to the ball.
Saturday’s clash in Charlotte marked just the third MLS appearance for Edwards. With Atlanta’s fullback depth depleted due to injuries to Pedro Amador, Brooks Lennon, and Ronald Hernández, the young defender was thrust into a critical role—and he embraced it.
Last week, Edwards made his first MLS start in Atlanta United’s thrilling 3-2 win over CF Montréal. Deila praised his aggression and defensive acumen, highlighting his pace and aerial ability as key assets.
“He defended well,” Deila said. “That’s what we want—aggression, speed, and control. But we need even more from him for a long time.”
Edwards wasn’t just solid defensively; he also played a role in Atlanta’s attacking efforts. In the 18th minute, he pushed forward, linking up with Bartosz Slisz and Miguel Almirón to generate the match’s first shot on target.
“Offensively, he switched play through the center,” Deila noted. “We put [Kristijan] Kahlina in situations he didn’t like, over and over again.”
Despite a strong first-half showing, Atlanta United ultimately fell 2-0 as Charlotte capitalized on transition moments in the second half. Zaha, held quiet early on, came alive with two goal contributions after the break. The match served as a valuable learning experience for Edwards, who will look to build on his performance as he fights for more minutes in Atlanta’s backline.
Veteran center back Derrick Williams sees the potential.
“The way he worked in preseason, he’s really improved,” Williams said. “He’s taken on board what the manager wants. He just needs to keep going.”
With Amador potentially returning for Atlanta’s March 8 matchup against the New York Red Bulls, Edwards has made a strong case to remain in the rotation. If he can extend his rock-solid first-half performance into a full 90 minutes, Atlanta United may have found themselves a rising star in their defensive ranks.
