After failing to capitalize on a strong start, Charlotte FC fall to an in-form D.C. United side. The Black and Red win their third straight from a strong defensive showing and high quality finishes.
First Half
Lineup: Marks, Byrne, Malanda, Jones, Afful, Bronico, Westwood, Gaines, Świderski, Vargas, Copetti
Just like the last time these two sides met, it was Charlotte FC who was asking questions of D.C. United at the start. They pressed high as a unit keeping D.C. pinned in their own half and not allowing them much of the ball. In the 19th minute, Ashley Westwood reminded fans of what he brings on the pitch when played a perfectly weighted ball over the top to a running Karol Świderski who controlled the ball in the box but his shot was blocked.
The next best chance came to Kerwin Vargas from a sequence that started with a flicked ball from Enzo Copetti in transition but Vargas's eventual curling shot went just over the crossbar. The first real signs of life from D.C. didn't come until the 27th minute when a diagonal switch to Andy Najar caused some danger but was handled by Charlotte's central defenders.
Despite having the vast majority of possession, Charlotte couldn't generate any clear cut chances. D.C.'s attack was also restricted but they found a breakthrough by way of a soft penalty called on Derrick Jones in the 33rd minute. Goalkeeper George Marks guessed the right way on Taxi Fountas's penalty but couldn't get a strong hand on it, giving the Black and Red the lead heading into halftime.
Second Half
Lineup: Marks, Byrne, Malanda, Jones, Afful, Bronico, Westwood, Gaines, Świderski, Vargas, Copetti
D.C. were able to carry their momentum from the end of the first half into the start of the second. Their defensive structure and discipline was a puzzle that Charlotte couldn't solve. Charlotte's best chance came from a moment of chaos off a set piece in the 56th minute that was saved by D.C.'s goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
Christian Benteke would find D.C's second in spectacular fashion when a soft clearance from Harrison Afful was bicycled into the bottom right corner. The home side matched the scoreline of last year's encounter with Charlotte when substitute 20-year-old Jacob Greene scored his first MLS goal in the last minute of game.
Charlotte's number one overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Hamady Diop made his MLS debut coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute. Up next for Charlotte is New York City FC back home in the Queen City.
