philadelphia union x charlotte fc

Charlotte FC secured a crucial road victory against the Philadelphia Union, with Patrick Agyemang scoring two impressive goals early in the second half. The match began with new faces in both lineups: Ben Bender made his first start of the season for CLTFC following offseason knee surgery, and 18-year-old Andrew Rick debuted as the Union's goalkeeper. The teams exchanged early chances, with Charlotte's Liel Abada and Agyemang getting shots on goal. Philadelphia's Mikael Uhre nearly capitalized on a defensive error, but Adilson Malanda cleared the ball off the line. Both teams had opportunities, but the first half ended scoreless.

The second half saw Charlotte FC break the deadlock in the 56th minute with a well-executed team goal. Starting from goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, the play progressed through Brandt Bronico and Ashley Westwood, eventually reaching Jere Uronen on the left flank. Uronen's cross found Agyemang, who powered his header into the top corner. Agyemang doubled the lead seven minutes later after a swift counterattack led by Abada. The young striker cut inside and fired a shot past Rick at the near post. Despite Philadelphia's efforts to respond, including notable saves by Kahlina, Charlotte maintained their lead.

Charlotte FC's defense held strong, and substitutions helped manage the game's closing stages. Djibril Diani and Iuri Tavares came on to reinforce the midfield and attack, respectively. Bronico almost extended the lead, but Rick denied his effort. Despite eight minutes of added time, the Union couldn't break through, and Charlotte's substitutes effectively saw out the match. This victory continues Charlotte's impressive run, with only one loss in their last ten games. They now have a brief respite before facing a challenging away game against Houston.

[Photography by Trey Madara]