D.C. United fell to Charlotte FC, 3-1, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 22. Despite a late push, D.C. United was unable to capitalize on their chances and mount a comeback. Forward Louis Munteanu scored the Black-and-Red's lone goal of the match marking his sixth goal of the season.
Following a scoreless first half where both sides generated limited chances, D.C. United came into the second half with scoring momentum. The Black-and-Red took the lead in the 55th minute when Munteanu converted off a set piece from Midfielder João Peglow. Peglow's assist marks his fourth of the season, tied for a team-high. Charlotte FC responded 10 minutes later in the 64th minute when former D.C. United Defender David Schnegg scored off a set piece to equalize. Charlotte took the lead two minutes later in the 66th minute with Defender Will Cleary scoring off a set piece to put Charlotte FC ahead.
Head Coach René Weiler made his first change in the 75th minute, bringing on Forward Nathan Ordaz, Midfielder Hosei Kijima and Defender Nikola Markovic for Midfielders Kimito Nono, Jackson Hopkins and Brandon Servania. Servania made five defensive contributions and created four chances for the Black-and-Red in 75 minutes played.
D.C. United continued to press in search of a goal, creating opportunities late in the match. The Black-and-Red finished the night with 17 total shots (five on target) and five total crosses as they looked to generate chances in the final third. Despite the changes and continued pressure, Charlotte FC Midfielder Pep Biel added Charlotte’s third goal in the 77th minute to extend the host’s lead to 3-1. Weiler made his final substitution in the 85th minute, bringing on Midfielder Jared Stroud for Peglow. Munteanu nearly pulled D.C. United within one goal in the 89th minute off a header and the Black-and-Red earned three consecutive corner kicks in stoppage time but was ultimately unable to complete the comeback on the road.
Defensively, D.C. United recorded 12 tackles and registered 27 clearances as the Black-and-Red worked to limit Charlotte FC’s attack throughout the match.
D.C. United sit in eleventh place in the Eastern Conference, with 24 points and a 5-7-9 record following Saturday’s road match. The Black-and-Red returns to Audi Field on Saturday, August. 29 to face Los Angeles FC. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Charlotte FC Lineup: Kristijan Kahlina, Ashley Westwood (Djibril Diani 65'), Idan Toklomati (Archie Goodwin 75'), Allan Saint-Maximin (Tyger Smalls 83'), Pep Biel, Luca de la Torre (Brandt Bronico 65'), Henry Kessler, David Schnegg, Will Cleary, Rodolfo Aloko (Liel Abada 65'), Morrison Agyemang.
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Byrne, Tyler Miller, Andrew Privett, Tim Ream
Head Coach: Dean Smith
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Kimito Nono (Hosei Kijima 75'), Lucas Bartlett, Matti Peltola, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, João Peglow (Jared Stroud 86'), Louis Munteanu, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania (Nikola Markovic 75'), Jackson Hopkins (Nathan Ordaz 75')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Tai Baribo, Sean Nealis
Head Coach: Rene Weiler
