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SOCCER: MAY 31 MLS - Philadelphia Union vs Charlotte FC

Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

We knew it was going to be a tough ask for Charlotte FC to go from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to face the defending Eastern Conference champs on a short turnaround. Add in the fact that the team was still without forwards Enzo Copetti, Kamil Jozwiak and McKenzie Gaines and it was nearly an impossible task. The Crown hung in the match for the entire night but simply weren’t able to create enough opportunities offensively, falling 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.

The two sides were scoreless for the first hour and ten minutes of the match before an own goal from goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina would put Charlotte FC behind. Spurred by an extended offensive push from Philadelphia, attacking midfielder Dániel Gazdag would head a ball off the right post of a beautiful cross from Kai Wagner. The ball would bounce off the post and deflect off of Kahlina straight into the net for the 70′ tally.

After allowing the goal, the squad produced just one shot, a header from defender Guzmán Corujo that was blocked. The lack of shots was an issue the entire night, as the Crown had just five shots the entire evening, only two of which went on goal.

Jessica Charman, in-game analyst for Charlotte FC on the radio, swung by the WFNZ studios on Thursday morning and said while it was expected, this loss does sting a little bit. “It felt like this game was there for the taking, at least for the draw. Perhaps 15 more minutes before you go to that back five and put in Guzmán Corujo and maybe you’re able to put something else going forward. For me, it was a very defensive move that showed that they were concerned and settled for the point but it actually backfired.”

The loss drops Charlotte FC to 6-7-3 and drops them one spot in the table to 7th in the Eastern Conference. The team will close out their three-game road trip at the Columbus Crew on Saturday night, the team they are tied with point-wise in the table. Coverage on WFNZ will begin at 7:00 PM with the Charlotte FC Pregame Show and the match will follow at 7:30 with Charman and Will Palaszczuk on the call.