Charlotte FC rally for draw to end Columbus' winning streak

Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 04:55 am

Patrick Agyemang scored the equalizer in the 84th minute as visiting Charlotte FC rallied for a 1-1 tie to end the Columbus Crew's five-match winning streak on Wednesday.

Charlotte (10-8-6, 36 points) had been outplayed for the entire match, not registering a shot in goal until the second half, but the club took advantage of poor defending after Cucho Hernandez had given the Crew (12-3-7, 43 points) the lead in the 31st minute.

Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen came outside the box to grab a loose ball, but it got around him and Agyemang, who returned after a one-match suspension, got off a shot that was blocked by Crew defender Rudy Camacho. As Hagen scrambled to cover, Agyemang put in the rebound.

Hagen made his first MLS start because Patrick Schulte, who had three shutouts in the past four matches and seven for the season, is with the U.S. Olympic team.

The 27-year-old Guatemalan national team player had one appearance this season -- 55 scoreless minutes in relief of the injured Evan Bush at Real Salt Lake on April 13.

There was about a 35-minute weather delay before the start of the second half.

Charlotte was coming off a 3-1 win Saturday at FC Cincinnati -- the leader in the Supporters' Shield standings at the time.

In the first meeting vs. the Crew on March 23, Charlotte scored twice in the final seven minutes against the 10-man Crew to win 2-1. Agyeman scored the second goal in the 88th minute.

The Crew had outscored opponents 20-2 during the winning streak, but Kristijan Kahlina, the MLS shutout leader with nine, made eight saves Wednesday. Hagen had four.

Hernandez scored his 13th goal (and ninth in the past eight matches) on an unforced giveaway by Adilson Malanda. Hernandez gladly took the gift at the arc and, after several dribbles, laced a shot.

The Crew had two chances to increase the lead early in the second half, but Diego Rossi hit the post and Christian Ramirez sent a back-post header a just wide in the 66th.

Those proved to be big misses.

--Field Level Media