CHESTER, Pa. — In an exciting match-up, the Philadelphia Union secured a late 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC, thanks to Markus Anderson’s remarkable performance. Subbing in at the 57th minute, Anderson scored his maiden career goal eight minutes into added time, leading the Union to celebrate their triumph on Saturday night.
Making his first appearance of the season, Anderson replaced Jesús Bueno and played for 33 minutes, adding significantly to the Union’s effort. The 20-year-old player had previously appeared in three matches last season, accumulating 92 minutes of game time. The match also witnessed a pivotal assist from Cavan Sullivan, a promising 15-year-old midfielder, in what was his seventh appearance over two seasons. Francis Westfield, at 19, contributed his fourth assist, marking an impressive debut season.
The scoreboard remained untouched until Bueno struck in the second minute of stoppage time, giving Philadelphia a lead as the first half concluded. This marked Bueno’s first goal of the season, adding to the three he scored last year.
Charlotte FC responded with vigor when Wilfried Zaha leveled the score in the 78th minute. Zaha capitalized on precise deliveries from defender Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and Liel Abada. This goal stands as Zaha’s fourth in his inaugural season with the league.
Philadelphia’s goalkeeper, Andrew Rick, made a crucial save in what was his eighth start of the season, showcasing his skills for the home team that advanced to an 11-3-4 record. On the opposing side, Charlotte’s David Bingham impressed with seven saves during his second start, holding up for Charlotte’s 8-9-1 record.
With this win, Philadelphia secured their hold at the top of the Eastern Conference, leading the Supporters’ Shield race, particularly after the Columbus Crew’s victory against the Vancouver Whitecaps by the same 2-1 margin.
Both Philadelphia and Charlotte will take a brief pause and return to action on June 25. The Union is set for an away game against the Chicago Fire, while Charlotte will meet Sporting Kansas City on the road.