Allan Saint-Maximin scored on a sensational tough-angle shot in the 71st minute to deliver Charlotte FC a 2-1 victory over D.C. United Saturday in Washington.
Ashley Westwood also scored a goal and assisted on the game winner for surging Charlotte (12-7-7, 43 points), which extended its unbeaten streak to eight games, going 5-0-3 over that span.
The streak began shortly after Charlotte acquired the 29-year-old Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player. It was the first MLS goal for the 29-year-old Frenchman, who also has delivered five assists.
Kristijan Kahlina had 10 saves as Charlotte topped D.C. for the second time in less than a month. In all, D.C. took a whopping 34 shots.
Lucas Bartlett scored for D.C. United (6-8-11, 29 points), who lost ground in their bid to end their six-year playoff drought, which is the longest dry spell in MLS.
Sean Johnson had five saves for D.C., which has won just two of its last 14 matches, going 2-4-8 over that period.
Charlotte took the lead in the 22nd minute when Westwood ripped a right-footed shot from just beyond the penalty arc into the top right corner for his third goal of the season.
The ball came to Westwood’s feet when D.C. United failed to clear a pass into the box by Saint-Maximin.
Westwood had missed Charlotte’s previous two matches because of a combination of yellow card accumulation and a red card.
The best chance to score for D.C. United in the first half came three minutes later but Kahlina made a sliding kick save on an attempt by Louis Munteanu.
In the 47th minute, Charlotte defender David Schnegg drew a yellow card when he committed a foul just beyond the right side of the penalty box.
D.C. took advantage as Bartlett bolted from the middle of the penalty area to meet a free kick by Keisuke Kurokawa. The defender’s header went into the upper center portion of the net for his third goal of the season.
Charlotte regained the lead when Saint-Maximin took a pass from Westwood deep on the left side of the penalty box. Saint-Maximin fired a left-footed shot inside the far post and then celebrated with a back flip.
–Field Level Media
