Pep Biel scored a brace to propel Charlotte FC to a 2-1 victory over visiting D.C. United on Wednesday.
Biel’s goals bookended halftime, coming in the 44th minute and 48th minute, giving Charlotte a 2-0 lead. The Spaniard paces Charlotte with nine goals and 10 assists.
It was the second win in five days for Charlotte (10-11-2, 32 points) and the team’s eighth win in 11 matches at home this season.
Charlotte has adjusted to the loss of Patrick Agyemang (six goals). The dynamic striker, who joined Derby County of the English Championship on Tuesday, played his final game for Charlotte on May 31.
The woes continued for D.C. United (4-12-7, 19 points), whose winless streak now stands at seven games. The run of futility helped trigger the departure last week of second-year coach Troy Lesesne.
Earlier on Wednesday, D.C. named Swiss manager Rene Weiler as Lesesne’s replacement, pending receipt of his U.S. work permit.
Playing for interim coach Kevin Flanagan, D.C. generated little offense until the second half when it took eight of its 10 shots.
Gabriel Pirani broke through for D.C. in the 60th minute, dribbling past a trio of defenders and firing a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box into the bottom right corner.
It was the fourth goal for Pirani, with all of the tallies coming in D.C.’s last seven matches. The shot beat Charlotte keeper Kristijan Khalina, who was bidding for his second straight clean sheet.
D.C. was again without 2024 MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, who has been in and out of the lineup with leg injuries over the last two months.
D.C. United also played without starting outside backs Aaron Herrera and David Schnegg, with both serving one-game suspensions for yellow-card accumulation.
Biel’s first goal came when he beat defenders to a loose ball on the left side of the 6-yard box and scored with a left-footed lunge.
Biel’s second tally came when Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty slipped him a pass from the left flank. Biel fired a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty box into the middle of the goal.
D.C. keeper Luis Barraza (six saves) made a diving stop in the 56th minute to deny Biel’s attempt for a hat trick.
– Field Level Media
