Nikola Petkovic scored his first MLS goal early in the second half and Charlotte FC went on to defeat the visiting Portland Timbers 2-0 on Saturday night.
Enzo Copetti notched a goal in extra time as Charlotte (4-5-2, 14 points) added to its homefield success.
Petkovic’s goal came in the 54th minute on a splendid individual move after a pass from Nathan Byrne. Petkovic collected the pass outside the top of the box and then, freezing three Portland players, cut into the box and unloaded a hard, low shot into the net.
Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina posted three saves. He made a leaping deflection to send the ball over the net and thwart a Portland scoring chance in the second half, helping him pick up his third clean sheet of the season.
Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made two saves.
The Timbers (2-5-4, 10 points), making their first visit to Charlotte, haven’t won a match in nearly two months.
Of Charlotte’s 14 points this season, 13 have been collected in home matches.
It was Petkovic’s sixth match with Charlotte. He had his third starting assignment. The goal seemed to energize Petkovic, who had several other scoring bids before he was substituted out in the 71st minute.
Copetti clinched the outcome with his first goal of the season in his seventh outing. He entered the match in the 77th minute.
Copetti, who had six goals in 23 matches last season for Charlotte, made a rush from near midfield, breaking free with an individual effort and then beating Crepeau in a 1-on-1 situation.
There weren’t a lot of deep offensive sequences in the first half. The teams combined for three shots on goal and three corner kicks. Two of the four yellow cards issued came in the half’s extra time.
By game’s end, Charlotte was assessed five yellow cards.
–Field Level Media
