Charlotte FC concluded their road trip with a 2-1 defeat to Orlando City at Exploria Stadium.

Ruan struck in the 16th minute to give the Lions the lead and Facundo Torres doubled the advantage in the first half of stoopage time.

The visitors pulled a goal back as Christian Fuchs scored Charlotte's first-ever penalty, but it wasn't enough as Orlando held on.

  • Story of the match

Orlando had their first opportunity of the match in the 14th minute when Mauricio Pereyra played a corner short and it hit the post and bounced out.

Torres would send the ball back in for Benji Michel, but his header was comfortably saved by Kristjian Kahlina.

Two minutes later, the Lions were in front. Michel received the ball down the left and after a cutback, his cross found Robin Jansson, who flicked on to Ruan, who finished at the back post.

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Charlotte leading scorer Karol Swiderski tried his luck from distance, but was nowhere close.

Pereyra then played in Ercan Kara and after getting by Christian Makoun, he tried to round Kahlina, but in doing so, allowed Makoun to catch up and eventually block his shot.

Just before halftime, the hosts doubled their advantage. The ball found Ruan after a corner was cleared and he spotted Torres on the right, sending him the ball, the Uruguyan easily finishing.

After substitute Ben Bender flashed well wide, Charlotte cut the defcit in half.  A routine ball over the top for Alan Franco saw contact from Rodrigo Schlegel, the second straight game he has conceded a penalty.

Fuchs stepped up to the spot, waited for goaltender Pedro Gallese to commit and easily dispatched the kick to make it 2-1.

A minute later, Pereyra was fouled by Brandt Bronico, who was booked. Pereyra sent the free kick across the top of the box for Jansson whose shot fizzed it over the bar.

Five minutes from time, Silvester van der Water had a go, but didn't get all of it and Kahlina easily collected. 

There would be no more action as Charlotte remains winless on the road, having taken just a single point from their three-match road trip,

  • Man of the match: Ruan

This wasn't a hard choice. He was criticized after the heavy defeat last week, but bounced back with a sublime performance.