Philadelphia pulls off a draw against Charlotte FC, 2-2

Chester, PA

October 17, 2026

On Saturday afternoon, the question loomed large.  Could Philadelphia chalk up another win to keep its 8-game win streak alive.  If it did, the sixth place Union would have overtaken Charlotte, in fifth place.  As it was, Philadelphia held onto a 2-2 draw and neither team moved in the standings.  That said, Philadelphia kept alive its unbeaten streak, which Saturday’s game increased to 14.

Head referee Jon Freemon called the game closely.  The first consequence was a handball call on Charlotte’s Pep Biel in the box after Milan Iloski took a free kick just outside of the Charlotte box.  Beil was part of the defensive wall, and it appeared that he was turning in defense of the free kick.  Nevertheless, the call survived VAR review and resulted in a converted penalty kick by Iloski at the 24th minute.  That 1-0 score in favor of Philadelphia continued through the close of the first half.

Just after the second half commenced, Charlotte leveled the score. Charlotte took a quick throw in and caught the Union defense off guard.  Idan Toklomati passed to the speedy Rodolfo Aloko, who saw only Nate Harriel and Andre Blake between him and the goal.  He shot hard to the bottom right corner and the score was 1-1.

The tide of the game then took a turn, as Charlotte went ahead of the Union by a goal, 1-2.   Charlotte’s Idan Toklomati shot a slow bouncing header into to the bottom left corner of the Philadelphia goal, seemingly flummoxing Philadelphia’s keeper, Andre Blake.  The assist went to David Schnegg.

It looked like Cavan Sullivan had scored in the 66th minute for Philadelphia, but he was called offside.  Replay showed it was a close call, because it was mostly his arm that was in an offside position.

The final goal came in the 73rd minute.  Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan brought the ball up the right wing.  He passed to Bruno Damiani, who short-passed to Danley Jean Jacques.  Danley slipped a bit, and back-passed to Damiani, who took a long hard strike to the upper left portion of the goal.

The score of 2-2 stood as the final whistle was called.

Photographs of the game appear below:

 

Philadelphia’s 17-year old wonder, Cavan Sullivan, getting the better of Charlotte’s Allan Saint-Maximin. Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski gets the first goal on a PK. Charlotte’s Ashley Westwood stares down the ball and Cavan Sullivan.Philadelphia’s Bruno Damiani hops over Morrison Agyemang’s upheld leg, but was called for a foul.Philadelphia’s Indiana Vassilev speeds past Charlotte’s Westwood.Vassilev holding back Charlotte’s Rodolfo AlokoCavan Sullivan, Milan Iloski and Kai Wagner enjoying Iloski’s goal.