ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA — Energizer Park buzzed with early-season anticipation on Saturday night, but it was Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina who ultimately stole the show, making 10 saves to deny St. Louis CITY SC a deserved victory in a 1-1 draw that left the hosts frustrated despite their overwhelming dominance. Marcel Hartel's 60th-minute thunderbolt had given the home side the lead they had long merited, only for Pep Biel to level for the visitors thirteen minutes later and send both teams home with a point apiece.
St. Louis wasted little time announcing their intentions. Daniel Edelman was the architect early on, first threading a headed pass to Rafael Santos in the 13th minute, whose left-footed effort from the left side of the box was comfortably gathered by Kahlina. The Croatian shot-stopper was called into action again in the 24th minute, this time denying Hartel from outside the box after another incisive Edelman assist. The pattern was being set — St. Louis pressing, probing, and creating, while Charlotte's goalkeeper stood firm as the last line of a defense under siege.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 60th minute, and it was worth the wait. Simon Becher played the ball to Hartel on the edge of the area, and the German midfielder needed no second invitation, drilling a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner that gave Kahlina no chance. It was a finish of genuine quality, rewarding a St. Louis side that had controlled large portions of the contest and carried a constant threat through Hartel's creativity and movement.
Charlotte's response, however, was swift and clinical. Just thirteen minutes after falling behind, Wilfried Zaha — who had been a persistent irritant throughout, earning a yellow card in the 71st minute — slipped a pass to Pep Biel on the left side of the box, and the Spaniard curled a composed left-footed finish into the bottom right corner to restore parity. It was a sucker punch for the home faithful, who had dared to believe the three points were within reach.
The final stages were frantic. St. Louis threw everything at Charlotte in a desperate search for a winner, and Kahlina was repeatedly called upon to repel the onslaught. Brendan McSorley tested him twice in added time, while substitute Cedric Teuchert — introduced in the 90th minute alongside Tomas Totland — saw his effort from the centre of the box saved in the 90th+7th minute, with McSorley's follow-up also denied in the dying seconds. Charlotte held on, and Kahlina's heroics were complete.
The numbers told a damning story for St. Louis. They launched 22 shots to Charlotte's 8, with 11 finding the target compared to the visitors' 3. St. Louis also dominated the set-piece battle, earning 6 corners to Charlotte's solitary effort. Yet possession was more evenly contested than the shot count suggested, with St. Louis holding 52.4% to Charlotte's 47.6%. Four yellow cards were distributed across the evening — two per side — with Jaziel Orozco and Wilfried Zaha among those cautioned. Roman Bürki in the St. Louis goal was barely troubled, making just 2 saves all night, a stark contrast to the workload shouldered by his opposite number.
Chris Durkin's injury-enforced withdrawal in the 83rd minute added to St. Louis's woes in the closing stages, disrupting their rhythm at a critical moment, while Charlotte's triple substitution in the 69th minute — bringing on Kerwin Vargas, Djibril Diani, and David Schnegg — helped shore up their defensive shape and absorb the late pressure.
A point apiece, both teams now turn to their respective challenges — St. Louis host San Diego FC on March 1, while Charlotte travel to face LA Galaxy on February 28.
