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Going into Charlotte after the international break was always going to be a tough assignment and even with Daniel Rios not in the building Charlotte FC showed why they are a tough team to play at home. But as has been the case too often this season it was the Union beating themselves - this time conceding minutes after fighting so hard to find an equalizer - that has them now 0-6 to start the season and the last remaining winless team in the league.

In the email today:

1. 🐍 Union losing streak stretches to six with 2-1 loss in Charlotte

A strong second half in the pouring rain still wasn't enough for the Philadelphia Union to find their first points of the season in their return from the international break Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium.

The Union looked like they might finally get on the scoresheet early when Indiana Vassilev played a ball in behind to Milan Iloski in the 7th minute. Iloski shot the ball past Kristijan Kahlina but the offside flag was up and the Union attack stalled through much of the rest of the first half as Charlotte put the Union back line under pressure.

Jovan Lukic came up with a big block to deny Djibril Diani a chance in the 27th minute and Olwethu Makhanya did well to initially deny Idan Toklomati a chance in the box on a great entry ball from Pep Biel but Ashley Westwood came streaking into the box to hammer in the loose ball past Andre Blake and put the hosts in front 1-0 at the half hour mark.

Charlotte should've doubled their lead before halftime on a counter attack started from a poor pass from Lukic on an attempt to recycle play from a clearance off a Union corner. Andre Blake was able to deny Wilfried Zaha with his first of three saves after the Cotre d'Ivoire international was played into the box all alone with a feed from Kerwin Vargas.

Union head coach Bradley Carnell didn't make any changes to start the second half but there was a noticeable change in the Union, which had generated a meager .05 xG in the first half.

After barely touching the ball in the first half, Bruno Damiani had a chance just go over the bar in the 50th minute off a well played ball from Iloski, Makhanya had some decent looks off three consecutive corner kicks and Danley Jean Jacques was much more active after a first half where he twice inexplicably passed the ball out of bounds.

Carnell shifted the formation with the introduction of Jesus Bueno for Ezekiel Alladoh in the 64th minute and shortly after coming on Bueno sent a ball into the box that found the feet of Iloski whose chance went right at Kahlina. Damiani had a headed chance off an Iloski cross in the 69th minute and Frankie Westfield created a shot for himself near the corner of the 18 that went over the bar in the 70th minute. Damiani flicked a throw from Westfield back to Bueno for another attempt that went right at Kahlina in the 74th minute.

Carnell went to his bench again in the 77th minute, inserting Cavan Sullivan into the lineup to replace Vassilev and seconds after entering the pitch his flick off a cross from Nathan Harriel found the feet of Jean Jacques in front of goal. A similar chance to the one that fell to Iloski, Jean Jacques got his chance past Kahlina to tie the game 1-1.

The joy on the faces of the Union players celebrating Jean Jacques' strike quickly sunk to horror as Charlotte retook the lead off the ensuing kickoff with a finish from Zaha past Blake off a curling cross into the box from Biel. Charlotte's 2-1 lead nearly stretched to 3-1 minutes later when Liel Abada broke through the defense but Blake was able to make a big stop to deny the Iraeli international and keep alive hope of a result.

Three more subs from Carnell - Stas Korzienowski, Malik Jakupovic and Philippe Ndinga - helped push the Union toward another equalizer but the 10 minutes of regulation and 9 minutes of stoppage time after the Zaha goal wasn't enough time to find that illusive second goal they have yet to find through their first six games of the MLS season.

With Columbus Crew beating Atlanta United earlier in the evening, the Union remain the last winless team in MLS for the season and at 0-6 are already 16 points behind the Supporters' Shield-leading LAFC, 13 points behind conference leaders Nashville and six points from 9th place New England Revolution.

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2. 🏆 Philadelphia Union U-18s win Dallas Cup final on penalties

Another successful penalty shootout lifted the Philadelphia Union U-18s to the Gordon Jago Super Group championship at the Dallas Cup on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.

As he did in the semifinal against CF Monterrey, Union U-18 goalkeeper Alex Smith came up with a crucial save and watched a penalty kick soar over the bar that decided the shootout in the Union's favor over defending champions SAF Botafogo.

Botafogo scored early in each half to grab a 2-0 lead but the Union refused to go away and got a lifeline when John Ruf was taken down in the box by Botafogo keeper Matheus Lima inside the box. Lima was shown a yellow card for the collision and Willyam Ferreira converted the penalty past Lima to cut the lead to 2-1.

The penalty kick shifted momentum to the Union's favor and after creating a number of chances Tyler Gladstone delivered the equalizer in the 92nd minute with a right footed shot that Lima got two hands to but couldn't keep out of the goal. Following two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods the game went to penalties. Lima and Smith each made a save and the Union took a 6-5 lead on Nick Greer's penalty in the 7th round when Botafogo captain Danillo stepped to the line. Danillo's attempt skied over the bar to end it and an ensuing skirmish put a damper on the festivities. Emotions had been boiling up between the two teams with the benches clearing following the end of regulation and players had to be separated on more than one other occasion.

When the dust settled, the Union lifted their second trophy of the year to go with their Snow Bowl victory in February and became just the third U.S. team to win the Super Group title and first since FC Dallas in 2017. Dallas Texans also won it in 2006. Botafogo was denied back-to-back titles and what would've been a 14th win for teams from Brazil.

3.💧Water Cooler: Mood Check Results

4. 😜 Social Post of the Day: Getting Ridiculous

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• The USMNT is a team still searching for itself after back-to-back losses to World Cup-qualified teams.

• This Saturday is Youth Day at Villanova with the women’s team hosting the Spring Cup starting at 9 a.m. The men’s team will also be playing later in the day too.

• Defending champions Saint Joseph’s and newcomer Lehigh lead their groups in the Philly Spring Cup heading into the final games of group play.

• West Chester men followed up a 2-0 win over Delaware with a 4-0 win over Goldey-Beacom on Friday.

• Ronan Sullivan was a star and he and twin brother Declan won a trophy their first time representing Bangladesh at a youth tournament.

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