ORLANDO, Fla. – Enzo Copetti and Kerwin Vargas scored first-half goals and Charlotte FC snapped a three-match skid to open the season with a 2-1 victory over Orlando City on Saturday night.
Copetti scored in the 26th minute with a lengthy assist from homegrown defender Jaylin Lindsey to give Charlotte (1-3-0) the lead. Vargas took a pass from Harrison Afful and scored a deflected goal 11 minutes later to make it 2-0. It was the first career goal for Vargas.
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Martín Ojeda halved the deficit for Orlando City (1-1-2) with a goal in the 57th minute. Duncan McGuire, who scored in his debut with Orlando City last week, had an assist.
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Charlotte opened last season with three straight losses before rebounding to post a 4-2-1 mark over its next seven matches.
Orlando City had a 19-8 advantage in shots and a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
George Marks totaled six saves for Charlotte. Pedro Gallese saved two shots for Orlando City.
Orlando City beat Charlotte twice last season by 2-1 scores.
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