Bethlehem Steel FC’s three-match unbeaten streak came to a halt on Tuesday night with a letdown 2-1 loss on the road to the Charlotte Independence.
A starting lineup featuring five Philadelphia Union players, including Derrick Jones making his first appearance in USL this season, was unable to keep the momentum going from back-to-back wins over Swope Park Rangers and Charleston Battery. First-teamers Carlos Miguel Coronel, Matt Real, Anthony Fontana and Olivier Mbaizo also started for the visitors.
The Jacks started the game strong, putting the Steel back line under pressure and found a breakthrough in the 29th minute when defender Andrew Gutman (on loan from Celtic) knocked in a Mark Hill free kick that caromed off the post.