PHOTO | CHARLOTTE FC

Charlotte FC rookie midfielder Ben Bender scored his second MLS goal in a 2-1 loss Sunday at Seattle Sounders.

On the heels of a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders, where they were leading with 18 minutes to play, Ben Bender described the feeling in a manner that you would expect from a 21-year-old in his first professional season: “It sucks.”

Seattle dominated the first 21 minutes in the first meeting between the two teams. Over 64% possession, 3-1 on shots and four corner kicks as the Sounders looked more like the team that had won the CONCACAF Champions League than the one that started the MLS season so slowly. Then Charlotte was awarded a free kick just outside the upper right corner of the 18-yard box.

Jordy Alcivar laced a blistering shot that beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei, ricocheting off the far post and then off Frei’s foot, leaving the ball sitting in front of the goal. With Seattle’s defense rooted to the ground, Bender pounced on the rebound and scored his second goal for the Crown.

“We came in here trying to get the three points and we knew we could do it,” Bender said, “but it sucks not getting the result.”

Though the home team had dominated possession early and put Charlotte on its heels, they did not force Kristijan Kahlina to make any saves, missing wide or high when they should have done better.

While the goal energized Charlotte, Seattle had clear opportunities to score. Striker Jordan Morris, who will play for the United States during the international break over the next two weeks, missed high on a header and, more surprisingly, played a solid pass that he should have scored wide of the far post in the 36th minute.

Charlotte continued to push the conversation in the manner that coach Miguel Angel Ramirez has been advocating, with the same verve and passion on the road as at home. He admitted to having difficulty choosing the right words in English, saying it’s not that they disrespect teams but more “we don’t care where we are, about the opponent’s crowd. We will go and try to dominate the game, to do our best without fear, and show what we can do.”

Ramirez referenced how his teams in South America - Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle and Brazilian side Internacional - had done the same in the big arenas of the opposition.

“My teams play without fear,” he said.

Charlotte indeed pushed back and ignored whatever home advantage the Sounders had. Similar to Charlotte, the Sounders also play in a larger NFL stadium and have long been considered one of the tougher venues to play in.

You wouldn’t have known that in the second half as Charlotte did what Ramirez wanted, finding the spaces, winning the ball more often than not, stepping into passing lanes to cut off Seattle surges.

Ramirez said that the Seattle coach, technical staff and players were very complimentary after the game and impressed about Charlotte’s verve on the road.

“We are transforming ourselves into a better team away.,” he said. “This is most important to me, that we are able to compete and get points. We are on the way and I’m very proud of the work by all the guys.”

That said, Charlotte still wasn’t able to close the deal for its first win on the road.

In the 72nd minute, Seattle evened the score on a header by Morris, this one also on a cross from the right but hit sharply down to Kahlina’s right. Eight minutes later, Raul Ruidiaz, who has established himself as one of the best players in MLS, took the rebound of his own blocked shot near the top left of the box, settled the ball, turned inside and cracked a brilliant volley that gave Kahlina no chance into the far upper corner of the goal.

One of the standout players for Charlotte was Bender, who was influential throughout most of the match. Ramirez talked about the number one draft pick earlier in the week, noting the high bar the rookie set in earlier in the season and the pace, competition and physicality of the league that forced him to adjust and improve.

Along with quicker reaction to score the goal, Bender came close on another late in the first half, forcing Frei to make a diving save on a wicked left-footer from about 20 yards out left of center off an Andre Shinyashiki pass.

“It is him who is helping himself,” said Ramirez. “I felt against Red Bull he was much better than the previous game. He is working with his mind to face the competition a different way. He is learning. He is making better decisions.”

After the game, Bender noted: “Going into this game was pretty exciting for me because we had analyzed (Seattle’s tactics) and saw they gave space to the attacking midfielders, so I was able to find better space tonight. Going into my first season as a professional, it’s been super fun but I’m learning a lot and I have a lot to improve on.”

Like his coach, though, Bender is all about taking the positives and pushing ahead.

“We’ve just got to keep moving forward here,” he said, “take this break, regroup, and hopefully we can start the summer strong.”

The loss leaves Charlotte eighth in the Eastern Conference, just below the playoff cut line at 5-8-1. All five wins have come at home. Their next match will be at home against the New York Red Bulls on June 11 at 3 p.m.

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