CHICAGO — Ashley Westwood found the top corner of the net on a penalty kick just inside the arc to give Charlotte FC the only score in a tight win over Chicago Fire FC.
Charlotte (6-5-2) held on 1-0 to secure their third straight win. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina held on for his third consecutive clean sheet with a pair of dramatic saves in the closing minutes.
Neither team scored in the first half as substantial defensive play left the game scoreless for the first two-thirds of the match.
Chicago's Carlos Teran fouled Charlotte's Patrick Agyemang inside the penalty arc in the 58th minute, allowing the away team to attempt an opportunistic free kick.
Westwood fired his shot clear of the defenders and outside the outstretched gloves of the Chicago goalkeeper to score the match's first goal.
Chicago (2-7-4) kept the pressure on in the second half but each of the team's four shots on goal were stopped by Kahlina.
It's the third shutout win in a row for Charlotte FC. The Crown took down Nashville SC 1-0 and the Portland Timbers 2-0 in its previous two matches.
The win shoots Charlotte up to fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Charlotte is level with New York City FC in points (20) and goal differential (1) but is behind in goals for 16-14.
Charlotte is just eight points behind the conference-leading Inter Miami CF.
Charlotte FC's next match is at home against LA Galaxy (5-2-6). Charlotte shut out the Galaxy 1-0 in its last match with the team in May 2023.