Throughout the domestic season in the USL, MLS and MLS Next Pro, TDS will dig into some of the top performances from young, domestic players in all three leagues.
As floated in last week’s edition of this column, Benjamin Bender did in fact, get his first MLS start over the weekend.
Starting on the left wing for Charlotte FC, Bender didn’t shrink from the opportunity.
Despite losing by a 2-1 score, Bender assisted on Charlotte’s first goal of the season. Adam Armour headed home the tying goal in the second half. He could’ve had a second if Karol Swiderski had finished off a tantalizing cross earlier in the game.
One of the questions about Bender after he was picked No. 1 overall was how his athleticism would translate. Deployed on the flank to start the game, he was able to create space to get crosses in. He finished the game in his more normal position of central midfield.
He earned high praise from head coach Miguel Ramirez after the game.
“It was impossible not to have Benjamin Bender in the first eleven today,” Ramirez told charlottefootballclub.com. “He’s doing amazing, I will not say anything else because you all saw Ben in the last games and today.
“Today, he was amazing... His first 15 – 20 minutes were a little scared, nervous, and stressed but he’s a 2001 boy playing for the first in an MLS starting eleven which is completely normal.
“But with the minutes... he was the master of the pitch.”
Fellow young American Armour scored the first goal in the team’s MLS history, heading home from Bender’s corner kick. While a left back as a U.S. youth prospect, the North Carolina native slotted in as a left midfielder. That allowed Bender to move into his more natural position.
Expansion teams in MLS often spells opportunity. And there should be plenty of that this season as Charlotte looks to turn things around this season.
