D.C. United’s winless streak stretches to six with defeat at Charlotte

United (4-7-7) is 0-4-2 since mid-May, 1-4-4 on the road and has not recorded a shutout since March 30 (12 matches).

With several absences, Coach Troy Lesesne pieced together a lineup that played well defensively after conceding six goals in the previous two matches but generated few quality opportunities in going scoreless for the fourth time.

Charlotte (8-6-4) extended its midseason surge. Averaging just a shade more than a goal per game, Charlotte squandered several chances but got the one it needed before halftime, then secured its eighth shutout.

United was missing four injured regulars, in addition to two season-ending absences. Two other starters were on the bench because they weren’t at full strength.

The lineup included rookies Jacob Murrell (third start) and Garrison Tubbs (second), and 17-year-old homegrown Matai Akinmboni (second).

With three players on loan to second-division clubs, United had six players on the bench (two were goalkeepers), marking the 15th time it has not had the maximum nine subs.

The first half lacked ingenuity and bite until the closing minutes, when Charlotte gained traction. Patrick Agyemang had two golden opportunities, but Akinmboni made a last-second challenge to deflect a shot from close range and, after splitting two defenders, the Charlotte forward missed wide.

United needed just to defend one last corner kick, more than six minutes into stoppage time, before welcoming the halftime whistle. But on Jere Uronen’s service, Vargas slipped into a small pocket of space at the six-yard box and beat Tubbs to the header for his third goal of the year.

Immediately after the restart, referee Sergii Boiko signaled the half’s end.

Shortly after the break, United looked as though it had lost wing back Pedro Santos to an ankle injury. As Kristian Fletcher prepared to sub in, Santos waved frantically from the other side of the field to indicate he could continue. Moments later, Fletcher entered for Murrell.

United absorbed persistent pressure but did not create much of its own. Jared Stroud had a good look in the 62nd minute but missed badly from 16 yards. Striker Christian Benteke, who entered Saturday second on the MLS scoring chart with 13 goals, did not receive much service in dangerous positions.

Needing another jolt, Lesesne took off Akinmboni in the 71st minute and inserted midfielder Martín Rodríguez. Nine minutes later, forward Ted Ku-DiPietro came on for defensive midfielder Matti Peltola. Lesesne was out of options.

Deep in stoppage time, D.C. goalkeeper Alex Bono raced up the field for a promising set piece. The service, though, bounced dangerously in the box and past the far post.

Here’s what else to know about United’s loss:

Aside from the expected absences, United lost two others in the buildup to the match.

Jackson Hopkins, the team’s starting defensive midfielder, was ruled out with a lower back ailment. Reserve attacker Gabriel Pirani is in Brazil finalizing a green card for U.S. permanent residency. Upon his return, Pirani will no longer count against the team’s international player limit.

Right back Aaron Herrera was in uniform but did not play as he recovers from a foot injury that curtailed his Guatemalan national team assignment. Ku-DiPietro did not start because of illness.

Captain Steven Birnbaum (knee) is sidelined indefinitely. Russell Canouse (colon) and Conner Antley (knee) are out for the year and Christopher McVey (knee) is sidelined for several more weeks.

Lesesne was in familiar territory, having grown up in Columbia, S.C.. He played at the College of Charleston and for the lower-tier Wilmington Hammerheads and Charleston Battery before serving as an assistant coach for the second-flight Charlotte Independence for four years.

Saturday’s match began a period of three in eight days, the third such stretch in five weeks. United will host Atlanta United on Wednesday, then welcome club legend Ben Olsen back to Washington next Saturday for his first visit as coach of the Houston Dynamo.