John Barry Nusum returned to action for Crystal Palace Baltimore but couldn't prevent them from slipping to their first home defeat of the season against Charlotte Eagles.

The former Bermuda Hogges striker, who has recovered from a leg injury which has interrupted his USL-D2 season, linked up well with on-loan New York Red Bulls forward Matthew Mbuta before being substituted after 57 minutes.

Mbuta gave his side an early lead, but Charlotte came back in the second half through a Steve Shak goal last Saturday.

The visitors' winning goal came in injury-time as the referee gave a controversial penalty during a melee in the box following a free kick.

Jorge Herrera stepped up to score from the spot and seal the win for Charlotte.

"We're absolutely gutted," said Palace Co-Manager Pete Medd after the game.

"When you have three times the number of shots, chance after chance, to pick up no points after a phantom penalty call in the 94th minute is really hard to take.

"We're in total shock but we're going to have to find a way to get it together and beat Richmond next weekend.

"Kevin Trapp was unbelievable tonight but we've got to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net."

Medd bemoaned the toll taken on his players after a second weekend in the past three where his side had to play two matches in 24 hours.

"It's absurd that the league mandates that you have back-to-back games.

"If I were a paying customer at either of those second games, I'd want my money back.

"You can't do that in this sport and have it be a good product ¿ you cheapen it.

"We've proposed lengthening the season to avoid this kind of thing and if we want this league to be taken seriously, it needs to change."

Palace visit Richmond Kickers on Saturday.