After starting the season with three straight losses, Charlotte FC have responded by going unbeaten in the following three by coming back against Toronto FC. The Crown earned their first-ever points against Toronto battling not just the opposing side but the natural elements as well. After going down by two goals in the first half, CLTFC remained resolute and salvaged a deserved point in their first of two back-to-back away matches.
First Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Tuiloma, Afful, Jones, Santos, Bender, Jóźwiak, Vargas, Copetti
The natural elements played a role just 6 minutes into the match as a fierce wind helped propel a Federico Bernardeschi curling corner into the far post for the opening goal. An Olimpico goal that on another day likely doesn’t go in without the help of the wind.
It didn’t take the wind out of the sails of Charlotte, however. Not letting the goal fluster them, Charlotte mounted the pressure on Toronto and their high press was rewarded with some golden scoring opportunities, the best of which fell to Nuno Santos.
Two opportunities that the Portuguese likely wished he could have back as he squandered them. Toronto survived the flurry of attacks from the Crown and eventually the match settled into a more even affair.
Goalkeeper George Marks continued to come up big for his team when in the 33rd minute he denied Bernardeschi his second goal and came up with another huge second save to keep the deficit to just one.
The one-goal deficit didn’t last the half as another corner undid Charlotte. An in-swinger from Toronto found Michael Bradley’s head on the near post which he delicately redirected into the back of the net. There was a VAR check for a potential push in the back on Harrison Afful by Bradley but the goal stood to double the Reds’ lead.
Second Half
Lineup: Marks, Lindsey, Malanda, Tuiloma, Afful, Jones, Santos (61'), Bender (72'), Jóźwiak (71'), Vargas (71'), Copetti
Substitutes: Świderski (61'), Shinyashiki (71'), Mello (71'), Hegardt (72')
It was fan favorite Ben Bender who infused Charlotte with life at the start of the second half in his first start of the season. In the 51st minute, Kamil Jóźwiak found himself chasing a through ball down the byline which he reached and crossed to a crashing Ben Bender who scored with a shot across the keeper.
Charlotte found their deserving equalizer in the 70th minute from a Kerwin Vargas cross that Kamil Jóźwiak tapped into the net scoring his first-ever goal for the club. Head coach Christian Lattanzio's substitutes indicated that the team wasn't content with just draw and wanted to push for the win – and push they did but Toronto were keen on the same.
Toronto looked they had the winner in the 83rd minute when Bernardeschi was played in behind and through on goal but Adilson Malanda's last ditch tackle just did enough to poke the ball away saving his team. Up next is a Western Conference match up against Real Salt Lake.
