Make It Four In A Row: Charlotte FC Takes Down Toronto 2-0
Don’t look now but Charlotte FC sits in seventh place in the east on 38 points. After securing a fourth straight win against 12th place Toronto, Charlotte continues to climb the table and fight for a playoff spot. The vibes are high in the Queen City ahead of the MLS break for the Leagues Cup.
Now let’s take a look at the lineup. No surprises once again. A back four of Marshall-Rutty, Ream, Malanda, and Tuiloma has proven time and time again to be a tough cookie to crack. The man behind them is the unquestioned number one Kristijan Kahlina. The midfield three of Biel, Bronico, and Westwood has been the engine that keeps The Crown machine running to perfection. Now let’s talk about the attack. Zaha, Toklomati, and Vargas are a trio that work well together.
With all of the parts, I think this is a lineup that can lead Charlotte to great things. With Pat gone across the pond, I think this is a lineup we will see a lot more of as the season winds down. However, there are two swaps I could see Dean Smith making. Once Nathan Byrne is back to 100%, I could see him slotting back into his right back position. The other change I could see is Abada and Vargas rotating on the right depending on rest. Overall, I think this base lineup with a couple tweaks here and there is the way to go.
Getting into the match, both goals for Charlotte came in the second half. First, Idan Toklomati put The Crown up 1-0 in the 60th minute on a beautiful assist from Brandt Bronico. The home side wouldn’t wait long to expand the lead as Kerwin Vargas doubled the lead on an assist from Wilfried Zaha. 2-0 Charlotte. The boys would hold off Toronto and when the final whistle blew, the boys from the 704 secured four straight wins.
Now for my thoughts. First, I have to give props to Idan. This season he has proven himself as a goal threat and with Agyemang no longer in Charlotte, we may not need to bring in a new number nine. Second, shoutout to Kerwin for grabbing a goal on giveaway night. It’s always nice to put one in the back of the net but it becomes extra special when the giveaway is your bobblehead. Finally, it feels nice to win. A shutout is even better but as the season winds down, now is the time to put the pedal on the floor and these past four games, Charlotte has done that. Let’s hope that continues for the rest of the season.
What’s next for Charlotte FC? First up, the boys will participate in the Leagues Cup and will welcome Liga MX sides, Juarez, Guadalajara, and Monterrey to town for matches on July, 31st, August 3rd, and 7th before traveling to Ohio as MLS play resumes against FC Cincinnati on August 10th.
Thank you for reading and stay locked in with the Southeast Soccer Report for a recap on Charlotte FC’s performance in the Leagues Cup.