April 13, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Charlotte FC News Release
New Designated Player Liel Abada scored his first goal for the Club and Patrick Agyemang bundled home a dramatic 86th-minute game-winner.
First Half
Lineup: Kahlina, Lindsey, Tuiloma, Privett, Uronen, Westwood, Diani, Arfield, Vargas, Abada, Copetti
On a beautiful, blue-skied night in Charlotte, the home team started the match aggressively on the front foot. Kerwin Vargas was particularly dangerous in the early stages, and the crowd thought he opened the scoring in the 5th minute when he powered a right-footed shot into the outside of the netting.
Just two minutes later, the Colombian winger once again cut inside on his right foot and stung Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson’s hands with a powerful shot. Djibril Diani picked up the rebound and squared it into a dangerous area for Scott Arfield, whose quick instep strike flashed inches wide of the post.
On the opposite wing, Liel Abada was also threatening. Ashley Westwood played a great ball over the top for the young winger, and Abada cleverly flicked it past the defender on the byline. His cross got into a dangerous area, but no one could get a clean shot away as Toronto defenders scrambled well.
The match cooled off for a while after that fast start as both teams knocked the ball around in possession but were unable to find the final incisive pass.
Federico Bernardeschi brought a bolt of energy for Toronto in the 28th minute, juking past Vargas and Jere Uronen from his right wingback position to force Kristijan Kahlina into a save.
On the other end, Abada got a decent chance inside the box after Jaylin Lindsey’s cross made its way back to the winger via a neat Arfield meg. However, he sliced his effort high and wide under pressure from two Toronto defenders.
Finally, in the 39th minute of a match that had been mostly pedestrian for a half hour, Kerwin Vargas got his reward. Bill Tuiloma launched a long ball directly to Enzo Copetti, who held off the Toronto center back to knock the ball down on top of the box. Vargas charged in off the left side and struck the ball first time, lasering it into the bottom corner past Johnson’s outstretched hand.
Charlotte’s winger backflipped his way to the corner to celebrate with Copetti, his good friend off the field and assist-provider on it, as the crowd roared their approval.
From there, CLTFC killed off the half by possessing the ball and took a 1-0 advantage to the locker room.
Second Half
Lineup: Kahlina,…
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