June 4, 2016 USL Toronto FC II--Charlotte Independence vs Toronto FC II game report (from USLSoccer.com)
TFC II, Charlotte Draw in Tale of Two Halves 06/04/2016, 10:15pm EDT By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com Shortened match sees Toronto and Independence split points CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In a shortened match, the Charlotte Independence and Toronto FC II played to a 2-2 draw at the Ramblewood Soccer Complex. The game was delayed by lightning with less than 20 minutes remaining, and officials ruled that the surface was unplayable following a deluge of rain, therefore calling the match a draw. Before the delay, the Independence’s Jorge Herrera managed to squeeze in two second-half goals to help his side rally from a two-goal deficit. The Independence dug a deep hole early on, with Toronto taking advantage of a pair of Charlotte defensive blunders. Shaan Hundal stole the ball at close range for a 1-0 lead and Malik Johnson converted a penalty kick. Charlotte moves to 5-3-3 (18 points) and Toronto is now 2-7-3 (9 points). Scoring: 19’ – TOR – Shaan Hundal 36’ – TOR – Malik Johnson (penalty) 47’ – CLT – Jorge Herrera (David Estrada) 56’ – CLT – Jorge Herrera (Chris Hellmann Three Things That Mattered: •1. One of the hottest home teams and one of the poorest road teams this season squared off Saturday. Charlotte was looking to extend its impressive four-game home winning streak and Toronto was attempting to end a four-game slide on the road. Ultimately, neither earned exactly what it was vying for, though TFC II did manage to come away with a road point to end that skid. •2. Jorge Herrera headed home the team’s first Charlotte goal early in the second half, redirecting the cross from David Estrada on the left and into the back of the net in the 47th minute. Then less than 10 minutes later, Chris Hellmann crossed in from the end line on the left and Herrera once again stepped up and slotted it home to tie the score at 2-2 in the 56th minute. •3. The 16-year-old Shaan Hundal made his presence felt in the early going as he took advantage of a misplay by Charlotte’s Bilal Duckett in the 19th minute. Hundal fought hard to win possession, dribbled across the mouth of the goal and fired past Charlotte goalkeeper John Berner and a pair of defenders to take a 1-0 lead. Hundal has two goals on the season for TFC II. In the 36th minute, it was Sal Bernal that did the dirty work to create Toronto’s second goal, dribbling from the left side to draw a trip just inside the box. Malik Johnson stepped up for the penalty and his right-footed shot was driven past Berner for the two-goal lead. USLSoccer.com Man of the Match: Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Independence – Herrera had a knack for the goal in the second half, getting into strong positions to record a brace and salvage a point at home after going down two goals. Upcoming Games: June 10: Bethlehem Steel FC at Charlotte Independence; 7 p.m. ET, Ramblewood Soccer Complex June 11: Rochester Rhinos at Toronto FC II; 7:30 p.m. ET, Ontario Soccer Centre
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