March 24, 2018 Toronto FC II USL--Charlotte Independence vs Toronto FC II game review (from uslsoccer.com)

     
Independence Hold Off Toronto
By USLSoccer.com Staff, 03/24/18, 9:00PM EDT 

Calvert, Herrera provide difference as Charlotte wins second straight

 
Photo courtesy Charlotte Independence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Caleb Calvert delivered a goal and an assist to help fuel a 2-0 result against visiting 
Toronto FC II as the Charlotte Independence secured a second consecutive victory to open the 2018 season. 
In the 18th minute, Calvert combined with a streaking Jorge Herrera on the break and the veteran did the rest, 
slotting his effort inside the right post to etch his name on the scoresheet for the second straight week. 
Minutes before halftime, Alex Martinez deftly played a ball in from the left that allowed Calvert 
the opportunity to sky over two Toronto defenders and double the margin with a headed finish. TFCII goalkeeper 
Caleb Patterson-Sewell came up with a number of notable stops but his was unable to crack the Charlotte defense 
in a rain-soaked second half as the Independence dealt Toronto its second defeat in as many weeks.  

Scoring:
18’ – CLT – Jorge Herrera (Caleb Calvert)
42’ – CLT – Caleb Calvert (Alex Martinez)
#CLTvTOR: Full Match and Opta Box Score
Three Things That Matter:
1. Charlotte is off to a blazing start, jumping out to a 2-0 record on the strength of convincing results against 
a pair of Canadian counterparts in Ottawa Fury FC and Toronto FC II. For an Independence squad that did not 
record its second win of 2017 until its sixth outing of the season, there have been a number of positive signs 
in attack in its first two appearances of 2018, as the team has amassed a 22-12 advantage in shot attempts. 
Cordell Cato provided the impetus with a Week 1 brace while Herrera, who finished just outside the top-10 
with 12 goals in USL competition last year, is up to his old tricks to start the new campaign. With Calvert’s 
performance on Saturday and the midweek announcement of the addition of Éamon Zayed, the Independence appear 
armed to make a push at their third consecutive playoff appearance.
 
2. While the attack may grab headlines, Charlotte’s prospects may hinge on the continued effectiveness of a back 
line that has turned in two high-level performances to start the season. The quartet of Joel Johnson, Sam Vines, 
Donnie Smith and captain Bilal Duckett have been at the center of a defensive effort that has seen the team 
allow just three shots on target in the first two weeks.
 
3. There would be no comeback this time for the visitors as the road woes continued for a young TFCII side that 
has now come up short on the road in consecutive weeks following a 2-1 loss at the hands of New York Red Bulls II 
in its 2018 opener. Since upending Phoenix Rising FC in the desert to kickstart the 2017 campaign, Toronto’s lone 
road victory came courtesy of a three-goal rally in the second half during the squad’s previous trip to the Sportsplex 
at Matthews - a 3-2 win over the Independence on August 26. In 18 appearances away from home over the last two seasons, 
Toronto FC II has now been outscored, 36-13 overall.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Caleb Calvert, Charlotte Independence – The Colorado Rapids-loanee factored into both tallies on the night while 
accounting for three of the six shots on target between the two sides

Upcoming Games:
Charlotte Independence vs. ATL UTD 2 – March 31, 7:00 p.m. ET, Sportsplex at Matthews
Toronto FC II vs. Ottawa Fury FC – March 31, 7:30 p.m. ET, BMO Field   

Charlotte Independence    2  -   0   Toronto FC II
March 24, 2018 7:00 PM 
Referee Javier Santos  Venue Sportsplex at Matthews  Attendance 1,026

Charlotte Independence
50 Dykstra      GK      
22 Johnson      DF    70' Yellow     
31 Vines        DF    
 3 Duckett (C)  DF   
33 Donnie Smith DF   
 7 Ekra    87'  MF    
17 Cato    78'  MF    
 6 Jordan       MF    
10 Herrera      MF     18' GOAL    
23 Martinez 77' MF   
29 Calvert      FW     42' GOAL  

Substitutes
12 Likewise     
25 Kalungi 
 8 Voser 77'
 4 Areman 
11 Mwape 78'
20 Pérez 87'
21 Steedman 

Manager Jeffries

Toronto FC II
28 Patterson-Sewell GK    
36 Kübel 45'        DF   
38 Bjornethun       DF     
61 Romeo            DF    
49 Boskovic         DF    
45 Uccello (C)      MF   
55 Daniels 75'      MF    
50 Srbely           MF  
56 Johnson          MF    
22 Hamilton 63'     FW    
19 Spencer          FW    22'  Yellow

Substitutes
54 Telfer 63'
37 Waja 75'
43 Andrews 45'
67 Da Silva 
40 Shepherd   

Manager Guyot

Charlotte Eagles                  Toronto FC II    
 54.8%  Possession                    45.2%
 39.8%  Duels success rate            60.2%            
 36.4%  Aerial duels won              63.6%        
 18     Interceptions                 19              
  1     Offsides                       0               
  5     Corners                        2            
554     Passes                       452             
 55     Long passes                   54     
 84.1%  Passing accuracy              81.0%       
 74.9%  Passing acc in opp half (%)   69.7%        
 16     Crosses                       18        
 25.0%  Crossing accuracy             27.8%     
  2     Goals                          0 
  8     Shots                         11    
  5     Shots on target                1    
  0     Blocked shots                  2    
  2     Shots outside the box          6   
  6     Shots inside the box           5    
 62.5%  Shooting accuracy              9.1%    
 17     Tackles                       25      
 64.7%  Tackles success rate          60.0%     
 21     Clearances                    10    
 15     Fouls conceded                 5    
  1     Yellow cards                   1    
  0     Red cards                      0    

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