July 18, 2021...Match Report: Hat Trick Lifts TFC II Over NCFC (from USLLeagueOne.com)
Match Report: Hat Trick Lifts TFC II Over NCFC By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 07/18/21, 8:00PM EDT Share GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN BAGGED THREE GOALS TO SPUR TORONTO TO VICTORY CARY, N.C. - Behind a hat trick from Garrett McLaughlin, Toronto FC II defeated North Carolina FC 4-2 on Sunday night at WakeMed Soccer Park. A fast and furious first half saw the two teams combine for three goals in nine minutes. TFC II opened the scoring when Erickson Gallardo's clever layoff set up McLaughlin for a simple tap-in, but NCFC equalized moments later through Thorn Simpson. McLaughlin would then double his and TFC II's tally to restore the visitors' lead in sensational fashion, as his jaw-dropping bicycle kick connected perfectly with Rohan Goulbourne's cross and flew into the net. NCFC's comeback chances were dented just before halftime when midfielder Pecka was sent off. But despite being down a man for the entire second half, the home side tied the game on 67 minutes. Substitute Cole Frame latched on to a long ball from Jay Tee Kamara, squared up his defender, and beat the goalkeeper with a well-placed shot. That parity would prove short-lived, though, as the Young Reds took the lead for a third time eight minutes later. Steffen Yeates teed up Antonio Carlini for an excellent low strike, which arrowed into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. McLaughlin would then finish off a counterattack to complete his hat trick in the 83rd minute, ensuring TFC II collected all three points when the final whistle blew. NCFC has another home game in 72 hours' time, when it will host the Richmond Kickers for the second time this season. TFC II continues its road swing with a trip to take on the New England Revolution II on Friday. USLLeagueOne.com Player of the Match Garrett McLaughlin, Toronto FC II - Score a hat trick, and you get to take home the match ball. The TFC II striker was superb on the night, vaulting himself into second place in the League One Golden Boot race with a trio of goals. Goal Summary TOR (23') - McLaughlin, assisted by Gallardo NC (26') - Simpson, unassisted TOR (32') - McLaughlin, assisted by Goulbourne NC (67') - Frame, assisted by Kamara TOR (75') - Carlini, assisted by Yeates TOR (83') - McLaughlin, unassisted xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx North Carolina FC 2 - 4 Toronto FC II 4-3-2-1 4-4-2 July 18, 2021 6:00 PM Venue WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance 1,088 Referee Alyssa Nichols North Carolina FC 18 McGuire GK 4 Flick Yellow 54 DF 6 Blanco Flores DF 5 Mbaye DF 21 Shermaine Martina DF 7 Pecka RED 34 MF 14 Martinez Yellow 9, out 80 MF 2 Hamilton Yellow 56, out 65 MF 19 Kamara out 88 MF 10 Nazmi Albadawi (C) out 88 MF 44 Simpson GOAL 26 out 45 FW Substitutes 24 Holliday Sub 25 Fischer Sub 17 Coan in 88 Sub 9 Miscic in 80 Sub 12 Pearson in 88 Sub 26 Frame in 45, GOAL 67 Sub 11 Kristo in 65 Sub Manager - Bradford MAN Toronto FC II 70 Vaikla GK 58 Franklin DF 38 Petrasso DF 34 Maples Yellow 77 DF 64 Politz (C) DF 72 Yeates out 90 MF 9 Gallardo out 45 MF 85 Carlini GOAL 75, out 80 MF 62 Goulbourne out 71 MF 82 Altobelli FW 49 McLaughlin GOAL 23, GOAL 32, GOAL 83 FW Substitutes 40 Patterson-Sewell Sub 48 Campbell in 80 Sub 33 Higgins Sub 81 Antonoglou in 45 Sub 65 Curic in 90 Sub 51 Ovalle Sub 52 Thompson in 71 Sub Manager - Muñoz MAN Game Stats: North Carolina FC Toronto FC II Possession 44.1% 55.9% Duels success rate 56.2% 43.8% Aerial duels won 46.7% 53.3% Interceptions 9 11 Offsides 4 3 Corners 3 5 Passes 377 481 Long passes 35 36 Passing accuracy 85.9% 91.3% Passing accuracy in opponents' half (%) 72.6% 88.0% Crosses 7 12 Crossing accuracy 42.9% 33.3% Goals 2 4 Shots 11 20 Shots on target 5 11 Blocked shots 3 1 Shots outside the box 3 8 Shots inside the box 8 12 Shooting accuracy 45.5% 55.0% Tackles 17 9 Tackles success rate 58.8% 55.6% Clearances 10 11 Fouls conceded 10 8 Yellow cards 3 1 Red cards 1 0
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