Charlotte FC’s Stock Up, Stock Down: Charlotte FC extends their unbeaten streak to six with their win over CF Montreal
By Billy McGee (@iambillymcgee)
Charlotte FC kicked off their three-game road trip on a good note in Canada Wednesday night, coming back to earn all three points against CF Montreal. The Crown didn’t escape unscathed, though, as Archie Goodwin left the game early with an injury.
Here’s our Stock Up, Stock Down for Charlotte’s 2-1 win on Wednesday.
Stock Up
Idan Toklomati - Toklomati started on the bench, but came on early to replace the injured Goodwin and scored the winning goal in the 81st minute. The goal was his third goal in his last five games, bringing his season total up to eight. Toklomati could very likely see increased minutes going forward after Goodwin’s injury, and in his current form, he could produce good G+A numbers down the stretch.
Midfield depth - Charlotte FC was without Ashley Westwood due to suspension, meaning Djibril Diani and Luca de la Torre played alongside each other in the midfield. This is not a pairing that is common as Westwood typically occupies one of those spots. The duo played well in Westwood’s absence, with Diani having the joint-most defensive contribution (13) and de la Torre going 29/32 on accurate passes and creating two chances in his 67 minutes before coming off for Brandt Bronico. The midfield depth will need to show up again on Saturday against Cincinnati as Westwood will serve the second game of his two-match suspension.
Getting results - In their last four games, Charlotte has faced off against three of the bottom five teams in the Eastern Conference, games they should easily win on paper. They did manage to win all three of those games, keeping themselves firmly in the race for a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference. The six-game unbeaten streak that they are currently on has seen them earn 14 of a possible 18 points in that span to be on 39 points for the season, even with fourth-place Chicago one point behind third-place New England. With ten games remaining, they appear to be on the right track to get their second consecutive top-four finish.
Quick strike scoring - Both of The Crown’s goals came quickly. The first goal was a true counterattacking goal, with Allan Saint-Maximin playing a huge part before crossing the ball to Liel Abada for the goal. The second goal did not come from a counterattack, but came from an attack down the wing after a foul in their own half, followed by a cross into the box that Toklomati finished. Saint-Maximin played a part in both goals, being the most important player in the attack for Charlotte since making his debut. He has simply caused fits for opposing defenders with his speed and skill, being able to jump-start the attack quickly.
Stock Down
Striker Depth - Archie Goodwin went down with what appeared to be a hip injury following a collision with the Montreal defenders and goalkeeper on a free kick. He had to be helped off the pitch by the training staff and was taken straight to the locker room. If Goodwin’s injury sidelines him long-term, then Charlotte has just two options up top: Toklomati and Tyger Smalls.
