Charlotte FC’s Stock Up, Stock Down: The Crown crash out late up a man

By Brian Maurer

Rodolfo Aloko (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hallmark/TopBin90)

Charlotte FC looked to be in control through 60 minutes up 3-1 after Henry Kessler's header off an Ashley Westwood free kick gave them a two goal cushion. Especially because they were also up a man due to Walker Zimmerman's foul on Idan Toklomati that denied a goalscoring opportunity.

However, Charlotte conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes and the game ended all square and with a sour taste in fans' mouths.

Here is our stock up, stock down after Charlotte's midweek draw:

Stock Up

Rodolfo Aloko - Aloko earned the start and had a bigtime performance as he scored the opener after Ashley Westwood won a turnover in the final third and immediately dished it to the Benin International, who then finished the play with a blasted effort. Aloko wasn't finished there as Kessler found him on the run again and this time the winger set up his teammate Liel Abada. Toklomati ended up getting the goal but Aloko's run and low cross set up the play. This was the prospect's first start since April and with goal contributions in back-to-back games it could be the moment where the winger takes advantage of gaps in the roster and solidifies a larger role down the stretch.

Will Cleary - The former Stanford Cardinal has looked every bit an MLS starting-caliber player every time he earns reps. He filled in for a banged up Nathan Byrne and continues to look up to the task. Cleary was clinical with his passing (95% accuracy), continued to hold his own defensively, and was inches away from putting in the fourth goal for Charlotte when he flicked a header off the crossbar late. The real question is how close is Cleary to earning a regularly starting spot?

Idan Toklomati - While Toklomati's stock doesn't rise dramatically after this performance it feels like this was a good moment for him even if the goal was a scrappy, right-place-right-time rebound. The Israeli striker hadn't scored since the club returned to action following the World Cup break and so any type of goal at the moment gives Toklomati a chance to string a few together with some much needed momentum.

Stock Down

Midfield - Dean Smith mentioned that the team's defensive rotation was not clean enough in moments during the second half which ended up costing the team all three points. It's unfortunate putting the midfield in this one especially after Westwood provided what looked to be the game-winner as well as the opening goal. Even with two assists however, the midfield group was not up to the challenge defensively which led to the squad dropping points.

Beating lower seeded teams on the road - Charlotte FC has yet to beat a team below the playoff line on the road this season. Those are the points that are supposed to help make up ground but so far the Crown has struggled to take advantage of teams in poor season form. Besides the most recent Toronto draw, Charlotte has lost to Orlando City in Florida and the LA Galaxy out West. In those three games Charlotte has allowed a combined 10 goals, showing they have also struggled to control games against weaker opposition. This has allowed lower seeded teams to find ways to take over a game or find their way back into the game, like they did in their most recent draw. If Charlotte FC is going to raise their level in the standings they have to start winning games against the teams below them on the road.