MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC (2) - Charlotte FC (2) Postgame Summary

Published on April 1, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


SCORING SUMMARY

TOR - Federico Bernardeschi 6'

TOR - Michael Bradley 44' (Brandon Servania)

CHA - Ben Bender 51' (Kamil Jóźwiak)

CHA - Kamil Jóźwiak 70' (Kerwin Vargas, Harrison Afful)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

TOR - Sigurd Rosted 11' (caution)

TOR - Matt Hedges 41' (caution)

TOR - Federico Bernardeschi 67' (caution)

CHA - Enzo Copetti 90+3' (caution)

CHA - Chris Hegardt 90+3' (caution)

RECORDS (W-L-T)

Toronto FC 1-1-4 7 points

Charlotte FC 1-3-2 6 points

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC - Sean Johnson; Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Raoul Petretta 78'), Matt Hedges, Sigurd Rosted, Richie Laryea; Michael Bradley (C), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Alonso Coello Camarero 78'), Brandon Servania (Víctor Vázquez 87'), Jonathan Osorio; Federico Bernardeschi, Ayo Akinola (Deandre Kerr 69')

Substitutes Not Used: Tomás Romero, Lukas MacNaughton, Kobe Franklin, Kosi Thompson, Hugo Mbongue

CHARLOTTE FC - George Marks; Jaylin Lindsey, Adilson Malanda, Bill Tuiloma, Harrison Afful (C); Derrick Jones, Ben Bender (Chris Hegardt 72'), Nuno Santos (Karol Świderski 61'); Kamil Jóźwiak (Vinicius Mello 71'), Kerwin Vargas (Andre Shinyashiki 71'), Enzo Copetti

Substitutes Not Used: Pablo Sisniega, Nathan Byrne, Joseph Mora, Andrew Privett, McKinze Gaines

MEDIA NOTES

With tonight's result, Toronto FC remain unbeaten in their last five MLS matches (W1 D4). Federico Bernardeschi has now been involved in 10 of Toronto FC's last 17 MLS goals (seven goals, three assists), dating back to August 27, 2022. Michael Bradley scored his first goal of the 2023 MLS season. Brandon Servania recorded his first assist for the Reds tonight. Toronto FC also remain unbeaten in three all-time meetings against Charlotte FC (W2 D1), dating back to July 23, 2022.

BOB BRADLEY - HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC

Q. Conditions were difficult with the wind. Did you see something change in the second half?

No, the wind was a huge factor tonight. Conditions were tough. But still in the end after being ahead 2-0, we let them back into the game too easily. Just didn't deal with two situations that developed at wide crosses. So we let ourselves down in that regard.

Second half, you've got to find ways to connect passes because any ball that you put up in the air is going to come right back at you. We created maybe two to three good or half chances but couldn't quite make the final part of it work. But most disappointed in the way we, like I said, we let them back into it too easily.

Q. Was Federico's goal a product of the wind? We haven't seen a goal like that for Toronto FC ever.

Yeah, it's his ability to strike the ball in and on a night like tonight where we know the wind is blowing so hard, if you put a ball out there, it's going to be a real threat going towards the goal. It's a combination but obviously he has a special way to hit balls. You see those from time to time. But he hit it well and took advantage of the conditions.

Q. What was the rationale of starting Ayo tonight?

Deandre came out of training one day this week, so we were still watching him a little bit. Ayo came back from camp confident. We felt that it was a good time to put him on there at the beginning.

Yeah, there's moments where he's involved in good plays. There's moments where he comes up a little short. Good action in the first half where he's not able to keep himself on side. You know, a moment where he's got an advantage in the second half but he can't slow down and get the pass right.

Look, when you play as a striker, there's things that you do in a game, you hold balls, you bring other guys into the game. Some of those things are going pretty well.

But you also look for final moments, and so obviously that didn't happen tonight but still, I think Ayo is hopefully moving himself along and I thought he was ready to start and give us everything he could.

Q. Big picture, this five-game stretch, it's only one win in that span but do you still think that it's been a positive stretch for the group since the D.C. United game?

Yeah, I would say even over six games there's been a lot of good thing. We know we lost a major opportunity in the added time at D.C. The mentality since then has been good. Right now our margin is small. So you can play well, do certain things but that doesn't get us a big enough margin in terms of creating a few more chances, scoring a few more goals and so we've got to continue to grow as a team where our ability to balance, attacking defense is right.

But certainly as you've seen, we're defensively much more solid. But we've got to be able to raise up the level of big chances we create and find ways to control the game. It's hard to talk about controlling the game tonight because the conditions are wacky. So it's not a night to spend too much time talking about that.

Overall I still think we are going in a better direction but we've got to find ways to take nights like tonight and turn them into three points.

Q. The decision to bring on Alonso in the second half, what was the rationale?

I think he helps us connect passes at that moment and some fresh legs. We felt that that was a way we could maybe connect a few more passes and get forward a little bit towards the end of the game.

Q. It's my understanding you can't use him any more in MLS in terms of the short-term call-ups. Did that factor in at all tonight?

No. Look, we've had discussions of the idea of now adding him to our roster. You guys have to do more homework, the rules are hard, so with the internationals, there's these categories. There's one, I think they made a change before last season where Canadian teams are allowed up to three players that if they have been on the team for more than a year, then they count in a certain category, and then you still have the regular number of international spots. That's because in the U.S., in all those situations, they get players green cards. So that was changed last year.

And so that still means that we do still have an international slot.

Q. But with two MLS appearances, Alonso can't appear in again in MLS action, right?

Yes, but what I just said is that I think we are close to the idea that now we will move him into a first team contract.

Q. Another start from Jahkeele. Is he progressing the way you want to see early in the season?

Yeah, he earned the start tonight. Again, young player, some good things. Little things that we keep trying to move forward and push him on. Solid enough effort. You know, when we look at some of the situations that were created, I mentioned that in terms of some of the defending on the flanks and crosses and stuff, there are areas there that we need to look at as a team. So there's always things that now you're trying to help guys see and improve upon. But still, see good things happening with Jahkeele. He's been in a good way. He's trained well and everybody was excited that he played well last week and that he deserved to start tonight.

Q. We've seen a fair number of corner kick deliveries towards the near post and tonight Michael had one. What did you make of that play and what do you like about that?

We have players that can deliver a good ball in the near post. That's a smart area to attack. You know, we felt that we could put them under pressure in that zone and then on top of it, when the conditions are the way they are, it's even more dangerous to really crowd some people in in the front zone and whip the balls in toward a keeper. In a way, that led to both goals.

SEAN JOHNSON - GOALKEEPER, TORONTO FC

Q. The conditions looked horrible out there. Can you tell us what it was like and was it worse at that south end than the north end?

think the south end was definitely the end that was a little more difficult in terms of dealing with the conditions.

But yeah, both teams had to deal with the same conditions on the night. Obviously, a tale of two halves but we can't look at the weather and blame the weather for making the game tough.

You know, I think the first half we dealt well. In the second half, we've got to go out and understand that we are facing the same conditions that we put Charlotte up against.

So yeah, tough one but it's something that we have to deal with.

Q. The draw extends the team's unbeaten run to five games but just one win. Do you look at this stretch of games since the D.C. United as a positive?

For me, I think I said it coming into this game, I think it's getting better every game, that's the goal and taking steps forward. Obviously this is a little bit frustrating to be up two goals and especially at home, and not close it out and give up points that I think we should have had tonight. I think the feeling is a little bit different being unbeaten in a run of games, coming out with three points tonight.

At the end of the day, we just have to keep pressing on. I know this group well and know that everybody will be eager to get back to training and look to really approach this next game in Nashville with a mentality that we need come out and do whatever is necessary to make up for the dropped points this game.

But yeah, the mentality has got to be right, and I'm sure it will be.

Q. You've seen Federico in practice every day. Have you seen that delivery from the corner he scored tonight in his arsenal?

Yeah, he has quality and his left foot is up there with the best about the world. We are happy to have him on our side to be able to give service like that and to be dynamic in moments where he can change the game. That's what he's here for. He's a difference-maker and he's been a big player for us. Yeah, talented, left-footed attacking player and best in the League.

Q. What did you make of the goal itself from your vantage point?

From my vantage point, struck a really good ball, put it in a good spot and put it in the back of the net. That's what I saw.

Q. You're a goalkeeper obviously but do you feel bad in a way for an opposing goalie in that situation? Because you are never really expecting somebody to go directly to goal.

As a goalkeeper, those things ultimately happen where we score the goal and it's our team's goal. Happy to have scored the goal. Obviously as a goalkeeper, you've been in that situation, so you understand what it's like.

But again, you're competing. We're competitors. For us, we'll take the goal and we move forward and it put us in a good position to go on and win the game, so that was really it.

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