Toronto FC blows 2 goal lead, settles for draw vs. Charlotte FC

• Toronto FC 2 (Bernardeschi 6’; Bradley 44’), Charlotte FC 2 (Bender 51'; Józwiak 70’)
• Bernardeschi netted spectacular Olimpico goal
• Akinola earned his 1st start since last September

TORONTO – One step forward, one step back.

That’s the prevailing narrative of Toronto FC’s MLS season so far, as exemplified in a 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC on a chilly and blustery Saturday night before an announced crowd of 22,801 at BMO Field.

Italian Designated Player Federico Bernardeschi registered a spectacular Olimpico (a goal scored directly off a corner kick), and captain Michael Bradley bagged his first goal of the campaign to give Toronto a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

But all of the Reds’ hard work through the first 45 minutes was undone by a poor second-half performance that saw them outplayed and outworked by Charlotte who had the benefit of a strong wind coming off the lake behind its back.