From Flying Kiwis. He got his chance last weekend, after another CB was out injured.
Okay then, how did he track? Yeah... alright. He was definitely rusty as is to be expected after such a long absence of games. Definitely don’t check the comments sections because there’s some residual bad will against him from the Charlotte FC fanbase from last season (which even then is unfair). It was Tuiloma’s long ball that led to Kerwin Vargas’ 39th minute goal, although he didn’t do the best on Prince Owusu’s equaliser on 49’, stepping up too late to keep Owusu onside.
He also sorta cost them another goal at the other end when a possible response five mins later was randomly disallowed. Liel Abada’s sneaky set piece effort (converting on the second attempt after a chip over the top, courtesy of a rebound off the post) was deemed illegal thanks to a slight hold by Tuiloma on a defender several metres away on the edge of the area. But that was a ridiculous decision, laughably overzealous officiating, can’t blame a bro for that. Anyway, both teams scored again then Partick Agyemang won it for Charlotte in the 85th minute.
Dean Smith, Charlotte head coach:
“I’ve no idea, I think the referee’s made a mistake, in my opinion, for Liel’s first goal from the free kick. He felt it was an infringement from Bill. He didn’t give offside, he said it was an infringement from Bill. It wasn’t. So they got that wrong. But just pleased we put the game to bed in the end.”
“I thought [Tuiloma] came in and did really well. We had the game against North Carolina FC the other week for him and he got ninety minutes so he was match fit. He trains really well, he’s got a great attitude. So I didn’t really have any qualms about putting him in. He knows the league, he understands the league, he’s been in it a long time so I thought his experience would certainly help young Privett who I think’s done really well at centre-half so far.”
Good good. That NCFC game was presumably a friendly but there’s no information about it anywhere. Probs behind closed doors. Important thing is that the manager seems to think on him fondly and thought he played well. Also hyped up his “good switch of play”. There was then a very weird moment when a journo asked how Dean Smith compared Tuiloma’s style with Charlotte to that with the New Zealand national team...
Dean Smith: “I’ve no idea because I’m not a big watcher of the kiwis, of the national team with New Zealand. I used to a few years ago because I know Ricki Herbert who was the head coach but not at the moment.”
