Bill Tuiloma (Charlotte FC | USA)

US Open Cup Round of 16 tie
Charlotte travel to USL club Birmingham Legion
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/25/united-states/us-open-cup/birmingham-legion/charlotte-mls/4073507/

Tuiloma on the bench.

Another USL team upset a MLS side in US Open Cup. 
Charlotte lose 1-0 at Birmingham. Tuiloma on at 53 mins (0-0) just after Charlotte went down to 10 men.

Charlotte (9th in the East) travel to LA Galaxy (14th/last in West).
Tuiloma verus Boyd. Presumably in the past they were in the AWs together. Can have a chat about Dios as well.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/28/united-states/mls/los-angeles-galaxy/charlotte-mls/4004707/

Full games Boyd & Tuiloma, but it's the current AW with the bragging rights.
Charlotte with 1-0 win.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-portland-timbers-vs-minnesota-united-fc-may-20-2023#highlights-la-galaxy-vs-charlotte-fc-may-27-2023

Charlotte (6th in the East) travel to Philadelphia Union (4th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/01/united-states/mls/philadelphia-union/charlotte-mls/4004717/

Tuiloma starting. 0-0 approaching HT.

Charlotte lose 1-0, given as an oggie against the keeper.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/own-goal-daniel-gazdag-philadelphia-union-70th-minute#own-goal-daniel-gazdag-philadelphia-union-70th-minute

Tuiloma off at 78 mins (1-0) as Charlotte chased an equaliser.
33 yr old Ashley Westwood a long time team mate of Chris Wood at Burnley, is with Charlotte this season.

Charlotte (7th in the East) travel to Columbus Crew (6th) 
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/04/united-states/mls/columbus-crew/charlotte-mls/4004727/

Tuiloma starts

Edit - full game in a 4-2 loss

Like dozens of other MLS footballers, Tuiloma would have had a quick look at the playing schedule.

Charlotte play Inter Miami (last in the MLS East) 21st August & 22nd October. Sounds like Messi will link up with Miami in July. 

Sadly for Boxy, Minnesota don't play Miami this season.

Charlotte (9th in the East) host Seattle Sounders (3rd in the West)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/11/united-states/mls/charlotte-mls/seattle-sounders-fc/4004740/

Tuiloma on the bench.
Edit - unused sub in a 3-3 draw

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/132322355/all-whites-defender-bill-tuiloma-set-for-role-in-lionel-messis-major-league-soccer-debut

Messi has been the best men’s player in the world in the 21st century, winning league titles in Spain and France, the Uefa Champions League on three occasions, and finally achieving World Cup glory with Argentina in Qatar last year.

But no New Zealander has ever lined up against him, which means Tuiloma has a chance for a unique experience. The other All White in MLS, Michael Boxall, won’t get the chance to this season, as his club, Minnesota United, don’t have any fixtures against Inter Miami.

Charlotte (10th) travel to New York Red Bulls (12th in the East).

Interesting that Bazeley started Tuiloma at RB. Could that be his long term position with the AWs?

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/22/united-states/mls/new-york-red-bulls/charlotte-mls/4004762/

No surprises given very short turnaround between Austria & this game, no Tuiloma in match day squad.

Result 2-2 draw.

Charlotte (10th in the East) to host Montreal (8th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/25/united-states/mls/charlotte-mls/montreal-impacts/4004772/

Full game Tuiloma in a 0-0 draw.

He played RB in a back 4, so Charlotte must have taken note of AWs v Qatar. Billy T's future at RB?

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-charlotte-fc-vs-cf-montreal-june-24-2023#highlights-charlotte-fc-vs-cf-montreal-june-24-2023

From Flying Kiwis in reference to Tuiloma at RB in Charlotte's 0-0 draw.

This is what the coach had to say after he was asked about playing Tuiloma at right back...

Christian Lattanzio: “He was good. We know that they have physical players who sometimes can go on the sides, so I wanted someone who has got physical presence and aerial ability. I mean, he played for New Zealand at right back in Austria when they played Qatar so it’s nothing new. He played right back for Portland. He’s a defender. He can play right back or central defender. I don’t think we should be so surprised to see a defender play in a different part of the pitch at the back. I didn’t play him in goal or number nine. I thought he did a good job.”

Charlotte (10th in the East) travel to New York City (11th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/06/united-states/mls/new-york-city/charlotte-mls/4004805/

Another start for Tuiloma at RB.

Full game & a 92nd yellow card in a 1-1 draw.

Highlights, Charlotte in the dark blue. Tuiloma no 6, caught a bit narrow looks like for NYC's late 81st min goal.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-new-york-city-fc-vs-charlotte-fc-july-05-2023#highlights-new-york-city-fc-vs-charlotte-fc-july-05-2023

Charlotte (10th in the East) host FC Cincinnati (1st).
FYI - Cincinnati joined the MLS in 2019 & Charlotte in 2022.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/09/united-states/mls/charlotte-mls/fc-cincinnati/4004806/

Tuiloma on the bench

2-2 draw. Tuiloma subbed on for the starting RB at 82 mins (2-2).

Charlotte (12th in the East) travel to Montreal Impacts (10th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/16/united-states/mls/montreal-impacts/charlotte-mls/4004830/

Charlotte go down 2-0. Full game & a yellow for Billy T at RB.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-cf-montreal-vs-charlotte-fc-july-15-2023#highlights-cf-montreal-vs-charlotte-fc-july-15-2023

Edit - Charlotte's next MLS game is actually away at Inter Miami on 21st August. Tuiloma to play in Messis' MLS debut?

MLS teams now play in Leagues Cup games until August. A Cup comp between MLS & Mexican Liga MX teams.

Charlotte (12th in the East) travel to Dallas (8th in the West), in a Leagues Cup game. Comp for MLS & Liga MX clubs.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/22/nc-america/leagues-cup/football-club-dallas/charlotte-mls/4051169/

0-0 in Texas after 5 mins. Tuiloma not playing.
Could have taken a short holiday to NZ? MLS doesn't resume until 21st August, Charlotte with a juicy trip to Messi's Inter Miami.

Edit - A 2-2 draw in Dallas, Charlotte with a 97th min equaliser.
They then canter through the pen shootout 4-1

Charlotte host Liga MX side Necaxa in the Leagues Cup.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/30/nc-america/leagues-cup/club-necaxa/charlotte-mls/4051199/

No Tuiloma as Charlotte lead 3-0. Apparently he's injured. Hopefully he's okay by time of the visit to Messi's Inter Miami on August 21st.

Edit - Charlotte win 4-1, and have drawn Cruz Azul in a round of 32 tie next week.

Charlotte play Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup, last 16 tie.
Venue Frisco, Texas.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/03/nc-america/leagues-cup/charlotte-mls/cdsc-cruz-azul/4194347/

Still no Tuiloma for Charlotte. Hopefully he's fit for the visit to Messi's Inter Miami in 17 days.

Edit - game finished 0-0. But Charlotte won pen shootout 4-3.
They will play Houston Dynamo in their Round of 16 tie. Houston similarly won a pen shoot out againt Liga MX's Pachuca after game finished 0-0.

MLS teams are dominating the comp, benefiting maybe from their season being well past half way through, whilst Liga MX comp is only 3 weeks old.

Charlottle host Houston Dynamo in their Round of 16, Leagues Cup tie.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/08/nc-america/leagues-cup/charlotte-mls/houston-dynamo/4194348/

80 mins in, and 1-1 between Charlotte & Houston.
Still no Tuiloma for Charlotte. Ex-Socceroo Brad Smith on the bench for Houston.

Edit - Charlotte score at 80mins & 81mins (a Houston oggie) to win 2-1. They are through to the Leagues Cup quarters, where they will play Inter Miami in Florida!!

A dress rehersal for their MLS game 21st August. So Billy T could come against that number 10 from Argentina twice in less than 2 weeks, or not all if Tuiloma's still injured!

Inter Miami who bet Dallas on pens yesterday (4-4 NT, Messi the 4th goal to take it to pens) in their Round of 16 game, have now also signed Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Davey Beckham rolling out the cheque book, organising a Barcelona reunion of thirty somethings. Move over LA Galaxy.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/messi/messi-busquets-alba-how-miami-accomplished-a-historic-mls-transfer-window

Leagues Cup quarters. Charlotte travel to Miami to face Lionel & his old Barca mates. The MLS game between these same two teams scheduled for 21st August has now been postponed.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/11/nc-america/leagues-cup/inter-miami/charlotte-mls/4194356/

Billy T gets a front row seat to watch the GOAT up close. Tuiloma returns from injury and onto the bench.

Alba, Busquets & Messi all start for Miami.

First Kiwi to ever lineup against Lionel?

Charlotte get spanked 4-0. Tuiloma watches it from the pine.
Messi with the 4th

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-inter-miami-cf-vs-charlotte-fc-august-11-2023#highlights-inter-miami-cf-vs-charlotte-fc-august-11-2023

These teams meet twice in the MLS later this season. Hopefully Bill T gets at least one start.

Charlotte (12th in the East) host LAFC (2nd in the West).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/27/united-states/mls/charlotte-mls/los-angeles-fc/4004857/

No Tuiloma.
Edit - Charlotte win 2-1.

Charlotte (12th) host Orlando City (4th).
No Tuiloma. Not listed pre game as injured so he might be on the outer.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/31/united-states/mls/charlotte-mls/orlando-city-fc/4004871/

Charlotte will now finish their MLS seasons with back to back games against the GOAT & friends. Earlier postponed game against Inter Miami now rescheduled for season end.

Not a bad stadium they have in Charlotte.