Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Adilson Malanda helped keep Charlotte's MLS Playoff dreams alive as they beat New York City on penalties in the second game of the best-of-three first-round Playoff tie.
New York had beaten Dean Smith's side in the first game and with the three-game series a best-of-three format rather than an aggregate decider, Charlotte had to win the second game in New York to avoid elimination. In the end, after a goalless draw, they won 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out.
Malanda, who will join Boro once Charlotte's season is over, scored his spot-kick, before goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made himself a hero by saving a decisive penalty to give his side a win. It leaves the two sides heading back to North Carolina on Friday for the third tie, which will ultimately decide which side advances, with the season over for the other.
Malanda signed for Boro in the summer transfer window, but as part of the deal, the French centre-back was immediately loaned back to Charlotte for the rest of the season. With the MLS Playoffs running until early December, it matters little how far Charlotte advance.
Boro won't be able to register the defender until the January transfer window opens. However, Boro plan to give Malanda time off after his MLS campaign comes to an end, and then he will be able to train with his new Boro team-mates at Rockliffe before January, offering him a bedding in period.
Elsewhere with Boro's loanees, Neto Borges played the full 90 minutes as Bristol City suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat away at Stoke City. He received a 4 in the ratings of our sister site Bristol Live who side he was partly culpable for two Stoke goals, but noted he improved when moved from wing-back to centre-back.
Marcus Forss came on for the final 25 minutes of Bolton Wanderers' FA Cup first round win over Huddersfield, but it was another bad day for Law McCabe's Plymouth Argyle, who crashed out of the cup after a 2-0 defeat to Wycombe. After being brutally left out of the squad altogether last weekend. He came on ten minutes into the second half of this one, but the scoreline was 0-0 at the time.
Staying in the FA Cup and though South Shields lost their tie 3-1 to Shrewsbury, Boro loanee Luke Woolston was the scorer of the home side's goal in what was a screamer. Also of Boro's academy, Charlie Lennon came off the bench and provided an assist for Darlington, but they lost their National League North clash with Merthyr.
Finally, Dan Barlaser's enjoyable time at Hibernian continued as he completed another full 90 minutes - albeit in a frustrating 2-2 draw with Livingston. The midfielder was said to have been locked out of the first half, but improved immeasurably after the interval.