Charlotte FC Stun Inter Miami with 3-0 Victory Behind Toklomati Brace
- Alonso Contreras
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
By Alonso Contreras
The game opened with intensity, both sides pressing and looking for early control. Miami nearly took the lead in the 6th minute when Jordi Alba tested Kristijan Kahlina, but the Charlotte goalkeeper responded with a sharp save. Moments later, Messi had the chance to tilt the match in Miami’s favor after winning a penalty in the 32nd minute. His left-footed strike, however, was read perfectly by Kahlina, who guessed correctly and pushed the effort away to keep the score level.
Charlotte capitalized almost immediately. In the 34th minute, Toklomati struck his first of the night, slotting home from close range after a clever sequence involving Kerwin Vargas and Ashley Westwood. The home crowd erupted, and Charlotte carried a deserved 1-0 lead into the break.
Just minutes into the second half, Charlotte doubled their advantage. Toklomati again found space in the box, finishing a precise move that started with Wilfried Zaha and Brandt Bronico. His composure in front of goal made it 2-0 and left Miami reeling.
The visitors’ frustration boiled over in the 67th and 79th minutes, as Tomás Avilés was booked twice and eventually sent off, leaving Miami down to ten men. Charlotte pressed their advantage, and Zaha’s direct play won a penalty in the 83rd minute. Toklomati stepped up and confidently completed his brace from the spot, sealing a 3-0 scoreline.
Miami had late chances through Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende, but Kahlina remained solid in goal. Charlotte, meanwhile, looked comfortable controlling the pace with Zaha causing constant problems and their midfield dictating play.
The result marks a statement win for Charlotte, with Toklomati’s clinical finishing and Kahlina’s penalty heroics standing out. For Inter Miami, it was a night of frustration—Messi’s saved penalty and Avilés’ red card summed up a performance where nothing seemed to go right.
Final Score: Charlotte FC 3, Inter Miami CF 0Goals: Toklomati (34’, 47’, 84’ pen)
