Charlotte FC Stays Hot with 7th Straight Win
Charlotte FC stepped onto the pitch in their sharp United We Play pre-match kits and carried that swagger straight into a hard-fought 1–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls. Charlotte extended their winning streak to seven matches and vaulted into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points with the win.
It was a night of firsts and fine margins. New signing Harry Toffolo, fresh from Nottingham Forest, made his first start for the club, while goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina delivered another commanding performance between the posts, preserving a clean sheet with a string of crucial saves.
The match itself was a grind from the opening whistle. Both sides struggled to find rhythm early, and Charlotte endured a moment of frustration when an initial penalty call in their favor was overturned by the VAR.
The breakthrough finally came in the 30th minute. Kerwin Vargas latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Toklomati, slotted it home with composure, and hit his signature backflip in style.
In the second half, Toklomati broke free on a breakaway and drilled a low shot toward the goal, but Coronel made the stop to keep it 1–0.
From there, it was all about resilience. Kahlina denied New York with several key stops in the first half, sending Charlotte into the break with the lead. The second half brought tense moments; none more so than in the 77th minute, when a Red Bulls corner kissed the post and Kahlina’s fingertips before spinning away from danger. New York kept pressing, including a golden chance in stoppage time that sailed inches over the crossbar off a header.
For New York, the loss deepens their road woes as they have just eight goals in 14 away matches this season and casts doubt on extending their 15-year playoff streak.
Charlotte now heads north to face the New England Revolution before a week’s rest, then returns home for a September 13 clash with Inter Miami. With the playoff race tightening, the Crown is heating up at exactly the right time and they don’t look ready to slow down.