Dean Smith wasn’t interested in sugarcoating the performance, even after Charlotte FC secured its place in the 2026 MLS Cup playoffs.
“We stunk the place out for 60 minutes, then we were good for 30 minutes,” Smith said after Charlotte’s 4-0 victory over CF Montréal on Wednesday night.
The result was emphatic. The assessment was less so.
Charlotte clinched its fourth consecutive playoff appearance behind a career-first hat trick from Liel Abada, who scored three times in 18 minutes after coming off the bench. Idan Toklomati opened the scoring, and Pep Biel recorded three assists as the Crown snapped a three-game winless streak.
The victory also brought individual milestones for Smith and several of Charlotte’s key contributors. Abada recorded the third hat trick in club history and was voted MLS Player of the Matchday, the first for the Crown since Patrick Agyemang in 2025. Biel became the second Charlotte player to register three assists in a match, and Toklomati matched the club’s single-season record for goals across all competitions.
For a team preparing for the postseason, the night delivered plenty to celebrate and a reminder that there is still room to improve.
Starters and Stats
Charlotte FC’s starting XI consisted of:
Kristijan Kahlina (1)
Nathan Byrne (14)
Henry Kessler (22)
Morrison Agyemang (44)
Harry Toffolo (15)
Rodolfo Aloko (37)
Pep Biel (16)
Djibril Diani (28)
Allan Saint-Maximin (10)
Idan Toklomati (9)
Charlotte FC v CF Montréal
October 28, 2026
MLS Matchday 33
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, NC
Final Score:
Charlotte FC 4 - 0 CF Montréal
Charlotte FC Goals
7’ - Idan Toklamati (Assist: Saint-Maximin)
67’ - Liel Abada (Diani)
79’ - Liel Abada (Toklomati)
83’ - Liel Abada (Biel)
An Early Lead, Then a Waiting Game
Charlotte needed just seven minutes to take the lead.
Allan Saint-Maximin created the opening, spinning toward the end line near the left corner of the penalty area to evade a defender before sending a perfectly placed cross into the box. Toklomati met it with a header into the bottom-right corner to put the Crown ahead 1-0.
The goal marked Toklomati’s fifth consecutive match with a goal. He now has 15 goals across all competitions this season, matching Karol Swiderski’s Charlotte FC record.
Toklomati also contributed an assist later in the match, bringing him to 21 goal contributions for the first time in his professional career.
Despite the early breakthrough, Charlotte didn’t immediately turn its advantage into a commanding lead. Montréal held 53% of possession and completed more passes than Charlotte, which struggled to convert its advantage into additional goals in the first half.
Charlotte finished with 13 shots and seven on target, compared with Montréal’s 10 shots and just one on target. The Crown also created three big chances, while Montréal failed to create any.
The difference was Charlotte’s ability to make its opportunities count, particularly after halftime.
Abada Takes Over
Abada entered the match in the 65th minute, replacing Rodolfo Aloko. Two minutes later, he had doubled Charlotte’s lead.
Set up by Djibril Diani, Abada finished from the right side of the box to make it 2-0. In the 79th minute, Toklomati found him in the center of the penalty area, and Abada finished again.
Four minutes later, Pep Biel supplied the assist for Abada’s third goal, a right-footed finish into the top-left corner that completed the hat trick and put the match beyond doubt.
The three goals marked Abada’s first career hat trick and only the third in Charlotte FC history, joining Toklomati and Daniel Ríos, who were both on the field. The 25-year-old forward now has eight MLS goals this season, a career high in Charlotte.
According to the club, Abada’s hat trick was the third-fastest in MLS history after a player entered a match, counting both substitutes and starters.
After the match, Abada said he was determined to make the most of his opportunity.
“I want to have a game to help them and show myself on the pitch, for me, for the club, for the fans,” Abada said. “I’m really happy about today. It was a really important game for us, and we knew that before the game.”
His performance offered Charlotte another attacking weapon heading into the playoffs. Coming off the bench and immediately changing the game is precisely the kind of contribution that can prove valuable in the postseason.
Biel, Diani, and Toklomati Join the Spotlight
Abada’s three goals dominated the headlines, but Charlotte’s attacking performance was a collective effort.
Biel assisted on all three of Abada’s goals, becoming just the second player in club history to record three assists in a single match. Ashley Westwood previously accomplished the feat twice.
Biel now has 13 goals and 16 assists this season, leaving him one goal contribution short of becoming the first Charlotte FC player to reach 30 in a single season.
Toklomati’s goal and assist also continued an impressive run of form, while Saint-Maximin added an assist on the opening goal. Since arriving in the summer, Saint-Maximin has recorded seven assists and eight total goal contributions in just under 1,000 minutes.
Djibril Diani also recorded two assists, bringing his season total to a career-high five.
The performances showed the range of Charlotte’s attacking options. Abada supplied the finishing, but teammates consistently created the openings that allowed him to take over the match.
Wednesday also marked the club debut of Abdoulaye Doucouré, another development as Charlotte prepare for the postseason.
The Clean Sheet Matters, Too
While Abada supplied the fireworks, Smith was also pleased to see Charlotte finish the night without conceding.
“It was important we got the clean sheet on the night, we needed one,” Smith said.
Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made one save as Charlotte limited Montréal’s threat in front of goal. The defensive result complemented the attacking display, particularly after Charlotte’s recent run without a win.
The Crown had to make a change when Saint-Maximin was forced off in the 76th minute with an injury. Smith described the challenges on the winger as “naughty tackles” when explaining his departure. Saint-Maximin’s status heading into Saturday’s match will be worth watching.
Montréal, meanwhile, continued its difficult season. The visitors entered Wednesday with 25 points and a minus-30 goal differential, the worst marks in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte took care of business, but Smith’s comments made clear that the final score alone wouldn’t tell the whole story.
Four Straight, but What’s Next?
The victory also added to Smith’s own place in league history.
With 47 wins in his first three seasons in MLS, Smith moved into fourth place all time for victories by a coach over that span. He also became the second coach in league history to earn 50 points in his first three seasons.
Those milestones came alongside the club’s fourth consecutive playoff qualification, a sign of the consistency Charlotte have established even as it looks for another level of performance in the postseason.
The Crown host Orlando City on Saturday before closing out the regular season on the road against Inter Miami the following Saturday. Those matches offer an opportunity to build rhythm, work through remaining issues and carry Wednesday’s attacking confidence into the playoffs.
Qualifying for the postseason is a significant achievement, but Smith’s blunt assessment provides the most useful lens through which to view the night. Charlotte was clinical when it mattered, yet its coach expects more than 30 good minutes when the stakes rise.
Wednesday delivered the result Charlotte needed. Abada made history, Biel and Toklomati continued their standout seasons, and the Crown secured another playoff appearance.
Now Charlotte must show they can turn that brilliant finish into a complete performance when the postseason begins.
Gallery: Abada Hat Trick
Gallery: Charlotte FC vs. CF Montréal
Great photos!