Charlotte's top soccer sides strengthen playoff positions 

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Charlotte FC forward Allan Saint Maximin looks for an opening in the Chicago Fire defense in a Sept. 26, 2026, match at Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte is fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference.

It was a royal flush for Charlotte professional soccer on Saturday night.

The Carolina Ascent (aces), Charlotte FC (kings of the Queen City), and Charlotte Independence (Jacks) each delivered a winning hand. 

All three teams scored three goals in their victories, with clean sheets for the USL sides, and the Crown providing the drama, coming back from a two-goal deficit with 20 minutes to play when all seemed lost.
Both the Ascent and Independence sit atop the Gainbridge Super League and USL One respectively, while CLTFC is fifth in the MLS East, tied with number four New England but behind on total wins (14-13).

It was the worst of times until it was the best of times. 

After going down 2-0 with 25 minutes to play, most, if not all of the rain-drenched lot of Charlotte supporters at the Bank had resigned themselves to a disappointing defeat to the third best team in the MLS West. 

While the fans may have been bumming out, Coach Dean Smith said after the match that he never felt like it was a 0-2 game. 

“I didn't feel that we deserved to be two-nil down in the game. I thought we hadn't taken most of our chances. We gave a couple of poor goals away, but we showed a lot of resilience in still wanting to make that comeback and doing so against a team that … could have gone top of the Western Conference.”

And the stats backed him up. His team were as relentless as the rain, outshooting Dallas 18-15 (8-5 on target) and controlling 56% of the ball. The boys in blue had 46 touches inside the Dallas box while limiting the visitors to just 24. They would create 14 corner kicks on the night, allowing only three. 

But the only stat really matters still had Dallas up by two with just 20 minutes to play. Both goals came from their center forwards, first Farrington and then Petr Musa finding open space between Charlotte defenders for far-too-easy scores.

Then came Idan Toklomati with the first of his two goals on the night in the 70th minute. More accurately, it was the timely substitutions of coach Dean Smith and his staff that changed the game, most notably the insertions of Rodolfo Aloko and Will Cleary in the 69th minute. Those two played together for the Crown Legacy early in the season and brought their mutual awareness with them to the first team.

After poking for chances along with Pep Biel and Luca de la Torre on the right side, Cleary fed Aloko, who beat his defender to cross the ball with vigor low across the face of the goal inside the 6-yard-box but neither Toklomati nor Biel, both about 8 yards out were able to get on it.

The ball went all the way across and, rather than wait for a throw-in, Allan Saint Maximin sprinted to keep it in play along the touchline. Just as aggressively, he ran at two Dallas defenders and made enough space to put it back in the goal mouth. This time, Toklomati was there to direct it into the net. 

It was the defibrillator Charlotte needed, both on the pitch and in the stands. The siege on the Dallas net was on.

Four minutes later, Toklomati rose above the crowd to sharply head a corner kick from Biel on the right down at the goal line. It might have gone in on its own, but the ball also glanced off the noggin of left back Harry Toffolo, who was just behind the Israeli striker, giving Toffolo, who came into the game in the 60th minute, the goal.

With 15 minutes to play, Charlotte chased the win. Two minutes into added time, Toklomati got full credit for his second goal. A give-and-go between Aloko and Biel set the Spaniard in to lay the ball into Toklomati for the game winner.

Next up is a road trip to Ohio to face the 13th-placed Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV.

Reinforcement for the Crown

Bolstering the midfield, CLTFC have added Abdoulaye Doucouré, 33, who has spent the majority of his career in the Premier League with Watford (2016-20) and Everton (2020-25) where he made 307 appearances, scoring 38 goals and assisting on 26 across all competitions. He spent the last season in the Saudi Pro League with Noem SC, starting in 12 of 13 appearances, and was signed as a free agent.

Born to Malian parents in Commune de Meulan-en-Yvelines, about 27 miles northwest of Paris, Doucouré came up through the acclaimed youth system at Ligue Une club Rennes before joining the first team in 2012.

He represented France at youth level before earning two caps for Mali at the senior level in 2022.

Smith admits that the attacking midfielder isn’t match fit yet, and still awaits his work visa, but sees him as depth in the stretch run for Charlotte.

Jacks chasing the Players Shield

The Independence went into their game against New York Cosmos knowing that Union Omaha, who had retaken first place from the Jacks, had finally lost at home, 1-0 to Ft. Wayne. Christopher Jaime’s game winner 18 minutes into the match put the Jacks atop the table and two more first half goals by Joey Skinner (41st) and Souaibou Marou (45+2) sealed the deal for a 3-0 win.

Jaime was played through on yet another assist by Jon Bakero, raising his already USL One season record total to 16, seven more than the nearest player on the list. Bakero is also the league leader in goal contributions with 24 (8 goals,16 assists). So, it’s no surprise that his name is on top when it comes to creating big chances (19) and second in chances created with 66.

Skinner scored his fourth goal in the last six games, leaping to head Jaime’s looping cross from the left down and inside the far post.

Marou’s goal raised his league-leading total to 15, where he’s tied with Conor McGlynn of Westchester SC. All of Marou’s goals have come in the run of play while 7 of McGlynn’s have been penalty kicks.
The Jacks have been an offensive juggernaut this year with 70 strikes in 30 games. That’s 17 more than next best Omaha (53). They’ve conceded 42 goals, ten more than Omaha, who are the second stingiest team in the league. Charlotte’s taken the most shots (476), and average of almost 16 per game.

Team captain Clay Dimick is one of only two players to log every minute (2,700) of every game in league play so far. What makes this more remarkable is that Dimick’s future was highly doubtful two years ago when he required neck surgery.

The never-say-die Jacks have rescued a league high 19 points from a losing position this year.

With two games left in the regular season, it’s down to Charlotte and Omaha for the Players Shield trophy. 

“We’ve been chasing it the whole year, so we’re in a good position,” said coach Mike Jeffries. It’s not an easy spot when you have the target on your back, but I think we’ll go into it with confidence and certainly the desire to get it done.”

Both teams will finish with their matches on the road. The Jacks have what should be considered an easier path, playing at Greenville Triumph (16th) on Oct. 17 and against Portland Hearts of Pine (14th) on Oct. 24. Omaha travels to Westchester (10th) and Forward Madison (third) on those dates. Charlotte has the advantage in goal differential (plus-28 to plus-21).

Ascent at their peak

On the road in Tampa Bay, the Ascent asserted their dominance in the Gainbridge Super League bridge season. Their six wins in eight games (6-1-1) is double that of the four teams trailing them. Their plus-10 goal differential is more than double that of the next best Lexington (plus-4).

They are particularly good at home and even better on the road. The Ascent have all four away games with three clean sheets, outscoring the opposition 8-1. At home, where they play next this Friday (7:30 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium), they are 2-1-1, outscoring teams 8-5 with two shutouts.

For head coach Philip Poole, it’s chemistry. 

“Our team enjoys being around each other, at home, in the locker room, and on the road. I think that’s when some of this stuff pays off is that there’s a close-knit nature to this group. I don’t think going on the road is a hindrance. I think they enjoy each other’s company. “

They certainly had a group hug on the Gulf Coast last Saturday, avenging the 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay with a 3-0 pasting in the return match. Jill Aguilera (38th minute), Rylee Baisden (44th), and Riley Parker (80th) scored the goals.

According to Mia Corbin, this is not a team that dwells on the past.

“Coming into tonight’s match, we weren’t even focused on the loss,” she said. “Tonight was an opportunity to show everyone we’re here to compete. We’re not worried about the last game or last season. Every game at a time, we want to win and we’re going to do it together.”

It must be noted that this is a short 14-game sprint season as the GSL is moving to a calendar year spring-summer schedule that will match up with the NWSL going forward. CLTFC and MLS are going in the opposite direction, moving to the European Fall to Spring season. They will also have a short sprint season to bridge the move.

Next up

Ascent – Friday vs DC Power, 7:30 p.m. American Legion Memorial Stadium

CLTFC – Wed. at Columbus 7:30 p.m., Sat. at Philadelphia 2:30 p.m.

Crown Legacy – Sun. vs RBNY II, 7 p.m. at Matthews Sportsplex (playoffs)

Independence – Sat. at Greenville 7 p.m.

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