Charlotte FC are on the verge of clinching a playoff berth and Idan Toklomati has been a big force in that quest.
Toklomati has set a franchise record with 13 goals and he will look to add to the tally when Charlotte FC visit the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
Charlotte FC (13-9-8, 47 points) can clinch a playoff berth under three scenarios, the most controllable one being earning a win or draw against the Timbers.
Toklomati, 22, established a new club mark during last week’s 2-2 road tie with the Philadelphia Union. The forward has scored four goals over the past three games.
“His all-round performances are getting better and better,” Charlotte coach Dean Smith said.
“We’ve always known how competitive he is, but he’s showing that skill on the ball as well.”
The Israeli scored 11 goals last season in his first year with Charlotte. This season, he has increased his prowess over the last two months, scoring eight goals in his last 10 matches.
Toklomati remembers the goal against Toronto FC on Aug. 19 that started the hot stretch. He saw everything clicking.
“When you start scoring, it’s about consistency and confidence,” Toklomati said. “As soon as I scored my goal against Toronto, I told myself ‘Now you have the confidence and you feel comfortable with the ball and off the ball, you have to be consistent and keep doing your thing.’ And (two games) after that, I scored again.”
Despite Toklomati’s torrid play, Charlotte is just 1-2-1 over its last four matches as it battles a Portland team on a seven-match winless stretch (0-4-3).
The Timbers (9-14-7, 34 points) are tied for 11th place in the West. Portland is five points behind the Colorado Rapids, who hold the ninth and final playoff position. Real Salt Lake (36) is two points ahead of Portland, which is tied with San Diego FC and Minnesota United in points.
The Timbers played Colorado to a scoreless tie last weekend.
Portland defender Kamal Miller agreed with an assertion that each remaining match is a must-win.
“I think we’ve been treating our last four or five games like that,” Miller said. “We’ve made it an emphasis to go out and start every game strong and play with intensity.
“I think Saturday was our best performance in terms of us getting our team up to the level and making it tough to beat us and tough for us to get scored on and we’re going to keep going.”
Defender Ronald Hernandez is wearing a splint on his left hand and he said he “broke a little bit of a bone in my hand.” Hernandez said he will play against Charlotte.
Charlotte beat the Timbers 2-0 in 2024. This is the first meeting in Portland.
–Field Level Media
