Idan Toklomati and Liel Abada each scored a goal, while Allan Saint-Maximin recorded his first two MLS assists, as visiting Charlotte FC defeated Atlanta United 2-0 on Saturday evening.
Charlotte (10-7-5, 35 points) won its second consecutive match, improving to 3-0-1 in its last four outings and 6-1-2 in its past nine.
Atlanta (6-13-3, 21 points) saw its three-match winning streak come to an end.
After controlling play to start the match, Charlotte opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Saint-Maximin cut down the left flank and passed the ball into the box in search of Pep Biel.
Though Biel misplayed the touch, it pulled Lucas Hoyos off his line, leaving Toklomati a relatively easy finish to put Charlotte up 1-0. It was Toklomati’s seventh goal of the season.
Charlotte FC had several opportunities to make it 2-0 before the halftime whistle, but couldn’t break through.
In the 48th minute, however, Charlotte extended its lead to 2-0. Saint-Maximin led a counterattack down the pitch and played it ahead to Abada. Abada gathered himself and struck it well past Hoyos for his third goal of the season.
Atlanta United appeared to grow into the match as time went on, but ultimately were shut out as Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina kept his fourth clean sheet of the season, stopping all four shots he faced.
Biel was credited with an assist on Toklomati’s goal, with his team-high ninth assist of the season. His 47 goal contributions in a Charlotte kit are one shy of Karol Swiderski’s club-record 48.
Charlotte improved to 3-5-2 on the road. Atlanta slipped to 4-6-1 at home while losing its fourth straight match against Charlotte at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta attacker Enzo Dovlo made his MLS debut in the 70th minute.
–Field Level Media
