Charlotte FC pulled off a stunning 3-0 win over Inter Miami CF on Saturday, thanks to a rare penalty miss from Lionel Messi. This victory locked in their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third straight season, keeping their incredible run alive.
The game shifted early in the 31st minute. Messi, the soccer superstar, earned a penalty after getting fouled in the box. He went for a cheeky Panenka-style chip, but Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina guessed right and snatched it out of the air. That save kept Miami off the scoreboard and fired up Charlotte’s attack. From there, the home team dominated, scoring three goals to seal the deal.
This result boosts Charlotte FC’s record-breaking season—they now sit at 53 points with a 17-11-2 record and four games left. Their nine straight wins match the club’s all-time longest winning streak, and those 53 points are a new high-water mark. At Bank of America Stadium, they’ve been unbeatable, racking up a league-leading 12 home wins, according to MLS stats.
Under coach Dean Smith, Charlotte FC holds third place in the Eastern Conference. Next up, they’re chasing home-field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the MLS playoffs.
What’s even more impressive? Charlotte lost star USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang midseason to Derby County in a club-record transfer. But they’ve adapted brilliantly. New signing Idan Toklomati from the Israeli U22 Initiative has shone with 11 goals and four assists. Wilfried Zaha, on loan from Galatasaray, added seven goals and 10 assists despite some injury hiccups. And Spanish midfielder Pep Biel has been the engine room, delivering 22 goal contributions (10 goals, 12 assists) to keep the team ticking.
Over in the Inter Miami camp, coach Javier Mascherano isn’t dwelling on Messi’s miss. He praised the Argentine legend, saying, “We can’t be unfair and cling to the penalty; if there’s someone who helped us win in the season, it’s been Leo.” Miami knows they still lean heavily on Messi’s magic to turn games around in the MLS.
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