With 26 minutes to play, Charlotte FC was staring down a 2-0 deficit. When the final whistle blew, The Crown reigned supreme, wrangling FC Dallas with three goals in 26 minutes, including two from Idan Toklomati.

Charlotte FC won 3-2 on Saturday, October 10, at Bank of America Stadium, picking up three crucial points in their push to the playoffs.

“Credit to the lads, they still showed a lot of character after their second goal to come back and go and win the game,” Head Coach Dean Smith said.

Charlotte FC started the match by turning up the pressure in the 8th minute, with Pep Biel running into the attacking third. Biel spotted Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing, playing him before Maxi sent a pass to Toklomati that was sent out for a Charlotte FC corner.

The Crown’s corner resulted in their first real chance of the match. Morrison’s header was blocked, falling to David Schnegg, whose shot was blocked by the cluster of FC Dallas bodies in front of the net before Biel was able to take a shot, only for it to fly over the crossbar.

Ashley Westwood had a chance for Charlotte FC in the 13th minute but, again, Dallas blocked the shot. Maxi gained possession, but his shot took a bounce off a defender, forcing the goalkeeper to tip the ball over the net. On a corner kick in the 17th minute, everyone missed the ball flying into the box, allowing the ball to fall to Westwood, but the chance was deflected.

“I thought with the chances that we created, I didn’t think we started the game that well,” Smith said. “When we got into it and played a few up and through balls, I thought we looked a threat.”

Despite Charlotte FC’s momentum to begin the match, Dallas struck first in the 22nd minute. A cross from the right wing found the head of an undetected Logan Farrington into the back of the net.

Charlotte FC tried to answer back with a counterattack in the 38th minute. Kristijan Kahlina started the attack, making a big save on a one-on-one opportunity. The Crown pushed up the field, and Maxi received the ball inside the box. He beat his defender and had an opportunity, but the FC Dallas keeper saved the chance.

Dallas doubled their lead in the 64th minute courtesy of Petar Musa being open in the middle of the box, giving him a one-on-one with Kahlina.

“We closed our body off so we never saw them as well,” Smith said. “They had a 2v1 against Nathan (Byrne). I think Morrison has to check his shoulder and see what’s around him, I think (David Schnegg) got drawn out for the first one, which allowed their wingback to get in behind us.  When we look back, there’ll be a lot we could have done to stop the goals.”

Maxi found himself with an open shooting lane in the 68th minute and the opportunity to trim FC Dallas’ lead, but a sliding defender blocked the chance.

He got his chance two minutes later to cut the deficit.

Maxi beat two men on the left wing and gave himself an open pass to Toklomati, making a run inside the box. Toklomati took the shot in stride and scored his 10th goal of the season to bring the score to 2-1.

“I always say to (Idan Toklomati), when you see me like go from the line and go 1v1, always be ready to go in the first post,” Maxi said. “There were some things we were working on it because sometimes he was waiting a lot on the far post and I said to him, ‘I need you in the first spot,’ and that time he listened to me and was a great finish from him.  I’m sure if we keep building this connection, especially for the playoffs, it’s going to be great for everyone. ”

The Crown kept pushing for an equalizer and they found it in the 74th minute.

Biel settled the ball into the corner, ready to cross it in. Once the ball left Biel’s foot, it flew through the rain as Harry Toffolo leaped to make a play. Toffolo put his noggin on the ball, and as it rolled on the ground, the FC Dallas keeper fumbled to gain control and make the save. Before he could, the ball was over the goal line, and Charlotte FC had knotted up the score thanks to Toffolo’s first goal for the Club and a slippery ball.

“It’s huge, it’s massive and I didn’t know it was mine until right at the end because the announcer said it was Idan (Toklomati’s), but I think that riled me up even more to finish the game strong because I knew I touched it last,” Toffolo said.

The Crown kept pushing for a winner to complete the comeback – in the 90+2 minute it came.

Rodolfo Aloko played Biel in inside the box. Biel kept his eyes up and played a ball across the box to Toklomati, who slotted in his second goal of the game at the perfect moment.

The Fortress ignited behind the flame cannons as fans jumped up and down, celebrating Charlotte’s rally.

“I love not only the way how he scored, it was the energy he gave,” Maxi said. “He defends so good and he takes a lot of (passes) from behind. I was more happy about this than all of the goal he scored.”

Four more minutes of extra time were played but FC Dallas couldn’t find another goal and Charlotte FC’s comeback was finalized.

“That was certainly one for the supporters tonight because it was wet out there and it was a great victory for them,” Smith said. “I think the excitement when you come back from a two goal deficit and score right at the death as well, it’s brilliant for everyone.”

The Crown goes on the road for its first of three consecutive away matches, taking on the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in a mid-week Eastern Conference match on Wednesday, October 14. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

“We’ve got three games on the road now, so we need to make sure we focus,” Toffolo said. “We’ve done better away this year than we did last year, so we want to continue that and I always say great teams are defined by their away form, so we’re going to have to go to these games and we’re going have to put on a show.”

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