Toronto, ON – In a dramatic MLS showdown on Wednesday night, Toronto FC fought back from a 3‑1 hole to earn a 3‑3 draw against Charlotte FC. The comeback unfolded in the last 12 minutes of regulation, highlighted by short‑handed goals from Dániel Sallói and Niklas Dorsch.
Early lead for Charlotte
Charlotte opened the scoring in the 8th minute when 19‑year‑old rookie forward Rodolfo Aloko netted his first MLS goal, assisted by Ashley Westwood. Toronto answered quickly; Josh Sargent and defender Richie Laryea set up 21‑year‑old Markus Cimermancic, who recorded his first career goal six minutes later. Cimermancic, a former rookie who appeared in nine matches last season, added to Toronto’s tally, making it 2‑1.
Charlotte regains the advantage
Idan Toklomati restored Charlotte’s lead in the 20th minute with an unassisted strike, pushing the score to 2‑1. Six minutes later, Walker Zimmerman was shown a red card for a foul on Toklomati, leaving Toronto short‑handed. Charlotte capitalized on the numerical advantage when defender Henry Kessler scored from a set piece in the 56th minute, assisted again by Westwood, who now boasts a career‑high eight assists.
Toronto’s late surge
Despite playing with ten men, Toronto found momentum in the final quarter. In the 77th minute, Dániel Sallói, who had already recorded four assists this season, received a pass from Theo Corbeanu and a second from Markus Cimermancic before finishing his fifth goal of the year to narrow the gap to 3‑2.
Just three minutes later, goalkeeper Luka Gavran made a crucial save, preserving Toronto’s chance to equalize. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when Niklas Dorsch, in only his third league appearance, struck his second goal of the season to level the match. Dorsch’s effort was set up by Derrick Etienne Jr. and Jackson Gilman.
Key statistics
- Luka Gavran recorded seven saves for Toronto.
- Charlotte’s keeper Kristijan Kahlina made four stops.
- Charlotte’s recent form stands at 4‑1‑3 over its last eight matches.
- Toronto entered the game after a 2‑1 victory over the New England Revolution, its first win since April 4.
Both clubs will look to build on the result in their upcoming fixtures. Charlotte hosts D.C. United on Saturday, while Toronto travels to face Inter Miami the same day.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
