Toronto FC are finally back in the win column. Can they turn that into just their second winning streak of 2026?
The Reds don’t have too much time to celebrate their first win since April, beating the New England Revolution 2-1 on Saturday night in their first game back at BMO Field since May. They survived a late red card and goal conceded thanks to a couple of goals scored at the end of the first half — an own goal forced by a Theo Corbeanu cross and Niklas Dorsch’s wonderful strike from long distance into the top right corner.
“We needed that, it’s been a really long time,” Corbeanu told reporters including Waking The Red on Tuesday. “Regardless of how the game went, or what we felt like could have been better — or the fact that we felt like we could have gotten more out of the game in general, we can play much better than that — we’re still super excited that we got the three points and looking to build on this form now.”
Related Reading: Niklas Dorsch ‘fantastic’ in Toronto FC home debut at BMO Field, scores and runs TFC midfield
Charlotte FC are in town on Wednesday night for a midweek clash and come in high on confidence after a big win of their own, 3-1 over the Columbus Crew to bounce back from a Leagues Cup defeat to Pachuca midweek.
Brandt Bronico scored in the first minute of the match and Liel Abada added a second from the penalty spot in the ninth minute as they came flying out of the gates. Chase Adams pulled one back for the Crew late in the first half but Spanish star Pep Biel — having another MVP-calibre season — wrapped up the three points with his 73rd-minute goal to restore the two-goal advantage.
The win has them sitting fifth in a crowded Eastern Conference, just four points back of third-place Chicago and just four up on D.C. United, who hold ninth spot and the final playoff ticket. Toronto are still 12th after this weekend’s action but the gap between them and D.C. is also down to four after some help from former Reds striker Prince Owusu, who scored a penalty for CF Montreal to limit DCU to a single point.
Charlotte visits BMO Field with a slightly different squad from the one that beat TFC at Bank of America Stadium on May 16 after a headline-grabbing transfer window.
Saint-Maximizing the Charlotte FC attack
One of the marquee signings from any MLS club this summer was Charlotte bringing in former Newcastle United standout Allan Saint-Maximin on a designated player contract through the 2028-29 MLS season.
After 18 minutes off the bench in the Leagues Cup and 45 off the bench against the Crew, Saint-Maximin could be in line for his first MLS start on Wednesday night, or at the very least another prominent role off the bench. He could cause problems for TFC, like Revolution newcomer Jack Harrison did at times on Saturday before the home backline eventually got the better of him.
Saint-Maximin started his career in his native France, making the jump to Premier League side Newcastle in 2019 after stops at Saint-Étienne, Monaco and Nice. He became a fan-favourite in England with his athleticism and acrobatic goal celebrations before leaving in 2023 for Saudi club Al-Ahli.
Brief stints at Fenerbahçe, Club América and Lens followed before — he surely hopes — some stability finally in Major League Soccer.
He replaces two major departures for Charlotte.
Wilfried Zaha left the club in June at the expiry of his loan from Galatasaray, with the club opting not to offer him a new contract despite him being available on a free transfer with his contract in Türkiye ending at the same time. Charlotte also cashed in on Colombian forward Kerwin Vargas, selling him to Brazilian club Club Athletico Paranaense at the end of July.
“[Charlotte’s squad] is full of guys who are very good players,” TFC boss Robin Fraser said Tuesday. “You have to obviously be aware of [Saint-Maximin’s] strengths and weaknesses, and be prepared to do the things that we need to do collectively and individually to mitigate some of his strengths, and see what we can do to exploit some weaknesses.”
From top to bottom Charlotte have quality, including United States captain Tim Ream and former Premier League midfielder Ashley Westwood in the spine of their team.
They are a deep squad, and a physically imposing one coached by the experienced Dean Smith.
“They’re a big team,” Corbeanu said. “They have very large profiles, and we know that their coach is one who’s had a lot of experience in England. He’s tried to instill that that way of playing on his team, so they have some very big players who have a lot of experience, some new additions to the side.
“We’re looking forward to it, but whatever comes our way, we’re ready to go up against it and compete to the best level that we know we can.”
How much change is coming to the Toronto FC starting lineup?
Fraser is finally nearing the ability to play his first-choice starting lineup for the first time this season after a slew of injuries, but it won’t happen against Charlotte.
Toronto FC will be forced into at least one change after Djordje Mihailovic’s red card against New England, but don’t be surprised if Fraser makes a few other changes too. He didn’t go to his bench until the 80th minute against the Revs, making two changes then and two more in the 90th minute as TFC looked to see out the match, so there’s a good chance there are still some tired legs.
Related Reading: Djordje Mihailovic absence vs. Charlotte ‘a big loss,’ but not a rare one for Toronto FC after red card
TFC also have a big game against Miami on the road on Saturday that they will need to have one eye on.
“You check in basically after every game, you have ideas as to what you might do, but some guys might come out way better than you thought they would, and some guys may come out way worse than you thought they would,” Fraser said of his rotation plans. “Just about every game matters, every result matters, and it’s just trying to field the best group and the healthiest and fittest group for the game.”
Markus Cimermancic was solid in a rare start, earning postgame praise from his head coach, so he could very well be in line to start again given Mihailovic’s absence and a recent knee injury to Jonathan Osorio. Alonso Coello, who recently made his 100th appearance for the club, could also step back into the midfield alongside Dorsch.
In attack there are several options available if Josh Sargent, Daniel Salloi or Theo Corbeanu need a break — including Emilio Aristizábal, who got a brief run out on the weekend — Derrick Etienne Jr., Malik Henry and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, among others.
Tune in to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Projected lineups
Toronto FC: Gavran; Franklin, Zimmerman, Kuscevic, Laryea; Dorsch, Coello; Sallói, Cimermancic, Corbeanu; Sargent
Charlotte FC: Kahlina; Byrne, Kessler, Ream, Schnegg; Bronico, Westwood, Biel; Abada, Toklomati, Saint-Maximin