Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC: Miami Builds 3-0 Lead on Decision Day, Liel Abada Scores Twice to Make It 3-2

Inter Miami and Charlotte FC closed the 2026 MLS regular season on Decision Day, Saturday, Nov. 7, at Nu Stadium in Miami. Kickoff was at 4 p.m. ET on Apple TV, according to Charlotte FC. Both teams had already clinched playoff spots, but seeding was still on the line.

Update: This post was published while the match was in the second half. Inter Miami led 3-2 past the 70th minute, according to BBC Sport’s live match page. The final score will be added when it is confirmed.

Miami’s three first-half goals

Inter Miami went ahead 3-0 by halftime, BBC Sport and AS USA reported:

• 14 min: Defender Ian Fray scored from the center of the box after a corner.
• 33 min: Luis Suárez finished from close range off another corner, assisted by Germán Berterame.
• 42 min: Rodrigo De Paul hit a shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner, set up by Telasco Segovia.

Charlotte nearly scored first. AS USA’s live feed showed an early goal by Liel Abada that was ruled out by VAR for a handball by Idan Toklomati. Lionel Messi started and was involved throughout. Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina saved his long-range shot in the 26th minute, and Messi assisted on corners that led to chances, according to the AS feed.

Miami also lost two players to injury before the hour mark. Sergio Reguilón was replaced in the first half and David Ayala early in the second, per AS USA.

Abada brings Charlotte back

Charlotte coach Dean Smith brought on Tyger Smalls for Toklomati at halftime, and the change worked right away. Abada scored from very close range in the 49th minute off a Smalls assist. Five minutes later, he curled a shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner, set up by Pep Biel, to make it 3-2.

Smith then made a triple substitution around the 68th minute, sending on Rodolfo Aloko, David Schnegg and Abdoulaye Doucouré, according to AS USA. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair saved a Morrison Agyemang header, and Kahlina saved another Messi shot as the game stayed tense.

What’s at stake in the standings

Before kickoff, Charlotte FC said in its match preview that it had locked up a top-five spot in the Eastern Conference. The club said it could only move up to fourth by beating Miami while Chicago Fire drew or lost to Columbus. Either way, Charlotte and Chicago will meet in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the seeding only decides who would host a deciding Game 3.

Inter Miami came into the day second in the East. Charlotte’s preview noted that third-place New England could pass Miami if Miami lost and the Revolution picked up points. As of BBC Sport’s latest update, New England trailed Orlando City 1-0 and Chicago and Columbus were tied 3-3, with all three games still in progress.

Season context

Charlotte FC said it entered the match with a club-record 63 goals. Toklomati and Biel both broke the club’s single-season MLS scoring record, and Biel was tied for the MLS lead with 17 assists. Kahlina set a 34-match MLS record for saves with 157. Charlotte played without winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who was sent off against Orlando City last week.

Per Charlotte’s preview, Messi had 26 goals and 16 assists this season and led MLS in goals. Inter Miami led the league in scoring as a team. The two sides drew 0-0 on March 14 in their first meeting this season, a game Messi missed.

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