Pep Biel’s early goal all Charlotte FC needs to top CF Montreal

Pep Biel's team-leading third goal of the season was enough to lift visiting Charlotte FC to a 1-0 win over CF Montreal on Saturday evening.

Charlotte (5-2-1, 16 points) won its second straight match while picking up its first win of the season away from home (1-2-1). It also won at Stade Saputo for the first time in club history.

Montreal, playing its first home match of the season after opening the campaign with seven straight away from home, remained winless in 2025. It was also shut out for the fifth time this season.

Charlotte opened the scoring in the 16th minute after Samuel Piette's back pass beyond the midfield stripe was mishandled by Montreal teammate Fernando Alvarez, creating a chance for Charlotte the other way.

Liel Abada's eventual cross inside the box found Biel, who followed up his initially deflected shot with a well-hit strike past Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois for a 1-0 lead.

Montreal, who held a 65-35 percent edge in possession, had a host of near-misses but failed to put a shot on target until the 72nd minute, when Giacomo Vrioni -- making his Montreal debut -- forced Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina to make a sprawling save.

As the second half went on, Montreal continued to push for an equalizer, but the goal never came as it failed to pick up a win in its home opener. Despite holding a 19-8 advantage in total shots, it put only two on frame to Charlotte's four.

Kahlina finished the evening with two saves, keeping his third clean sheet of the season. Sirois recorded three saves for Montreal in the loss.

Charlotte has now scored 13 goals this season, with Biel involved in eight of them (three goals, five assists).

It was also without Wilfried Zaha, who had surgery on an injured hand on Monday.

--Field Level Media