NYCFC Defeats Charlotte FC in Playoff Showdown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In a thrilling match on Friday night, Nicolas Fernandez scored twice during stoppage time, while Alonso Martinez added another goal early in the second half, leading New York City FC to a 3-1 win over Charlotte FC. This victory clinched the best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

With this win, NYCFC is set to face the top-seeded Philadelphia team in the second round at Union Field, although the specific date and time are yet to be announced.

Fernandez, a 25-year-old midfielder who’s relatively new to the league, opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the second minute of stoppage time. This gave NYCFC, the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, a 1-0 lead as they headed into halftime.

Five minutes into the second half, Martinez received a pass from Maxi Morales and scored, extending the lead to two goals. This marked Martinez’s second playoff goal this season, and his third in just seven postseason appearances. For Morales, this was his first assist in what has become his 21st playoff match with NYCFC.

Despite being the fourth seed, Charlotte didn’t back down easily. They narrowed the gap to 2-1 when 25-year-old forward Idan Tokromati scored in the 81st minute, with assists from Archie Goodwin and Harry Toffolo. Interestingly, this was the first postseason contribution for both Goodwin and Toffolo.

Fernandez made his mark again, scoring his second playoff goal during the 10th minute of 14 minutes of stoppage time. Hannes Wolff recorded his first assist in seven playoff games, showcasing a strong team effort.

In terms of goalkeeping, Matt Freese didn’t manage to record a save during his seventh postseason start for NYCFC, a notable shift considering he had started one match for the Union in 2021. Meanwhile, Kristijan Karina made four saves in his seventh playoff start for Charlotte, a team that’s seen better days, especially after Pep Beal’s season-ending injury during a League Cup match.