New York City FC Eliminates Charlotte FC with 3‑1 Win at Bank of America Stadium

New York City FC secured passage to the Eastern Conference Semifinals by defeating Charlotte FC 3‑1 in Game 3 of their best‑of‑three first‑round playoff series. With the win, NYCFC take the series 2‑1 and move on

Adilson Malanda and Andres Perea dispute a 50/50 ball. Photo: Miguel Sanchez for Football Club Magazine

The match opened with an intense battle, but the breakthrough arrived just before halftime when Nico Fernández Mercau converted a counter‑attack goal in stoppage time to give NYCFC a 1‑0 lead. Timely defending from the away side forced Charlotte into risky possession play, enabling the fast transition goal. 

Early in the second half, Alonso Martínez added a second for NYCFC at the 50‑minute mark. The Costa Rican forward was released behind the defence by Maxi Morález and slid the ball beneath Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina to double the lead. 

 Charlotte pulled one back in the 81st minute when Idan Toklomati reacted quickest to a flick from Archie Goodwin to narrow the gap to 2‑1. But NYCFC sealed the series with a third goal in added time by Nicolas Fernandez, finishing a move crafted by Hannes Wolf and delivered at full pace. 

Photos: Miguel Sanchez for Football Club Magazine

Statistically, NY controlled key counters, earning eight shots with seven on target. Charlotte, in contrast, managed 16 shots but only one on target. Possession was nearly even at 52% for NYCFC and 48% for Charlotte, meaning that NYCFC controlled all three games possession wise.

New York City lost Andrés Perea to a fractured leg in the 71st minute, which may impact their next round against Philadelphia. For Charlotte, despite goalkeeper Kahlina’s saves and being the hero for Charlotte in the series of 3, defensive lapses at transition left them exposed.

With the series over, Charlotte will shift focus to the offseason. Despite being eliminated, Charlotte doesn't see it as a failure to the season. Early in the season they had set the goal of finishing in the top 4 and they accomplished just that, along with winning 9 games in a row to tie Seattle Sounders in the record books. The most notable part of it is how convincingly the black and blue managed to climb up and stay consistent after a stint of away from home losses mid season.

NYCFC march on to face the Philadelphia Union in the next round on Sunday, Nov. 23rd at Subaru Park.