New York City FC saw their chance to advance to the next round of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs slip away in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday afternoon, losing 7–6 in penalties to Charlotte FC after a 0–0 draw in regulation. Before a crowd of 19,051 at Yankee Stadium, the Boys in Blue battled through 90 tense minutes of missed chances, woodwork, and drama but ultimately came up short in the shootout, sending the Round One Best-of-Three series to a decisive Game 3 in Charlotte next Friday.
Bright Start, Narrow Margins
Coming into the match with a 1–0 series lead after Tuesday’s win at Bank of America Stadium, head coach Pascal Jansen fielded the same starting XI that had delivered victory earlier in the week. His side looked intent on closing the series at home, controlling possession and tempo in the opening stages.
Aiden O’Neill nearly produced an early highlight with a cleanly struck volley from a rehearsed corner routine, and Maxi Moralez came close soon after, cutting in from the right and firing wide. But for all their early control, New York couldn’t convert dominance into goals — a recurring frustration on a chilly afternoon in the Bronx.
Charlotte nearly stunned the home crowd in the 14th minute when Matt Freese parried a cross that fell kindly to Brandt Bronico, whose thunderous shot rattled the crossbar. It was a warning sign that the visitors would not fade quietly.
NYCFC regained composure and responded with half-chances from Andrés Perea and Raúl Gustavo, but Kristijan Kahlina in the Charlotte net proved steady, denying Gustavo’s header in the 40th minute. Charlotte’s Ashley Westwood hit the woodwork again just before halftime, marking the second time in 45 minutes the frame of Freese’s goal saved the hosts.
Chances Missed and Nerves Mount
The second half carried the same nervy rhythm — moments of promise met by defensive resilience. Charlotte’s star forward Wilfried Zaha forced Freese into a low save from distance, while Alonso Martínez’s angled shot at the other end was comfortably smothered.
At 67 minutes, Jansen introduced Hannes Wolf and Agustín Ojeda to add spark, and the change nearly paid off immediately. Wolf’s curling free kick sailed inches over the bar, while moments later Thiago Martins saw a powerful header denied by an acrobatic Kahlina save — perhaps the stop of the night.
As the minutes wound down, the tension in the stadium was palpable. Julián Fernández replaced Nicolás Fernández Mercau late on, and NYCFC poured forward, but the final touch remained elusive. When referee Rubiel Vazquez’s whistle ended regulation at 0–0, penalty kicks were all that separated the clubs from progression.
Sixteen Penalties, One Crushing Miss
What followed was a marathon shootout that tested nerves on both sides. The sequence began with Charlotte’s Archie Goodwin converting, and the pattern continued as both teams matched makes and misses deep into sudden death.
For NYCFC, Alonso Martínez, Aiden O’Neill, Thiago Martins, Justin Haak, Hannes Wolf, and Raúl Gustavo all converted their attempts. But Julián Fernández and finally Agustín Ojeda saw their efforts denied — the latter’s miss sealing Charlotte’s 7–6 victory after sixteen rounds from the spot.
Freese, who had already recorded his 300th career MLS save milestone, stopped one penalty but couldn’t tilt the balance enough. The loss also marked NYCFC’s first-ever home postseason draw and their first time being held scoreless at Yankee Stadium by Charlotte in any competition.
Coach and Player Reactions
Head coach Pascal Jansen didn’t hide his frustration afterward.
“It’s a pity,” Jansen said. “We had the opportunities and should have finished it in 90 minutes. Penalties can go either way, but we didn’t play as well as I’d hoped. We’ll move on quickly — we’ve proven we’re strong away from home, and we’ll travel to Charlotte with full confidence.”
Midfielder Justin Haak, who started his 36th consecutive match of the season, echoed the disappointment but looked ahead:
“The immediate feeling is disappointment,” he admitted. “Our fans were incredible, and not being able to send them home with a series win hurts. But we can’t dwell on it — we’ll learn from this and go again Friday.”
Defender Kevin O’Toole, who was substituted in the second half, called the result “frustrating” but stressed resilience.
“We had chances, we defended well, but it didn’t fall our way. It hurts tonight, but we refocus tomorrow.”
Freese’s Historic Milestone
Despite the loss, Matt Freese’s postseason continued to impress. The goalkeeper reached 300 career saves across his MLS tenure with Philadelphia and New York, while also recording his third career playoff clean sheet — tying former captain Sean Johnson for the club record. His back-to-back shutouts against Charlotte underscored his reliability and growth in big moments.
Statistical Snapshot
NYCFC outshot Charlotte 17–8 and held 54% of possession, with a solid 81% passing accuracy. The Boys in Blue also led 6–2 in corners, but the inability to convert opportunities ultimately proved decisive. Both teams combined for five yellow cards but no dismissals in a physical, evenly contested battle.
Maxi Moralez, appearing in his 20th career MLS playoff match — the most in club history — once again anchored the midfield, while homegrowns Justin Haak and Tayvon Gray added further postseason experience to their résumés. Gray’s 84th-minute yellow card was his seventh playoff appearance overall.
Next Stop: Charlotte
With the series now tied 1–1, everything comes down to Game 3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Friday, November 4. NYCFC’s postseason record now stands at 8-8-5 overall (5-4-1 at home), with 27 goals scored and 31 conceded across ten seasons of playoff competition.
The challenge ahead is clear: win on the road or see their 2025 campaign end earlier than expected. But given their recent road form and Jansen’s confidence in the group, NYCFC will head south determined to finish what they started — and keep their MLS Cup dreams alive.
