NYCFC fall short in penalty kicks to Charlotte FC as Game 3 looms

New York City FC will have to wait to punch their ticket to the second round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. 

After playing to a scoreless draw through the 90-minute Game 2 match on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, NYCFC fell to Charlotte FC 7-6 in a penalty-spot shootout. Nathan Byrne scored the winning goal in the shootout, while City’s final attempt — a shot by Agustín Ojeda — was turned away. 

City will have to go back to Charlotte and pull off just the franchise’s second win there in order to advance to the second round. 

NYCFC’s story for much of the match was repeated missed opportunities. In the first half, they held a 61-39 advantage in possession percentage and a 5-1 edge in corner kicks. 

In the second half, Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made big stops in the 74th and 77th minutes, while a prime scoring chance off a free kick in the 70th minute by Hannes Wolf flew over the net. 

Matt Freese finished the game with three saves in Saturday’s loss. The presumptive U.S. men’s national team starting goalkeeper made a crucial stop on Wilfried Zaha’s attempt in the closing minutes of the first half after Ashley Westwood’s shot rang off the crossbar. 

Freese made a diving stop for NYCFC on another Zaha shot from outside the penalty area in the 49th minute. 

Kahlina ended the night with five stops for Charlotte. 

NYCFC put the pressure on Charlotte through the opening minutes of the match. 

A corner in the fifth minute was flicked away by the Charlotte defense, but the ball still ended up at the feet of Aiden O’Neill, and his shot went over the net. Three minutes later, Tayvon Gray’s rebound attempt soared over the crossbar as NYCFC came up short on another scoring chance. 

Another ball went wide left of the net when Maxi Moralez’s shot from the center of the box failed to make it on the net. 

Charlotte swung the momentum the other way in the 14th minute with perhaps their best chance of the first half when Brandt Bronico was able to knock a bouncing ball off the crossbar from the center of the box. 

Raul Gustavo nearly put NYCFC in front in the 40th minute when a header off a corner kick forced Kahlina to make a diving save. 

Chances for Zaha, Idan Toklomati and Harry Toffolo wrapped up a back-and-forth first half that saw just two shots on goal. 

Saturday’s match in The Bronx was the first time that New York City FC had played a playoff game at Yankee Stadium since their championship run in 2021.