Charlotte FC v. New York City FC Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs - Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | Kickoff: 6:55pm ET Location: Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, NC Television: MLS Season Pass Radio (English/Spanish): New York City FC App | Tune In App newyorkcityfc.com/radio
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On Matt Freese being a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year... “He’s been a massive part of our team. When you talk about consistency, you have to mention Matt [Freese]. He’s a big reason why we’ve become more stable. Getting into the [U.S. Men’s] National Team and becoming the number one gives him great confidence, but what stands out most is his mindset. he’s one of the first players I’d name when talking about growth and self-development.”
On the ‘bulletproof mindset’ and how it applies to playoffs... “The bulletproof mindset was something I introduced at the beginning of the season. Over time, you could see us handle ourselves better and become more consistent. Playing against top-seeded teams also earned us a lot of respect. I think we’ve grown stronger mentally, more bulletproof, and that’s crucial now, at this final stage of the season [in order] to succeed in the playoffs. We’ve done an okay job establishing it, but now we need to apply it.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER THIAGO MARTINS
On leading the team into the playoffs as captain... “It means a lot to me. I always put myself in a position to help my teammates and the team, to be there for them, to give my best, and to help everyone on-and-off the field. It means a lot, and I’m going to do my best for them every single time because I know that in tough moments, we need to be there and be present for each other.”
On preparing for Charlotte FC and the playoffs... “We’ve been working hard all season to prepare ourselves for this moment. We know the playoffs are the best part of the year, and we need to be ready and [make sure we’re] our best version to go there and do what we have to do.”
LASTING FORM IN THE LAST FIVE This is the ninth time in eleven Major League Soccer seasons that New York City FC has qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
New York City’s overall record on Decision Day is 6-3-2 (W-L-D).
New York City’s overall record on Decision Day when qualifying for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 5-2-2.
In this MLS Regular Season’s Decision Day matchup, New York City FC fell narrowly to Seattle Sounders FC, 2-1.
Midfielder Máximo Carrizo became the youngest player in Club history to record an assist at 17 years, 232 days old.
This record was previously held by Defender Mitja Ilenič at 18 years, 103 days old, set on April 4, 2023, against Atlanta United.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez and Midfielder Justin Haak have started all 34 MLS Regular Season matches this season.
All-time, the other New York City players to have achieved this feat are Goalkeeper Matt Freese (2024 MLS Regular Season), former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson (2022 MLS Regular Season) and former Defender Alexander Callens (2017 MLS Regular Season).
Forward Agustín Ojeda, along with Moralez and Haak, have played in all 34 MLS Regular Season matches this season.
All time, the other New York City players to have achieved this feat are Midfielder Hannes Wolf (2024 MLS Regular Season), Freese (2024 MLS Regular Season), former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson (2022 MLS Regular Season), former Forward Talles Magno (2022 MLS Regular Season), former Defender Alexander Callens (2017 MLS Regular Season) and former Forward Jack Harrison (2017 MLS Regular Season).
In MLS Regular Season history, Moralez's 2025 campaign, starting all 34 matches, ranks seventh all-time for the oldest player to start every game in a season, accomplishing the feat at 38 years and 233 days old. (34-of-34 starts, 2025 MLS Regular Season).
The players who achieved this feat at an older age than Moralez are:
Former MLS Goalkeeper Pat Onstad at 38 years, 274 days (32-of-32 starts, 2006 MLS Regular Season) and at 41 years, 285 days (30-of-30 starts, 2009 MLS Regular Season).
Former Midfielder Carlos Valderrama at 39 years, seven days (32-of-32 starts, 2000 MLS Regular Season).
Former MLS Midfielder Preki at 40 years, 123 days (30-of-30 starts, 2003 MLS Regular Season).
Former MLS Goalkeeper Kasey Keller at 40 years, 328 days (30-of-30 starts, 2010 MLS Regular Season) and at 41 years, 327 days (34-of-34 starts, 2011 MLS Regular Season).
Moralez ranks second oldest among players who started all 34 matches in a season, trailing only Keller.
Across nine MLS Regular Seasons in which New York City has qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the team has recorded a .500 or better record over its final five matches in eight of those nine seasons.
They achieved this feat in the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024 MLS Regular Seasons.
During this MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 2-3-0 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording six points.
Over this stretch, the Club defeated the following teams:
Shut out Charlotte 2-0 (their 2025 Round One Best-of-3 series opponent) at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2025.
Won the Hudson River Derby with a win over the New York Red Bulls 3-2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 27, 2025.
Over this stretch, the Club scored six goals, conceded nine and recorded one clean sheet.
During the 2024 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 3-1-1 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 10 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a four-game unbeaten run and a three-game winning streak.
The Club drew Inter Miami CF 1-1 at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2024.
The Club then won three games in a row, defeating the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby 5-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 28, 2024, FC Cincinnati 3-2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 2, 2024, and Nashville SC 3-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 6, 2024.
Over this stretch, New York City scored 12 goals and conceded seven.
During the 2022 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 3-1-1 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 10 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a three-game winning streak.
The Club shut out the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2022, defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 2, 2022, and also defeated Atlanta 2-1 on Decision Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 9, 2022.
Over this stretch, New York City scored seven goals, conceded four and recorded one clean sheet.
During the 2021 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 3-0-2 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 11 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a five-game unbeaten run, which includes a three-game winning streak.
The Club drew Atlanta 1-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 20, 2021.
The Club then won three consecutive matches, recording two clean sheets. They shut out D.C. United 6-0 at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2021, and Chicago Fire FC 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on October 27, 2021. The winning streak concluded with a 3-1 victory over Inter Miami at Chase Stadium on October 30, 2021.
The team then drew the Philadelphia Union 1-1 on Decision Day at Yankee Stadium on November 7, 2021.
Over this stretch, New York City scored 12 goals, conceded three and recorded two clean sheets.
During the 2020 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 4-1-0 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 12 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a four-game winning streak.
The Club defeated Montréal CF 3-1 at Yankee Stadium on October 24, 2020, shut out Toronto FC 1-0 at Rentschler Field on October 28, 2020, defeated the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby 5-2 at Yankee Stadium on November 1, 2020, and defeated Chicago 4-3 on Decision Day at Soldier Field on November 8, 2020.
Over this stretch, New York City scored 14 goals, conceded nine and recorded one clean sheet.
During the 2019 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 3-1-1 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 10 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a three-game unbeaten run.
The Club defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2019, drew FC Dallas 1-1 at Toyota Stadium on September 22, 2019, and defeated Atlanta 4-1 at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2019.
The Club also earned another victory on Decision Day, beating Philadelphia 2-1 at Subaru Park on October 6, 2019.
Over this stretch, New York City scored nine goals and conceded six.
During the 2018 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 2-2-1 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording seven points.
Over this stretch, the Club defeated the following teams:
Shut out Chicago 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on September 26, 2018.
Defeated Philadelphia 3-1 on Decision Day at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2018.
Over this stretch, New York City scored eight goals, conceded seven and recorded one clean sheet.
During the 2017 MLS Regular Season, New York posted a 1-1-3 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording six points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a three-game unbeaten run.
The Club drew Houston Dynamo FC 1-1 at Rentschler Field on September 23, 2017, shut out Montréal 1-0 at Saputo Stadium on September 27, 2017, and drew Chicago 1-1 at SeatGeek Stadium on September 30, 2017.
Over this stretch, New York City scored and conceded six goals and recorded one clean sheet.
During the 2016 MLS Regular Season, New York City posted a 3-1-1 record in their last five MLS Regular Season matches, recording 10 points.
Over this stretch, the Club went on a three-game unbeaten run.
The Club drew Dallas 2-2 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2016, defeated Chicago 4-1 at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2016, and shut out Houston 2-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on September 30, 2016.
The Club also earned another victory on Decision Day, beating the Columbus Crew 4-1 at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2016.
Over this stretch, New York City scored 13 goals, conceded seven and recorded one clean sheet.
PLAYOFF PREVIEW New York City is the fifth seed in this year’s Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Club has headed into the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs with a fifth-place finish or higher in the Eastern Conference in eight of the nine MLS Regular Seasons the Club has qualified.
This was achieved in the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2025 MLS Regular Seasons.
New York City made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals four times in a row, doing so in the Audi 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
In the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City won the Audi MLS Cup.
In the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York City finished just outside the top five in the Eastern Conference as the sixth seed at the end of the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
New York City made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
In addition to this MLS Regular Season, the 2020 MLS Regular Season was the only other season New York City finished as the fifth seed.
This was the only season in Club history that New York City did not make it past the first round in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Overall, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 7-8-4 (W-L-D), scoring 26 goals and conceding 31.
In home matches, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 5-4-0, scoring 14 goals and conceding 12.
In away matches, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 2-5-4, scoring 12 goals and conceding 19.
The following lists when New York City’s goals were scored over 15-minute intervals in away Audi MLS Cup Playoff matches: 0-15 (3), 16-30 (0), 31-45 (3), 46-60 (1), 61-75 (2), 76-90 (2), overtime (1).
In their most recent away match from the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City drew Cincinnati 0-0 on November 9, 2024, then won 6-5 in the shootout.
New York City went on a five-game unbeaten run in away matches (includes draws that ended in shootout losses) over the course of the Audi 2020, 2021, and 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. New York City was the same seed or lower against all their opponents during this stretch.
In the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City drew Orlando 1-1 on November 21, 2020, then lost 6-5 in the penalty shootout. New York City was the fifth seed, and Orlando was the fourth seed.
In the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City as the fourth seed:
Drew the New England Revolution 2-2 on November 30, 2021, then won 5-3 in the penalty shootout. New England was the first seed.
Defeated Philadelphia 2-1 on December 5, 2021. Philadelphia was the second seed.
Drew the Portland Timbers 1-1 on December 12, 2021, then won 4-2 in the penalty shootout to win the Audi MLS Cup. Portland was the fourth seed (in the Western Conference).
In the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City defeated Montréal 3-1 on October 23, 2022. New York City was the third seed and Montréal was the second seed.
All-time, New York City have scored first in four of their away matches in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. When scoring first in these matches, New York City posted a record of 1-1-2.
When conceding first in their away matches in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City posted a record of 1-4-1.
In the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Club came back to upset Philadelphia 2-1 on December 5, 2021, in route to winning the Audi 2021 MLS Cup.
Moralez scored the game-tying goal in the 65th minute and former Forward Talles Magno scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
There has been only one away match that ended in a scoreless draw, on November 9, 2024, against FC Cincinnati, which resulted in a 6-5 victory in the shootout.
The following illustrates the number of Audi MLS Cup Playoff appearances on the current New York City roster:
Moralez (18), Midfielder Keaton Parks (9), Defender Kevin O’Toole (7), Captain and Defender Thiago Martins (7), Defender Tayvon Gray (5), Haak (5), Midfielder Andrés Perea (4), Midfielder Hannes Wolf (4), Forward Alonso Martínez (4), Goalkeeper Matt Freese (4), Forward Julián Fernández (2), Ilenič (3), Ojeda (1), Defender Strahinja Tanasijević (1).
In Club history, five New York City FC Homegrown players have appeared in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs: James Sands (8), Tayvon Gray (5), Justin Haak (5), former Defender Joe Scally (1), and former Midfielder Andres Jasson (1).
Gray is the only Homegrown to have recorded a goal contribution during the postseason. On November 30, 2021, against the New England Revolution, Gray recorded one assist. The match resulted in a 2-2 draw and a 5-3 shootout win.
For appearances in Audi MLS Cup Playoff history for the Club, Moralez ranks first with 18 and Parks ranks sixth with nine.
On the current roster, the following players have recorded goal contributions for New York City in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs:
All-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the Club, Moralez leads the team in both goals scored and assists recorded (5G, 6A).
On the current roster, the following players have recorded goal contributions for New York City in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in away matches:
Moralez (3G, 2A), Gray (1A).
All-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the Club in away matches, Moralez ranks first in both goals scored and assists recorded (3G, 2A).
Former Defender Gudmundur Thorarinsson and former Forward Santiago Rodríguez also have two assists each.
Freese in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs recorded 14 saves, conceded four goals and recorded one clean sheet over the course of four matches. He posted a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.00 over that span.
All-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the Club, Freese ranks second in saves (14) and clean sheets (1).
Former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson ranks first in saves (43) and clean sheets (3).
Freese ranks second in saves recorded in a single Audi Sport MLS Cup Playoff away match with five, doing so against Cincinnati on October 28, 2024.
Former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson ranks first in saves recorded in a single Audi MLS Cup Playoff away match with seven, doing so on October 23, 2022, against CF Montréal.
COMBATTING CHARLOTTE In the Eastern Conference, New York City FC has qualified for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 series as the fifth seed. Charlotte FC is the fourth seed.
All-time, this will be the first postseason meeting between the two teams.
In MLS Regular Season play, New York City has posted a 2-5-1 (W-L-D) record against Charlotte.
In MLS Regular Season play, New York City has posted a 0-4-0 record on the road against Charlotte.
In MLS Regular Season play, New York City has posted a 2-1-1 record at home against Charlotte.
New York City has never been held scoreless by Charlotte when playing at home, whether at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Citi Field or Yankee Stadium.
New York City has not lost to Charlotte at home since the first time the two teams played against each other. Charlotte won 3-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on August 17, 2022.
This is New York City’s lone defeat at home against Charlotte.
Former Defender Maxime Chanot scored to equalize the contest at 1-1 in the 28’ before Charlotte pulled away. Former Midfielder Alfredo Morales recorded the assist.
New York City has gone unbeaten at home versus Charlotte in all their other matchups.
In the most recent matchup at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2025, New York City held Charlotte scoreless, 2-0.
Martínez scored both New York City goals, both from the penalty spot.
Freese made a penalty save against Charlotte Forward Wilfried Zaha to keep his clean sheet after New York City went up 2-0.
This was Freese’s most recent clean sheet and his eighth of the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
New York City defeated Charlotte in a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024.
Parks scored the game-tying goal and Martínez scored the game-winner at 90’+3’.
Fernández and Former Forward Santiago Rodríguez had an assist each.
New York City drew Charlotte 1-1 at Citi Field on July 5, 2023.
Former Defender Braian Cufré scored the game-tying goal. Parks recorded the assist.
Martínez and Parks are the two active New York City players to record multiple goal contributions versus Charlotte. Martínez has scored three goals and Parks has recorded a goal and an assist.
The only other player ever to record multiple goal contributions versus Charlotte was Former Forward Santiago Rodriguez. He scored in a 3-2 New York City loss at Bank of America Stadium on May 6, 2023, and recorded an assist in New York City’s 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024.
The other current New York City players to record a goal contribution against Charlotte are Martins and Fernández.
Martins recorded an assist in a 3-2 New York City loss to Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on May 6, 2023.
Fernández recorded an assist in a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024.
