New York City FC 1-2 Charlotte FC 2026 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 8 Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Kickoff: 7:40pm ET Location: Citi Field | Flushing, NY Attendance: 20,997
New York City FC returned home but fell to a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Charlotte FC. Despite controlling long stretches and creating a number of good chances, they were undone by clinical finishing from the visitors. Idan Toklomati opened the scoring early in the second half before Kerwin Vargas added a second. A late strike from Nicolás Fernández Mercau offered brief hope, but it proved only a consolation on a disappointing night at home.
Tonight’s match marks the ninth all-time regular-season meeting between New York City FC and Charlotte FC.
New York City FC hold a 2-6-1 record in the series, scoring nine goals and conceding 14.
At home, New York City FC hold a 2-2-1 record, scoring seven goals and conceding seven.
New York City are tied with Charlotte in the Eastern Conference for goals scored (15) this season.
New York City FC hold a 12-5-7 record in 25 all-time matches at Citi Field.
The Club has scored 35 goals and conceded 30 at the venue.
At 39 years and 50 days old (age on MD 8 v CLT), Moralez continues to extend his record as the oldest player in Club history to remain active.
For appearances including tonight’s match:
Midfielder Keaton Parks is now second all-time in Club history with 180 MLS Regular Season appearances, surpassing former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson
Defender Kevin O’Toole made his 100th appearance in the MLS (including playoffs).
Midfielder Hannes Wolf made his 90th appearance across all competitions.
Forward Nicolás Fernández Mercau leads New York City FC in scoring this season with six goals, scoring six goals over eight MLS Regular Season games.
He has scored six goals at home in the MLS Regular Season all-time.
His goal tonight marks his 10th goal contribution for the Club all-time in the MLS Regular Season, scoring nine goals and recording one assist.
54’ - Idan Toklomati [9]
Scored with right footed shot from the center of the box to the central bottom zone. Assisted by Harry Toffolo [15]
90’ - Kerwin Vargas [18]
Scored with left footed shot from the center of the box to the middle left zone. Assisted by Pep Biel, second assist by Wilfried Zaha [10].
90+3’ - Nicolás Fernández Mercau [7]
Scored with left footed shot from the central position outside the box to the top right corner. image unavailable
Head Coach: Pascal Jansen [49] Matt Freese [34] Raul Gustavo (77’ - [55] Keaton Parks) 13] Thiago Martins (C) [22] Kevin O’Toole [24] Tayvon Gray [5] Kai Trewin (86’ - [99] Seymour Reid) [10] Maxi Moralez [21] Aiden O’Neill [7] Nicolás Fernández Mercau [17] Hannes Wolf [26] Agustín Ojeda (67’ - [11] Talles Magno)
Head Coach: Dean Smith [1] Kristijan Kahlina [15] Harry Toffolo [3] Tim Ream (46’ - [4] Andrew Privett) [44] Morrison Agyemang [14] Nathan Byrne [13] Brandt Bronico (77’ - [17] Luca de la Torre) [16] Pep Biel (90’+3’ - [28] Djibril Diani) [8] Ashley Westwood [37] Rodolfo Aloko (70’ - [18] Kerwin Vargas) [9] Idan Toklomati (77’ - [7] Archie Goodwin) [10] Wilfried Zaha
Subs Unused: [30] Tomás Romero [2] Nico Cavallo [19] Strahinja Tanasijević [32] Jonathan Shore [15] Kevin Pierre [29] Maximo Carrizo
Subs Unused: [21] Tyler Miller [23] David Schnegg [11] Liel Abada [25] Tyger Smalls
NYC Yellow Cards (2)
17’ - Raul Gustavo [34] - Bad Foul
85’ - Keaton Parks [55] - Bad Foul
Red Cards (0)
CLT Yellow Cards (4)
3’ - Brandt Bronico [13] - Bad Foul
68’ - Andrew Privett [4] - Bad Foul
81’ Nathan Byrne [14] - Bad Foul
83’ Kristijan Kahlina [1] - Poor Sportsmanship
Red Cards (0)
New York City FC were back on home soil Saturday night as they hosted Charlotte FC. Pascal Jansen’s side were keen to make it two wins in a week after a midweek success against Westchester SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
New York City’s head coach made a number of changes to the team that won on Tuesday, including a return for captain Thiago Martins after a short spell out through injury. Kai Trewin registered the hosts’ first chance of the night, with a left-footed shot from range that missed the target. Nicolás Fernández Mercau then went close with a drive from distance in the 16th minute that required a good save from Kristijan Kahlina to palm away.
At the other end, a header from Brandt Bronico was blocked by Raul Gustavo. New York City went close again in the 24th minute after some short passing culminated in a well-timed ball over the top from Tayvon Gray to put Agustín Ojeda in behind. The winger drove at goal and fired off a shot from a narrow angle that was well saved before Hannes Wolf saw a follow-up attempt blocked. Minutes later, dazzling dribbling from Wolf saw him twist one way and the other before passing inside to the onrushing Kai Trewin. The Australian international got a shot off but saw it deflected behind. The pressure was mounting as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark. First, Wolf was denied by a brilliant save from Kahlina with a low drive.
Next, it was Ojeda, who rose highest to meet Kevin O’Toole’s cross and headed the ball against the far post. Goalless at halftime, the start of the second period saw Matt Freese called into action to claim a dangerous low cross that trickled through the six-yard box. Despite keeping Charlotte quiet for long periods, New York City fell behind not long after, as a pass inside from Harry Toffolo found Idan Toklomati, who slid it under Freese.
New York City quickly set about chasing an equalizer, and Maxi Moralez went close with a delightful curled effort from the right-hand side of the penalty area. Jansen turned to his bench in the 67th minute to introduce Talles Magno, fresh off his hat trick on Tuesday, in place of Ojeda.
It was another Brazilian who went close, however, after Moralez curled in a delightful cross for Raul Gustavo. Unfortunately, he could not keep it on target. In the 76th minute, Tayvon Gray picked the ball up and got off a shot from distance that nestled safely in the arms of Kahlina. New York City’s second change of the night came just after that, with Keaton Parks replacing Raul Gustavo. The hosts continued to push the issue, and that saw Wolf size his defender up before taking a step inside and firing just over from the right of the penalty area.
Next, it was the turn of the two substitutes to combine, as a Parks cross found Talles Magno. Unfortunately, his header did not find the target. The final New York City FC change of the night saw Seymour Reid replace Trewin. Unfortunately, Charlotte found a second goal as stoppage time approached through Kerwin Vargas.
The visitors would register a goal of their own midway through stoppage time thanks to a rasping drive from Fernández Mercau. Sadly, his late strike would serve only as a consolation for New York City FC on a night they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
