Charlotte FC 1-3 New York City FC Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs - Game 3 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 | Kickoff: 7:12pm ET Location: Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, NC Attendance: 34,473
New York City FC advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 3–1 win over Charlotte FC, to take the Best-of-3 series 2-1. A wonderful opener from Nico Fernández gave New York City the lead, before Alonso Martínez doubled that advantage early in the second half. Idan Toklomati reduced New York City's advantage in the 81st minute before Nico Fernández notched his second of the night to give his side an emphatic 3-1 win.
UP NEXT: The ‘Boys in Blue’ are set to face Philadelphia Union in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals. More information regarding the match will be announced in the coming days | Apple TV: MLS Season Pass | Radio (English/Spanish) newyorkcityfc.com/radio
Entering the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed, New York City has advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Club has finished fifth or higher in the Eastern Conference in eight of the nine MLS Regular Seasons it has qualified for the playoffs. The 2020 season marked the only other time New York City entered as the fifth seed and the only instance in Club history in which it did not advance past the first round.
As the lower seed in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, New York City holds an all-time record of 5-4-4.
MLS introduced the Round One Best-of-3 Series format last year. Since then, New York City has advanced from Round One twice, overcoming their opponent in three matches on both occasions.
New York City scored three goals in tonight’s match. The last time the Club recorded multiple goals in a game was on September 27 during the MLS Regular Season, a 3-2 road win over rivals New York Red Bulls.
The last time the Club scored multiple goals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs was in Game 2 of the Round One Best-of-3 Series against FC Cincinnati on November 2, 2024, which resulted in a 3-1 win.
Overall, New York City FC’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 9-8-5 (W-L-D), scoring 30 goals and conceding 32.
In away matches, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 4-5-4, scoring 16 goals and conceding 20.
New York City posts a record of 7-2-1 in their past 10 away matches, encompassing the 2025 MLS Regular Season and the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
All-time, New York City have scored first in six of their away matches in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. When scoring first in these matches, New York City posted a record of 3-1-2.
New York City scored first in the Club’s most recent Audi MLS Cup Playoff match in Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 series, where the team recorded a 1-0 clean sheet victory against Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on October 28, 2025.
In MLS (including postseason), New York City has posted a 4-5-2 (W-L-D) record against Charlotte, scoring 12 goals and conceding 13.
In MLS (including postseason), New York City has posted a 2-4-0 record on the road against Charlotte, scoring six goals and conceding eight.
New York City has won back-to-back road games against Charlotte FC, including a 1-0 victory on October 28 in Game 1 of the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Their 1-0 victory marked their first road win against Charlotte FC.
Midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored his first and second goal for the Club in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Over his last 10 MLS appearances (including playoffs) since September 13 against Chicago Fire FC, Fernández Mercau has scored five goals.
Overall, Fernández Mercau has appeared in 14 MLS matches (including playoffs), recording five goals and one assist.
His brace tonight marks his first for the Club.
Forward Alonso Martínez scored his third goal for the Club in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Martínez scored twice against Charlotte in the Best-of-3 Series. His first goal came in Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series in which he scored in the 34th minute. Both goals were scored at Bank of America Stadium.
Martínez is tied for the second most goals scored in Club history in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. He is tied with former Forwards Valentín Castellanos and David Villa.
In MLS play (MLS Regular Season and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs), New York City FC holds a 22-3-3 all-time record when Forward Alonso Martínez scores at least once. Across those matches, New York City FC has tallied 65 total goals and Martínez has tallied 36.
Thus far in the 2025 MLS season (including 2025 MLS Regular Season and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs), Martínez has played in 33 matches and scored 19 goals.
When he has found the net, New York City holds a 14-1-1 record, with 34 goals scored in those games.
The Club has also won the last 12 straight matches in which Martínez has scored, a streak dating back to April 12, 2025, against the Philadelphia Union.
This streak ranks second all-time for this stat with Martínez scoring 14 of the team’s 34 goals during this stretch.
Moralez holds the longest win streak with 17 games (03/04/2018-07/25/2021), scoring 18 of the team’s 49 goals.
This streak also ties for third most in longest unbeaten runs when a New York City FC player scores. Martínez is tied with Alexandru Mitrita for this feat.
Mitrita's streak dates from March 17, 2019 to October 3, 2020.
When playing on the road, New York City FC is on a seven-game winning streak for when Martínez scores, dating back to April 26, 2025.
For this statistic, Martínez ranks first. Martínez has scored a total of nine of the Club's 15 goals during this stretch (04/26/25-10/28/25).
Ahead of this match he was tied with Maxi Moralez. Moralez has scored six of the Club's 12 goals during his six-match streak (3/04/2018-12/05/2021).
Midfielder Hannes Wolf was credited with the assist on Fernández Mercau’s goal in the 90+10th minute, marking his first career assist in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Forward Agustín Ojeda was credited with the second-assist on the stoppage time goal, making his first career assist in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez recorded his first goal contribution of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, assisting Alonso Martínez’s 50th-minute goal.
All-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the Club, Moralez leads the team in both goals scored and assists recorded (5G, 7A).
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, 3A).
With his assist in tonight’s match, Maxi Moralez broke his own record as the oldest player in Club history to record an assist during postseason play.
His previous mark was set at 34 years and 287 days old on December 11, 2021, against the Portland Timbers.
He now sets a new record at 38 years and 254 days old.
With their starts in Game 3 in the Round One Best-of-3 series against Charlotte, Midfielder Justin Haak and Midfielder Maxi Moralez have started every match for the Club in the MLS this season (34 in the 2025 MLS regular season and three in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs).
Forward Agustín Ojeda has featured in every match for the Club in the MLS this season (34 in the 2025 MLS Regular Season and three in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs).
In Club history, six New York City FC Homegrown players have appeared in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs: Midfielder James Sands (8), Gray (8), Haak (8), former Defender Joe Scally (1), former Midfielder Andres Jasson (1), and Seymour Reid (1).
Gray and Haak tie James Sands for the most appearances in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs made by a Homegrown player in Club history.
For appearances in Audi MLS Cup Playoff history for the Club, Moralez ranks first with 21.
Thus far in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, Freese has recorded seven saves and conceded one goal, recording two clean sheets in Game 1 and Game 2 in the Round One Best-of-3 series against Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on October 28, 2025, and at Yankee Stadium on November 1, 2025.
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the importance of Midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau scoring before the end of the first half... “They [Charlotte FC] will keep their energy going into the second half so that moment just before the break is very intense because they go into the dressing room needing to regroup. We were prepared to go for another 15–20 minutes like the first half started, but I thought we were a little better on the ball in the first 15–20 minutes of the second half. The goals came, and we played how we wanted to play.”
On Defender Kevin O'Toole getting his first national team call up with Ireland... “Very proud. I couldn’t be prouder. In Kevin's [O'Toole] case, it’s even more special because it’s his first call-up while playing in the MLS. He must have caught their attention with his performance this season. He’s going to travel there, and the dressing room is very proud of his call-up.”
NEW YORK CITY FC GOALKEEPER MATT FREESE
On playing in front of a sold-out crowd in an elimination game and whether this prepares him for Philadelphia... “I don’t care how many people there are, 40,000 or more, I want to win no matter what. That’s why you work hard in training, with communication and tactics, so that in a tough environment where you can’t hear each other, you don’t need to hear. We all know where we’re going to be. Thiago [Martins] and I have a great connection, Justin [Haak] and I do too. With the backline — Tayvon [Gray], ‘Kev’ [Kevin O'Toole], and Raul [Gustavo] when he came in — it’s about adapting and being ready for anything in an environment like this. I love playing in front of a lot of people, so I’m pumped [to face the Philadelphia Union on their home turf]. I don’t know if I need any more motivation, I already want to win, but I don’t mind big crowds. That’s when I come alive.”
On the defensive performance... “I don’t know how many blocks Justin [Haak] had in the first 10 minutes — probably two or three. Toward the end, Aiden [O'Neill] got the block that led to our second goal, and Kevin [O'Toole] had an amazing block on [Liel] Abada on our left side. The defensive line putting their bodies on the line is something we’ve worked on, and I’m very grateful for it. That type of thing leads to wins, energy, and it shushes the crowd. Justin and Thiago [Martins] were great. Tayvon [Gray] is probably the best 1v1 defender in this league. Kevin on the left did amazing. The whole group — Aiden, ‘Pepe’ [Andrés Perea] — did fantastic. In the first 10–15 minutes, they bunkered down and got through it, which is what you need when you’re playing in front of 40,000 people in a must-win game. If you go down 1–0, it’s an entirely different game. So that was our thought — get through the first 15–20 [minutes], then create opportunities.”
It was win-or-go-home for both sides on Friday night as New York City FC faced Charlotte FC in Game 3 of the Best-of-3 Series in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
A narrow penalty shootout victory for Charlotte in the last meeting leveled the series at 1-1 and forced a decisive Game 3 at Bank of America Stadium, with both sides knowing only a win would keep their playoff hopes alive.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen made one change to the team that started in the Bronx last weekend, as Hannes Wolf replaced Raúl Gustavo.
The hosts flew out of the blocks in search of an early lead, with Wilfried Zaha going close in the 10th minute—only for a crucial block from Thiago Martins to deny him a clear look at goal.
One of several early interventions by New York City’s backline, when Djibril Diani escaped their attentions, he flashed a header well wide in the 14th minute.
Forced to defend during the early exchanges, Nicolás Fernández Mercau looked to open the scoring in the 27th minute for New York City, but Tim Ream stood firm with an important block.
Charlotte had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 34th minute when Brandt Bronico found space inside the area, but he blazed his strike over the bar.
With the game delicately balanced at 0-0, it seemed a moment of brilliance was needed to break the deadlock—and it arrived in first-half stoppage time through Nico Fernández.
The move began when a Charlotte corner was cleared out of the box, and Fernández pounced on the loose ball inside his own half. He nicked it past Tim Ream and raced away before rifling it high past Kristijan Kahlina from a tight angle to give New York City the lead.
The second half began with both sides threatening early, but it was New York City who claimed an important second goal through Alonso Martínez.
Once again arriving via a Charlotte set piece, a perfectly weighted pass from Maxi Moralez released the Costa Rican in behind for a footrace with Nathan Byrne. Martínez eventually settled the ball before calmly sliding it underneath Kahlina to make it 2-0.
The contest grew feisty after that goal as Charlotte pushed desperately to find a way back into the game. The tempo became disjointed, and clear chances were few and far between.
New York City were forced into their first change of the night in the 75th minute when Andrés Perea suffered an unfortunate injury, with Raúl Gustavo coming on in his place.
Just three minutes later, Moralez slipped Wolf in down the left, and his low cross looked destined for Martínez—only for a last-ditch challenge to take it off his toe.
Instead, it was the hosts who pulled one back in the 81st minute through Idan Toklomati, who reacted quickest to turn it home after Archie Goodwin flicked the ball toward goal.
Jansen turned to his bench once more as the match entered stoppage time—Agustín Ojeda and Julián Fernández replacing Martínez and Moralez.
With 12 minutes of added time to endure, New York City were forced to dig deep defensively. Yet, even under pressure, they managed to conjure one final, decisive counterattack to seal the result.
It began with a long ball from Ojeda to Wolf. The Austrian did brilliantly to bring it under control before waiting for the overlapping run of Nico Fernández. Slipping his teammate through, the Argentine delivered a sublime dinked finish from the tightest of angles to confirm New York City’s place in the next round.
Fernández was substituted shortly after, with Strahinja Tanasijević coming on for the closing moments—the final act on a night when New York City triumphed 3–1 in Charlotte, clinching a 2–1 victory in the Best-of-3 series.
Editor's Note: As a proud Irishman myself, the naming of O'Toole comes as no surprise. We have spoken to him about it on a number of occasions, in fact unless he was being coy, made him first awaer of this when it was just a consideration. He has a sister who plays pro there, met with their FA earlier this yeare during a visit. It was well over a year ago that while in a zoom with North American Irish Soccer Coaches, that this very topic was broached.
