New York City FC 0(6)-0(7) Charlotte FC Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs - Game 2 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025 | Kickoff: 3:40pm ET Location: Yankee Stadium | The Bronx, NY Attendance: 19,051
New York City FC lost to Charlotte FC in a dramatic penalty shootout in Game 2 of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 series. The sides battled to a stalemate over 90 minutes, forcing the contest to be decided from the spot. After 16 tense penalties, Charlotte prevailed 7-6, leveling the series at one game apiece.
UP NEXT: The ‘Boys in Blue’ face Charlotte FC once more in the deciding leg of this Round One Best-of-3 Series at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, November 4 with the kickoff time to be determined.| Apple TV: MLS Season Pass | Radio (English/Spanish) newyorkcityfc.com/radio
Overall, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 8-8-5 (W-L-D), scoring 27 goals and conceding 31.
In home matches, New York City’s all-time record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is 5-4-1, scoring 14 goals and conceding 12.
This is New York City FC’s first draw at home in postseason play.
The most recent playoff match that was played at Yankee Stadium prior to this afternoon was when New York City hosted Atlanta United FC on November 21, 2021, where the Club held their visitors scoreless in a 2-0 home victory.
In MLS (including postseason), New York City has posted a 3-5-2 (W-L-D) record against Charlotte, scoring nine goals and conceding 12.
This marks the first time New York City has been held scoreless by Charlotte when playing at home, whether at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Citi Field or Yankee Stadium.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese has reached a milestone of recording over 300 career league saves in MLS play (including postseason), spanning his time with both the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC.
With their starts in today’s match, 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 two 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 two in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs).
For appearances in Audi MLS Cup Playoff history for the Club, Moralez ranks first with 20.
Moralez is the first New York City player in Club history to appear in 20 matches in the Audi 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), Defender Tayvon Gray (7), Midfielder Justin Haak (7), former Defender Joe Scally (1), former Midfielder Andres Jasson (1), and Forward Seymour Reid (1).
Gray is the only Homegrown to have recorded a goal contribution during the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. 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.
With their taking the field this afternoon, Defenders Kevin O’Toole and Thiago Martins are now tied with Midfielder Keaton Parks for the fifth most overall appearances in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with nine.
Matt Freese has reached a milestone of recording over 300 career league saves in MLS play (including postseason), spanning his time with both the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC.
With a shutout in tonight’s match, this was Freese’s third clean sheet for the Club in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs all time.
He is now tied for first for most clean sheets in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for New York City FC with former Goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
Also, this is Freese’s second shutout in a row, both occurring against Charlotte. The first was a 1-0 win at Bank of America Stadium on October 28, 2025, in Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 series versus Charlotte.
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the game, including the penalty shootout after... “The result—it's a pity. We were focusing on getting the job done within two games. We had the opportunities, even though we didn’t play as well as I was hoping for. We had two or three big moments to go in front, and when it comes down to penalties, that can go either way. ‘Juli’ [Forward Julián Fernández] and ‘Agu’ [Forward Agustín Ojeda] missed their penalties, and the others were well taken. [Goalkeeper] Matt [Freese] saved one. You could see the response from the team, taking care of each other in these moments because it’s tough when you miss, but it’s part of the game. Overall, it shouldn’t have come to penalties. We should have finished them within 90 minutes.”
On how much of a missed opportunity this evening’s result was... “It is what it is. We’ve proven throughout the season that we’ve become stronger in our away games. I mentioned the first hour in Charlotte—in and out of possession—and the final 30 minutes defensively. We did a good job. Charlotte [FC] is a tough team to beat at home, but we did it in a convincing way. Our goal was to finish this sequence in two games, but now they’ve made us work for Game 3 [in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series]. We’ll travel there Thursday with full confidence and go at them again on Friday.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER JUSTIN HAAK
On the mentality in the locker room... “The immediate feeling is disappointment. We knew how big this opportunity was. Coming home in front of our fans—they were great tonight as expected—and not being able to give them the result to move on probably hurts the most. But we don’t have time to dwell on it. We’ll look back on this game, see what we can do better, what we didn’t do as well as in the first game, and focus on getting a good result in Game 3 [in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series].”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER KEVIN O'TOOLE
On getting ready to go back on the road... “It’s frustrating. We had a big opportunity in front of us today and we didn’t capitalize. I thought we defended quite well and created some chances, but it just didn’t fall our way today. This one will hurt tonight, and we just have to refocus tomorrow and make sure we’re ready to go for Game 3 [in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series].”
New York City FC were back in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon as they hosted Charlotte FC in Game 2 of the Best-of-3 series in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The hosts boasted a 1–0 series lead after Tuesday’s narrow victory in North Carolina. Head Coach Pascal Jansen named an unchanged side from that game as he sought to win the series on home turf.
A bright start from New York City saw them dictate the tempo early on. A well-worked corner-kick routine allowed Aiden O’Neill to attempt a spectacular volley from the edge of the area. Maxi Moralez then went close from a tight angle. His shot crashed wide of the target.
The visitors then went close in the 14th minute after Matt Freese palmed away a cross and Brandt Bronico crashed an effort against the crossbar. That moment seemed to inspire Charlotte as they attempted to find an early breakthrough on the road.
As the contest began to settle, both sides found it a challenge to create clear-cut chances. That all changed just after the half-hour mark when a delightful delivery to the back post found Andrés Perea in space. Unfortunately, he could not get the ball out from under his feet, and the eventual shot from his teammate was deflected behind.
Moralez then created a great chance in the 40th minute thanks to a dangerous corner kick that found the head of Raúl Gustavo, with Kristijan Kahlina diving low to his left to claim the ball.
At the other end, Charlotte was handed a great chance to take the lead when a low cross from Bronico flew through the box to the back post. Thankfully for New York City, Harry Toffolo fired wide from close range. The visitors would rattle the woodwork again just before halftime after Ashley Westwood side-footed an effort from just outside the area that bounced back off the frame of the goal.
The start of the second half saw Freese was called into action early on after Zaha attempted a shot from distance. Martínez then tried to break the deadlock at the other end with a shot from a narrow angle that Kahlina gathered up comfortably.
In the 67th minute, Jansen turned to his bench to make two changes. On came Hannes Wolf and Agustín Ojeda in place of Moralez and O’Toole. The Austrian wasted no time trying to influence the contest, and minutes after coming on, flashed a free kick just over Kahlina’s goal.
New York City was then handed a golden chance in the 74th minute when Martínez whipped in a free kick that Thiago Martins powered toward the goal—only for a brilliant save by Kahlina to deny the Brazilian. Perea then flashed an effort across goal from the edge of the box as the hosts began to pile on the pressure.
A second change for New York City arrived in the 82nd minute as Julián Fernández replaced Nicolás Fernández Mercau. As the clock ticked toward the 86th minute, New York City continued to press for an opener but found a dogged Charlotte side standing in their way.
Charlotte was chasing a similar outcome, and after a turnover in New York City’s half, the ball fell to an attacker whose tame effort did not trouble Freese.
Unable to be separated during 90 minutes, a penalty shootout would decide the outcome of Game 2. After 16 penalties, Charlotte prevailed 7-6, leveling the series at one game apiece.
