New York City FC v. Charlotte FC 2025 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 35 Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 | Kickoff: 12:10pm ET Location: Yankee Stadium | The Bronx, NY 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 Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s contract extension… “Matt [Freese] is one of our key players. He’s grown so much over the period that he’s been with us. I’ve had the pleasure of only working with him for nine months, and I’ve enjoyed it very much. He’s a true professional—very dedicated, very open-minded, and willing to learn. His goalkeeper coach, Rob [Vartughian], is a massive influence on him and his progression, but the work [that Matt] puts in is outstanding. Obviously, he’s a good goalkeeper, a good shot-stopper, and he’s improving in several areas as well. It’s also being recognized because he went from New York City into the National Team and got himself into the starting 11, and now is the number one goalie in the U.S. He’s making a lot of progress, but one thing is for sure is he’ll keep working as hard as he always does in order to become even better.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD AGUSTÍN OJEDA
Sobre enfrentar a Charlotte FC... “Sabemos que mañana va a ser un partido complicado, ya que ellos llevan nueve victorias consecutivas y nosotros también necesitamos la victoria para poder estar mejor en la tabla y, obviamente, vamos a tener que ser completos para seguir sumando. Pero bueno, con las herramientas [que tenemos], creo que vamos a llevar este partido a donde nosotros queremos llevarlo.”
On facing Charlotte FC... “We know that tomorrow is going to be a complicated match since they are on nine consecutive wins, and we also need the victory to improve our position in the table. Obviously, we have to be complete to keep adding points, but with the right tools, I think we can take this game to where we want it to go.”
Sobre si te has sentido más relajado y confiado recientemente o durante todo el año... “Sí, no lo he sentido durante el año, pero en los últimos partidos me vengo sintiendo diferente, donde en un momento no tuve esa confianza que necesitaba. Y hoy en día creo que la estoy ganando poco a poco. Pero bueno, en lo personal voy a seguir entrenando, haciendo las cosas que tengo que hacer para seguir sumando desde donde me toque. También tengo que agradecerle a mi familia, que siempre me apoya en estos momentos, porque creo que el futbolista siempre necesita un apoyo fuera de lo que sería el fútbol, porque no sabe qué le pasa durante la vida, lo que tiene. Creo que hoy, gracias a ellos, y a mi esposa que está acáme ayudaron bastante, y hoy estoy [mucho más fuerte].”
On whether you’ve felt more relaxed and confident recently or all year... “No, I haven’t felt it all year, but in recent matches I’ve been feeling different. At one point, I didn’t have the confidence I needed, and now I think I’m gaining it little by little. Personally, I will keep training, doing what I have to do to keep contributing wherever I’m needed. I also have to thank my family, who always support me in [these] moments, because I think a footballer always needs support outside of football. You never know what life brings. Thanks to them—especially my wife, who is here—they have helped me a lot, and now I feel [much stronger].”
LOOKING TO THRIVE IN FIVE In their ten-season history, New York City has performed well with five matches remaining on the season.
With a 3-2 come from behind win in their most recent match against the Columbus Crew at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2025, they have tied their highest ever win total with five matches remaining in the season with 15 wins.
The only other seasons where they accomplished this feat came over five years ago, in the 2019 and 2017 seasons.
In 2018, the team recorded 14 wins.
In 2022, the team recorded 13 wins.
In 2016, the team recorded 12 wins.
Last season in 2024 and the season the team won the MLS Cup in 2021, the team recorded 11 wins.
In the Club’s inaugural season in 2015, the team recorded eight wins.
In the shortened 2020 season, the team recorded seven wins.
The least amount of wins the team recorded at this point in the season was six in the 2023 season.
New York City qualified for the playoffs in every season except their inaugural campaign in 2015 and again in 2023.
All time, with a win against Charlotte FC, New York City will match their second highest win total overall with 16.
With win number 15, this is now the sixth season the Club has at least 15 wins since the 2016 season. This is the most in Major League Soccer over that span.
They recorded 16 wins in the 2017, 2018 and 2022 seasons.
Their highest win total was 18 in the 2019 season.
With five matches remaining, New York City has the possibility to record 19 wins in a single season, which would be the most for the Club all time.
After their most recent 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium against the Crew, New York City is now 8-0-0 at home when scoring at least two goals.
The other seven times this occurred are as follows:
The first two matches where this occurred was in two consecutive match victories: a 2-1 win against Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium on March 8, 2025, and a 2-1 win against the New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium on March 15, 2025.
Later on in the season, the team accomplished this feat again in two consecutive match victories: a 2-0 shutout in the Hudson River Derby against the New York Red Bulls at Citi Field on May 17, 2025, and a 3-1 win against Chicago Fire FC at Yankee Stadium on May 25, 2025.
As the season progressed, the Club then recorded a stint of three consecutive home victories: The team beat Atlanta United in a scoreless 4-0 rout at Yankee Stadium on June 12, 2025, defeated Toronto FC 3-1 at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2025, and then beat Nashville SC 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2025.
Forward Julián Fernández and Midfielder Hannes Wolf shined in New York City's most recent match against the Crew, winning 3-2 at home.
All-time, Wolf now sits in solo-fourth for multi-goals game recorded for the Club with four. In third are Martínez and former Forward Ismael Tajouri-Shradi with five. In second is former Forward Valentín Castellanos with 11. In first is former Forward David Villa with 17.
Wolf is now the fourth ever player to record four or more multi-goal games (two goals) in a single season for the Club.
The others to reach this milestone are Martínez, former forward Valentín Castellanos, and former forward David Villa, who accomplished it three times (2015, 2016, 2017).
With a brace in this victory, Wolf has now recorded his fourth brace this season.
His first brace of the season was in a 4-3 loss to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 29, 2025.
His remaining two braces came in consecutive matches. He scored twice to earn New York City a point in a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on May 31, 2025. New York City was down 2-0 at half-time before Wolf’s brace drew them even. In the team’s next match, he scored a natural brace in the 57’ and 59’ minute in a 4-0 shut out against Atlanta United at Yankee Stadium on June 12, 2025.
All four goals for New York City in that match came in a 15-minute span. In addition to Wolf’s brace, Midfielder Maxi Moralez netted shortly before the half in the 44’ minute. Former Forward Mounsef Bakrar scored two minutes before Wolf’s first goal in the 55’.
Fernández has a new personal best in goals scored in a single season. With his game-winning goal in the 90+4’ minute in New York City’s 3-2 home win against the Crew, he now has three goals on the season.
Two of Julián Fernández's most recent goals this season have been game-winners. In addition to his game-winner against the Crew, he scored the game-winner against FC Cincinnati at Citi Field on May 4, 2025.
His third goal was an equalizer against the Revolution at Yankee Stadium on March 15, 2025, making the game 1-1. New York City went on to win the match 2-1.
In the 2023 and 2024 season he only recorded two goals.
Lastly, the Club also secured the future of goalkeeper Matt Freese, signing him to a contract extension through 2030.
Across his New York City FC career in the MLS Regular Season, Freese has appeared in 70 matches, totaling 6,222 minutes. He has faced 316 shots, made 234 saves, posted a 1.23 goals-against average, and registered 17 clean sheets.
This season, Freese has featured in 26 matches, totaling 2,340 minutes. He has faced 113 shots, made 84 saves, holds a 1.27 goals-against average, and has registered seven clean sheets.
He is currently tied for fifth in the league in clean sheets with seven. He is tied with Former New York City and current Toronto FC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
RESILIENT BLUES New York City has been on a good run of form since their defeat to Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on July 12, 2025, losing only one match since. They have posted a record of 6-1-1 (W-L-D).
During the first five games of this stretch, New York City went unbeaten, which included a three-match winning streak.
They beat Orlando City SC 2-1 at Inter&Co Stadium on July 16, 2025, then tied Sporting Kansas City 1-1 at Children’s Mercy Park on July 19, 2025.
The Club then won three in a row, beating FC Dallas 4-3 at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025, Nashville 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2025, and shutting out Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
The Club’s only loss over this span was a 2-1 upset by D.C. United at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2025.
After that defeat, the Club is now on a two-game winning streak, beating Chicago 3-1 at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025, and the Crew 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2025.
New York City has shown resilience during this stretch, as five of their six wins during this streak were comeback wins. Forward Alonso Martínez scored the game-winning goal in four of these five comeback wins. Forward Julián Fernández had the other game-winner.
Martínez also scored the game-winner in their 1-0 shutout against Cincinnati.
New York City scored first against Dallas, but had to overcome 2-1 and 3-2 deficits. New York City was down 3-2 at the half before Martínez scored the game winner in the 84’. He scored a hat-trick in this match.
They conceded first in four of these five comeback wins. Forward Alonso Martínez scored the game-winning goal in three of these four wins when conceding first:
They came back to beat Orlando 2-1 away after being down 1-0 at the half. New York City capitalized late, receiving an own goal from Orlando Midfielder Kyle Smith in the 87’ before Martínez netted the game winner at 90’+1’.
They fought back to beat Nashville at home 2-1. After going down 1-0 in the opening 10 minutes, Midfielder Andrés Perea equalized in the 40’ before the half and Martínez scored the game-winner in the 77’.
After going down 1-0 in the 13’, Forward Nicolás Fernández Mercau tied the game in the 40’ before the half. Martínez scored the game-winner in the 57’ before Forward Seymour Reid gave the Club a cushion, scoring in the 90’+3’ to secure a 3-1 win.
Reid is the youngest player in Club history to score a goal for the team.
After conceding a penalty in the 40’ to go down 1-0, Midfielder Hannes Wolf scored shortly after at 40’+3’. The team then went down 2-1 in the 60’ before Wolf equalized again in the 74’. Fernández was the hero, propelling New York City to victory with the game-winner in 90’+4’ to lock up a 3-2 win.
COMBATTING CHARLOTTE Charlotte is currently on a nine-game winning streak, starting from when they defeated New York City at Bank of America Stadium on July 12, 2025.
In the Eastern Conference, New York City FC currently sits fifth with 50 points, just one win shy of matching Charlotte’s 53 points. Charlotte holds third place.
New York City is level with Nashville on 50 points but holds a game in hand on both Nashville and Charlotte. New York City has played 29 matches, while Nashville and Charlotte have each played 30.
Charlotte is the third team in the Eastern Conference to have clinched a playoff spot.
The other two teams are Cincinnati in second and the Philadelphia Union in first.
New York City has recorded all clean-sheet victories against Cincinnati and Philadelphia. They beat Cincinnati 1-0 home and away on May 4, and August 23, 2025.
They beat Philadelphia at home on April 12, 2025.
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 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 their other matchups, each time overcoming a deficit to gain points.
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.
New York City defeated Charlotte in their most recent home match, a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024.
Midfielder Keaton Parks scored the game-tying goal and Martínez scored the game-winner in the dying minutes at 90’+3’.
Fernández and Former Forward Santiago Rodríguez had an assist each.
With his goal and assist mentioned above, Parks is the only active New York City player to record multiple goal contributions versus Charlotte.
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 most recent home match, a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024.
The only other current New York City player to record a goal contribution against Charlotte are Defender Thiago Martins, Forward Alonso Martínez, and Forward Julián Fernández.
Martins recorded an assist in a 3-2 New York City loss to Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on May 6, 2023.
Martínez scored a goal and Fernández recorded an assist in a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2024
