Charlotte FC prevails in penalties over NYCFC, forces decider

Visitors Charlotte FC prolonged their season with a Game 2 win over New York City FC on penalties after a scoreless draw in regulation time.

Each team misfired once in the first seven penalty attempts. Charlotte's Nathan Byrne converted on his side's eighth attempt, putting the pressure on NYCFC substitute Agustin Ojeda. Ojeda's attempt, headed for the bottom right corner, was denied by 2024 MLS goalkeeper of the year Kristijan Kahlina.

The two sides will meet again in Charlotte for Game 3 on Friday.

NYCFC had the bulk of shooting attempts in the first half even as the visitors seemed a great deal more threatening. Charlotte midfielder Brandt Bronico cut one off the woodwork in the 14th minute off a weak punch from goalkeeper Matt Freese.

Nearly a half-hour later, Harry Toffolo scuffed a golden opportunity to net his first with the Crown, missing a gaping net high and wide to the left off a picture-perfect flick-on from Idan Toklomati. Teammate Ashley Westwood blasted another off the crossbar for good measure late in the first frame on a curling attempt from outside the box.

As they did in the first game of the series, Charlotte seized control of play for much of the second half, although they struggled to penetrate New York's rigid low block.

Defying the run of play, defender Thiago Martins nearly dealt Charlotte a killing blow in the 74th minute, but Kahlina corralled his header point blank off a Nicolas Fernandez set piece.

Returning back from a Game 1 suspension, Charlotte standout Wilfried Zaha was kept relatively quiet down the left flank. The Ivorian international was booked yet again late in the second half for dissent.

The Pigeons' attack never seemed particularly well-suited to the narrow pitch at Yankee Stadium in a fixture where productive spells of possession were exceedingly hard to come by. The home side was, at times, content to settle for hopeful strikes from well outside the penalty box.

The teams combined for 29 fouls in what was an immensely physical affair. The result marked the first postseason match at Yankee Stadium since NYCFC's 2021 MLS Cup run.

--Field Level Media