New York City FC fall 7-6 on penalties to Charlotte FC in Game 2

Courtesy: NYCFC

By Chris Tsakonas

NEW YORK - New York City FC will have to win one more match to advance after Charlotte FC took Game 2 at Yankee Stadium tonight. The match finished 0-0 after 90 minutes, with a 7-6 scoreline in the shootout.

Here are three observations from tonight’s playoff match.

Finishing struggles cost New York City
New York City wasted no time creating chances after the opening whistle, with five chances inside the opening 10 minutes. The best of those chances came in the 10th minute, when a second-chance effort from Maxi Moralez was fired over the crossbar.

Despite outshooting Charlotte 8-6 in the first 45 minutes of play, New York City’s only threatened Kristjian Kahlina with one shot on goal off a Raul Gustavo header in the 40th minute.

New York City kept the pressure in the final third with nine shots in the second half. The best chance came in the 74th minute - Nico Fernandez Mercau whipped the ball to the back post, where a point-blank header from Thiago Martins was denied by Kristjian Kahlina. New York City finished with 1.2 expected goals on 17 total shots, but none of them found the back of the net.

Charlotte can’t capitalize on first half chances

The biggest obstacle Charlotte faced in regulation ended up being the woodwork, as Charlotte hit the goal frame twice in the first half alone. 

In the 14th minute, Brandt Bronico got on the end of a cross that he volleyed off the crossbar. The best chance of the match came in the 42nd minute, when Ildan Toklomati played a ball across to Harry Toffolo - only for him to miss the target. Charlotte was denied by the post yet again in the 45th minute, when Ashley Westwood hit the left post on a long range effort in the final chance of the half.

Charlotte finished with eight total shots in the match, with three shots on target for 0.8 expected goals.

Penalty misses keep series alive
With a 0-0 scoreline at the final whistle, the match went to penalties under the first round playoff rules. After both sides converted on their first kick, New York City gained the advantage in the second round after Ashley Westwood’s kick was saved by Matt Freese.

The dynamic shifted in the fourth round, when Julian Fernandez missed the outside of the left post to allow Charlotte back in. The shootout went to the 8th round, where Agustin Ojeda’s kick was saved by Kahlina to keep Charlotte’s season alive.

Next Up
The series will shift back to Charlotte for a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Friday night. The kickoff time has not yet been announced. Live radio commentary with Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence will get underway 15 minutes before kickoff at newyorkcityfc.com/radio.