New York City FC hosts Charlotte FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening in Game 2 of their best-of-three Eastern Conference Round One playoff series. Get the latest NYCFC vs Charlotte FC 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs preview with team news, recent form, head-to-head stats, predicted lineups, key player insights, and expert match prediction for November 1, 2025, at Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC lead 1-0 in the series following Alonso Martínez’s clinical 34th-minute finish at Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday, where the Boys in Blue became the first away team to secure victory in this year’s playoffs.
One more victory will see Pascal Jansen’s fifth-seeded squad advance to face the Philadelphia Union (No. 1) or Chicago Fire FC (No. 8) in the Conference Semifinals next month.
Charlotte, the No. 4 seed, must produce a response to keep their season alive, though missing suspended star Wilfried Zaha poses a significant challenge.
The Crown showed resilience by posting seven clean sheets in their final ten regular-season matches. Still, it were unable to break down NYCFC’s organized defense, particularly goalkeeper Matt Freese who recorded four saves to maintain his league-leading clean sheet total.
NYCFC vs Charlotte FC Match Information, Prediction, H2H, and Where to Watch
Match Info
- Competition: Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference Round One (Best-of-3, Game 2)
- Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Kick-off Time: 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM UTC / 1:30 AM IST (Sunday)
- Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
- Series Status: NYCFC lead 1-0
- Series Decider: If necessary, Game 3 will be held at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte on Thursday, November 7
- TV Coverage: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), FOX Sports App
NYCFC earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Charlotte despite being heavily dominated in ball possession and territory.
Alonso Martínez proved decisive, capitalizing on Andrés Perea’s assist to slice through Charlotte’s backline and fire past goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina in the 34th minute.
NYCFC’s defensive organization under Pascal Jansen was exceptional, with Matt Freese remaining composed to register four saves and keep a clean sheet.
The Cityzens finished the regular season in fifth place with 56 points from 17 wins, 12 losses, and 5 draws, while their defensive record of 44 goals conceded ranked third-best in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte enters Game 2 facing the twin challenges of being down in the series and missing Wilfried Zaha through suspension. However, Dean Smith’s squad demonstrated impressive form down the stretch, winning 11 of their final 13 regular-season matches to secure the No. 4 seed with 56 points (19W-13L-2D).
Liel Abada is expected to replace Zaha in the lineup, partnering with Israeli striker Idan Toklomati, who finished as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals and four assists.
Charlotte’s defensive resilience, anchored by reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina and the center-back pairing of Tim Ream and Adilson Malanda, will be crucial if they are to secure a favorable result in the Bronx.
NYCFC vs Charlotte Last 5 Matches Form:
| NYCFC | Charlotte FC |
|---|---|
| W – Charlotte 0-1 NYCFC (Playoff Game 1) | L – Charlotte 0-1 NYCFC (Playoff Game 1) |
| L – NYCFC 1-2 Seattle Sounders | W – Charlotte 2-0 Philadelphia Union |
| L – NYCFC 0-1 Philadelphia Union | W – Charlotte 1-0 D.C. United |
| W – NYCFC 3-2 New York Red Bulls | L – Charlotte 1-4 CF Montréal |
| W – NYCFC 4-0 Inter Miami CF | W – Charlotte 3-0 Inter Miami CF |
NYCFC vs Charlotte Head to Head
NYCFC and Charlotte have built an intriguing rivalry, with Charlotte slightly ahead in their overall head-to-head record. However, NYCFC has claimed victory in three of their last four matchups, including the playoff opener on Tuesday.
In the regular season game at Yankee Stadium, both teams played to a 0-0 draw in July, showing how tough it can be to break down these evenly matched squads.
| Matches Played | NYCFC Wins | Charlotte Wins | Draws | NYCFC Goals | Charlotte Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
2025 Season
- NYCFC 2-0 Charlotte (Sept 20)
- Charlotte 0-0 NYCFC (July)
- NYCFC 1-0 Charlotte (Playoff Game 1, Oct 28)
NYCFC vs Charlotte Current Team News
NYCFC Team News:
Alonso Martínez continues as the primary attacking threat after his match-winning performance in Game 1, bringing 17 regular-season goals into the playoff series. Midfielder Andrés Perea provided the crucial assist and will be key to unlocking Charlotte’s defense.
USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese, who recorded a league-leading eight clean sheets during the regular season, will start between the posts and provide exceptional distribution with his feet. Midfielder Santiago Rodríguez remains sidelined with an injury.
Defenders Jovan Mijatović and Tayvon Gray will anchor the defensive line, while Andrés Perea provides midfield stability and creativity.
Charlotte FC Team News:
Wilfried Zaha remains suspended for Game 2 after receiving a red card in the regular season finale, opening the door for Israeli winger Liel Abada to make an impact. Idan Toklomati, the club’s top scorer with 11 goals, will lead the attacking line despite limited minutes recently due to injury management.
Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, brings a championship mentality and will need to be at his best if Charlotte is to steal a result in the Bronx.
Center-backs Tim Ream and Adilson Malanda have been impressive all season and must organize Charlotte’s defense to contain Martínez’s pace and movement. Defender Keegan Roberge provides width and attacking support down the left flank.
NYCFC vs Charlotte Current Possible Starting Lineups
NYCFC Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
- Freese; Ojeda, Mijatović, Gray, Tinnerholm; Rodríguez, Perea; Jasson Domínguez, Sander Coopman, Álvarez; Martínez
Charlotte FC Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
- Kahlina; Byrne, Ream, Malanda, Toffolo; Westwood, Bronico; Abada, Diani, Vargas; Toklomati
Key Players
New York City
- Alonso Martínez (Forward) – Tournament’s leading playoff scorer with the game-winner in Game 1; must maintain this form to close out the series
- Matt Freese (Goalkeeper) – USMNT veteran with league-leading eight clean sheets; exceptional shot-stopping and distribution key to suffocating Charlotte’s attack.
Charlotte FC
- Idan Toklomati (Forward) – Israeli international with 11 regular-season goals; must finish the chances Charlotte create despite Zaha’s absence
- Kristijan Kahlina (Goalkeeper) – Reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year brings composure and presence; must be error-free against Martínez’s predatory instincts.
- Liel Abada (Winger) – Israeli international stepping in for suspended Zaha; added depth and experience provide hope for Charlotte
NYCFC vs Charlotte Match Prediction
NYCFC is the clear favorite to move forward after a commanding road victory in Game 1. The home advantage at Yankee Stadium, paired with Alonso Martínez’s stellar form and Matt Freese’s strong defensive skills, provides Pascal Jansen’s team with solid confidence.
Charlotte’s loss of Wilfried Zaha through suspension is significant, though their recent form and defensive resilience suggests they will make this difficult for NYCFC. However, expect the Boys in Blue to seal their berth in the Conference Semifinals with another composed performance, likely in a low-scoring affair given both teams’ defensive strengths.
- Predicted Score: NYCFC 1-0 Charlotte FC (NYCFC advances 2-0 in series)
Where to Watch the NYCFC vs Charlotte
| Country | TV Broadcasting |
|---|---|
| United States | TV: FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), FOX Sports App, ESPN+ Kick-off: 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT |
| Canada | TV: TSN, TSN Direct Streaming: TSN+, MLS Season Pass Kick-off: 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT |
| Australia | Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), Kayo Sports Kick-off: 6:30 AM AEDT (Sunday) |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), ESPN+ Kick-off: 8:30 PM GMT |
| Europe | Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), ESPN+ Kick-off: 9:30 PM CET / 8:30 PM GMT |
| Latin America: | USA Spanish: FOX Deportes, FOX Sports App Mexico: ESPN México, Star+ Brazil: ESPN Brasil Argentina: ESPN Argentina, Star+ |
- Streaming Worldwide: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (no blackouts), ESPN+ where available, and local MLS broadcast partners.