These were the fourth and fifth seeds in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, with the Crown earning home-field advantage for round one thanks to a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Union, while New York City were beaten 2-1 by the Seattle Sounders the last time out.<\/p>\n
Match preview<\/p>\n
Coming off a club-record-setting campaign when it comes to points (59), Charlotte will face higher playoff expectations than ever before this time around.<\/p>\n
Home field has been a massive advantage for them throughout the 2025 campaign with this team claiming a league-high 13 regular-season wins in North Carolina.<\/p>\n
Nine of their home triumphs this season came with a clean sheet, while this team have never conceded a goal in a playoff game at Bank of America Stadium, defeating Orlando City on penalties last year in their only previous post-season affair in Charlotte.<\/p>\n
Dean Smith<\/a>\u2019s men have not allowed a goal at home in five of their previous six league fixtures, while conceding just one opening half goal in their last nine domestic outings on home soil.<\/p>\n This team lost only one home game in the competition this year when scoring first (4-1 versus CF Montreal), while winning 11 times in Charlotte in that position.<\/p>\n All four of their home meetings with New York City have ended with Charlotte collecting maximum points, and the Crown shutting them out on three of those occasions.<\/p>\n Unlike the 2024 regular season, NYCFC stumbled into the playoffs this time around, losing three of their final four fixtures of the MLS campaign.<\/p>\n That said, they are one place higher than they were to begin the 2024 post-season, while Pascal Jansen<\/a> guided them to a 56-point campaign, their joint second-best all-time, with one fewer point than 2017.<\/p>\n They should feel more than comfortable beginning the playoffs on the road, with points in six of their final seven regular-season affairs away from home this year, five of which were victories.<\/p>\n The Boys in Blue have not scored a single playoff goal as the visitors since a 3-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Union in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final but they did eliminate FC Cincinnati on penalties on the road last year.<\/p>\n Nine of their regular-season away games in 2025 were decided by a single goal with the Pigeons on the right side of those results five times.<\/p>\n While they have not fared well away to Charlotte in MLS, New York City have won two of their previous three meetings against them, earning a 2-0 triumph at Yankee Stadium in September.<\/p>\n Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:<\/p>\n New York City FC Major League Soccer form:<\/p>\n Team News<\/p>\n There will be some key players missing from the Charlotte lineup on Tuesday, including Pep Biel<\/a>, who hurt his knee, while Nikola Petkovic<\/a> is questionable with a knock and Drake Callender<\/a> has a groin strain.<\/p>\n In addition, Harry Toffolo<\/a> is doubtful due to a muscle issue, as is Nimfasha Berchimas because of a foot injury and Wilfried Zaha must sit out with a red card suspension.<\/p>\n Kerwin Vargas<\/a> and Zaha found the back of the net in the opening half against Philly, while Kristijan Kahlina<\/a> made seven stops in the game to collect a clean sheet.<\/p>\n On the New York City FC side, it is the usual suspects who are likely out, with Keaton Parks<\/a> and Malachi Jones<\/a> dealing with leg injuries and Jacob Arroyave doubtful with a knee problem.<\/p>\n The MLS Award nominees were announced on Thursday, with Matt Freese<\/a> on the ballot for Goalkeeper of the Year, and at this stage, he is the perceived frontrunner to be the number one at next summer\u2019s World Cup for the USA.<\/p>\n Nicolas Fernandez<\/a> had the only goal for the Boys in Blue on Decision Day against Seattle, while Alonso Martinez<\/a> will be heavily relied upon in this match and in this series, scoring three times before against Charlotte, including a brace the last time they met.<\/p>\n Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Ream, Marshall-Rutty; Bronico, Westwood, Diani; Vargas, Toklomati, Abada<\/p>\n New York City FC possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n Freese; Gray, Gustavo, Martins, O\u2019Toole; Haak, Perea; Wolf, Moralez, N. Fernandez; Martinez<\/p>\n We say: Charlotte FC 0-1 New York City FC<\/p>\n Facing one of the best goalkeepers in MLS without two key attacking pieces in Biel and Zaha could prove to be too much for even a balanced Charlotte side to overcome.<\/p>\n For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/24\/45\/alonso-martinez.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Kerwin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/uploads\/2025\/08\/kerwin-vargas-689cf712d7007238.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"SM](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/20\/33\/sm-words-green-background.png\" "\\"SM")
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