NY City vs Charlotte FC - prediction, team news, lineups

New York City FC tin punch their summons into circular 2 of the MLS Cup playoffs with a triumph connected Saturday erstwhile they invited Charlotte FC to Yankee Stadium successful crippled 2 of that best-of-three series.

A 1-0 triumph successful the opening crippled betwixt the 2 connected Tuesday has the Crown connected the brink of an opening circular exit for a 2nd successive playoff campaign.

Match preview

The 2nd circular is wrong scope for New York City, arsenic they took vantage of a Charlotte squad that were missing immoderate cardinal attacking pieces successful crippled 1 of this series.

Pascal Jansen’s men person won 5 of their erstwhile six league matches played astatine Yankee Stadium, suffering lone 1 decision implicit that agelong (2-1 versus DC United).

During the 2025 regular season, the Boys successful Blue had a 100% location grounds erstwhile starring aft 45 minutes, winning 5 games successful that scenario.

Saturday volition people their archetypal playoff outing successful the Bronx since 2021, with New York City FC winning 3 of their erstwhile 4 post-season affairs astatine Yankee Stadium.

While they person emerged victorious successful 3 successive opening-round playoff fixtures, this squad person not won consecutive post-season outings successful mean clip since 2022.

On Saturday, the Pigeons tin expanse a best-of-three playoff bid for the archetypal clip and support their 100% grounds against the Crown astatine Yankee Stadium.

For a 2nd successive season, Charlotte volition effort to stave disconnected elimination successful crippled 2 of an opening circular series, arsenic they saw a two-match winning tally extremity connected Tuesday.

In 3 of their 4 playoff outings all-time, this squad person failed to find the backmost of the net, portion they person yet to nett a first-half extremity successful this signifier of the post-season.

At the aforesaid time, they are inactive seeking their archetypal playoff roadworthy victory, but caput into this crippled having won 4 of their erstwhile 5 MLS encounters distant from home.

Only doubly this twelvemonth person Dean Smith’s broadside gone connected to suffer an distant lucifer domestically erstwhile netting the opening goal, with the past 1 coming successful June astatine Sporting Kansas City (2-1).

Historically they person fixed up an opening-half extremity successful 2 of their MLS playoff contests, going connected to suffer some times against New York-based clubs.

While this broadside person ne'er claimed a constituent against NYCFC successful the Bronx, Charlotte were successful beforehand the archetypal clip they visited Yankee Stadium successful 2024, lone to suffer 2-1.

New York City FC Major League Soccer Playoff form:

New York City FC signifier (all competitions):

Charlotte FC Major League Soccer Playoff form:

Charlotte FC signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Leg injuries volition apt forestall Keaton Parks and Malachi Jones from featuring for New York City connected Saturday, portion Jacob Arroyave is doubtful with a sore knee.

Alonso Martinez scored a worldly extremity to springiness his broadside the triumph successful crippled one, portion Matt Freese collected his 2nd successive playoff cleanable expanse distant from home, making 3 stops.

A groin strain volition support Drake Callender retired of the Charlotte fold for this one, Nikola Petkovic is doubtful with a knock, portion Pep Biel is not expected to diagnostic due to the fact that of a genu injury.

Nimfasha Berchimas has a sore foot, and striker Wilfried Zaha is eligible to instrumentality from his reddish paper suspension, which kept him retired of crippled one.

New York City FC imaginable starting lineup:

Freese; Gray, Martins, Haak, Gustavo, O’Toole; Perea, O’Neill, Moralez, Wolf; Martinez

Charlotte FC imaginable starting lineup:

Kahlina; Byrne, Ream, Malanda, Toffolo; Diani, Westwood, Bronico, Vargas, Toklomati, Zaha

We say: New York City FC 1-2 Charlotte FC

With their backs against the wall, we expect Charlotte to travel retired swinging and squeak retired a win, having shown their stock of resilience passim the year.

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