Charlotte, NYCFC have reasons to be confident heading into playoff series

Charlotte FC will attempt to earn its first MLS Cup Playoff win in regulation when it hosts a Round One series opener against New York City FC on Tuesday night.

Charlotte forced its previous opening-round series in 2024 to three games, but only by winning a penalty tiebreak after a 0-0 draw against Orlando City SC in Game 2. Orlando ended up taking the series by winning Game 3 on penalty kicks.

Expectations will be higher for the Eastern Conference fourth seed in 2025 now that Charlotte FC (19-13-2, 59 points in regular season) have had some experience and added former Premier League veterans Wilfried Zaha and Harry Toffolo to the squad.

"If you think about most of our squad, the base who's been playing, regardless of whether it's playoffs in MLS, they've had experience fighting at the top of the league somewhere," said Charlotte defender Nathan Byrne. "It's very similar all over the world. There's more pressure, there's better atmospheres. It's only what any footballer wants to play in."

But Zaha, who had 10 regular-season goals, will be suspended for the series opener after picking up a red card late in a 2-0 home win over top seed Philadelphia on Oct. 18 to close the regular season. Fellow 10-goal scorer Pep Biel is out for the season with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, fifth-seeded NYCFC (17-12-5, 56 points in regular season) should be close to full strength heading into their ninth postseason appearance in 11 total MLS campaigns.

Alonso Martinez posted a second consecutive strong season with 17 goals, while Hannes Wolf added 11. Argentine summer signing Nicolas Fernandez has scored in two of his last three appearances after a slow start following his summer arrival from Spanish club Elche CF.

First-year manager Pascal Jansen's squad ended its regular season with its first consecutive defeats since late March and early April. But those two losses were at the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union (1-0) and home to the two-time MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders (2-1).

Before that, City won six out of eight across August and September. That included a 2-0 home win over Charlotte on Sept. 20, after The Crown won the sides' first fixture by the same score in North Carolina in July.

"The moment is there, what we've been working for all season," Jansen said. "We've become way more consistent throughout the season. Apart from the last two games of the regular season, I'm quite pleased with the progression that we've made."

--Field Level Media