New York City FC kicked off the 2024 season with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. NYCFC played like it was 2023 all over again, and struggled to defend set pieces or create scoring opportunities.
New York City conceded in the eighth minute from a corner kick, and never seemed to find its footing in the game. Goalkeeper Matt Freese kept NYCFC in it with a penalty kick save, but New York City ultimately suffered their fifth opening day defeat in a row.
Read on for your NYCFC vs Charlotte FC player ratings.
Mounsef Bakrar – 4.9
Hannes Wolf (off 84’) – 6.1
Santiago Rodríguez – 5.6
Julián Fernández (off 62′) – 4.1
Keaton Parks – 5.0
James Sands – 5.8
Mitja Ilenič (off 74′) – 4.6
Kevin O’Toole – 3.7
Thiago Martins – 5.5
Birk Risa – 4.9
Matt Freese – 8.3
Jovan Mijatović (on 62′) – 5.2
Tayvon Gray (on 74’) – 4.1
Talles Magno (on 84′) – 4.6
Nick Cushing – 2.9
Cushing brought on some attacking firepower in Talles Magno, but it was too late for NYCFC to get anything going in the final few minutes of the game. He also left Andrés Perea on the bench, and decided to play Wolf as the No 10 instead of Rodríguez.
Mario Maric – 5.5
New York were called for 17 fouls to Charlotte’s 13, so it makes sense why NYCFC fans were not fond of the referee. Though we should point out that Maric’s call on O’Toole’s handball was correct, and granting a penalty kick was the right decision.
Player of the Match
Matt Freese
The newly-contracted goalkeeper proved why he is the starting No 1 with four saves. Freese saw a lot of action early-on but could not keep out the lone goal of the game, as Iuri Tavares headed the ball off the crossbar, which rebounded nicely to Adilson Malanda to open the scoring.
Freese was then called upon in the 65th minute after Kevin O’Toole handled the ball in the box, giving the home team a penalty. Freese went the same way as Kerwin Vargas to keep it a one-goal game with over 20 minutes to play.
Access denied 🚫 @Matty_Ice49 pic.twitter.com/xLBaKaWWO4
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) February 25, 2024
Vargas had another clear-cut scoring opportunity in the 70th minute as he found himself in-behind Birk Risa, but Freese made himself big to keep out the Colombian. It was a promising Matchday 1 for Freese.
