After its best regular season since 2019, New York City FC now prepares to face Charlotte FC in Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
NYCFC went one loss, one win against Charlotte this season, first losing 2-0 at Bank of America Stadium on July 12. That started a nine-game winning streak for Charlotte, which coincidentally got snapped by New York City with a 2-0 win at Yankee Stadium on September 20.
Ahead of Game One of the playoff series in Charlotte on Tuesday night, Hudson River Blue spoke with Justin Haak at the New York City FC training facility to preview the matchup.
“We played both games against Charlotte kind of recently, so we’re familiar with them,” Haak said. “We know they’re super organized defensively, don’t give away a lot. So, it’s really just about staying patient and playing our way.”
New York City enters the playoffs on a two-game losing streak, falling on the road to the Philadelphia Union and, most recently, to the Seattle Sounders on Decision Day.
“Regardless of the last two results, we know we’ve been playing well,” Haak said. “In the Seattle game, maybe we started a little bit slow, but in Philly, we had big chances in the first half to go up. We’ve competed with all these top teams in the East, so we’re ready for any challenge, especially right now. Being in the playoffs, there’s no lack of motivation for this game.”
Oliver Strand
Charlotte, on the other hand, has won its last two games, beating DC United 1-0 and then Philadelphia 2-0 on Decision Day. Under second-year head coach Dean Smith, Charlotte totaled 59 points — its best regular season in club history.
With a 4th Place finish in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte has home-field advantage for Round One. Charlotte has a record of 13W-1D-3L at home, tied with Philadelphia for the best home record in MLS. It won’t be easy for NYCFC, which is 0W-0D-4L all-time against Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium.
“In general, I think they’re just a really good home team,” Haak said. “Their atmosphere is always really good. So it’s just about going into it with a mentality that we’re there to win. We’re not really scared of any team that we go away to play, regardless of the record, because those games aren’t gonna affect this game at all. So it’s really just about this game.”
Charlotte suffered a blow on Decision Day, as star winger Wilfried Zaha was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, meaning he won’t be able to play on Tuesday night in Game One. Zaha has 10 goals and five assists this season and has scored in each of his last three games.
“We know he’s a key player for them,” Haak said. “But it’s still a team game. They have 10 other really good starters that have been playing and guys that will come off the bench and make a difference for them. Maybe it’ll effect them a little more than it’ll effect us; regardless, we’re focused on ourselves for the game.”
Both teams will enter Tuesday’s game with nine days of rest. This is because the primary Bank of America Stadium tenants, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, and it takes two days to make the stadium soccer-friendly again.
“It definitely helps us because a few guys were sick coming off of the last game — they got a chance to get some more rest,” Haak said. “Guys that were dealing with little injuries here and there; just a little bit more time to recover. I think it will help us in the end.”
New York City is familiar with being the underdog in the playoffs. Last season, NYCFC came out on top against FC Cincinnati in Round One after losing Game One. They won Game Two at Citi Field and eliminated Cincinnati in Game Three on penalties at TQL Stadium.
“We have a really good chance to do something special, and I’m really happy with how the regular season went,” said Haak. “I’m not looking to just let the playoffs go by too quick; I wanna have a good run with this team.”
Oliver Strand
so amazing to have seen the li’l academy kid Justin grow into such an indispensable key player of the team 🙂 definitely time to skew some stats in NC. LFGBIB!