New York City FC's four-game road stretch did not start promisingly.
NYCFC fell 2-0 to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night, losing a second straight away match and fifth overall this season. A lightning delay that lasted over an hour may have thrown off the visitors, but Charlotte found a way to score twice while New York City didn't create enough dangerous chances to challenge goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
NYCFC's overall record against Charlotte is now a woeful 1W-1W-5W, but the team remains in Seventh Place in the Eastern Conference because of Philadelphia Union's 2-0 shutout of New York Red Bulls.
Here are three thoughts from the scoreless defeat in North Carolina.
Hudson River Blue Staff
1. NYCFC can't contain Pep Biel
With Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang set to join EFL Championship side Derby County, Pep Biel is next in line to carry the offensive load. The Spanish winger, on loan from Olympiacos FC for the second straight season, became the fastest player in Charlotte history to record 20 goal contributions last week.
Biel created Charlotte's opening goal against New York City, recording his 10th assist of the season and third in three games via backup striker Idan Toklomati's strike in the 14th minute.
Idan Toklomati opens the scoring | Courtesy Major League Soccer
Aiden O'Neill and Andrés Perea were caught ball watching and gave Biel too much space to run in behind. Biel played a great pass to Toklomati, who didn't miss from point-blank range for his fourth goal of the season and third in four games.
To all appearances, it looked like Toklomati was offside in the build-up play to the goal, but referee Guido Gonzales Jr. didn't call it back, and Charlotte took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Oliver Strand
2. Matt Freese, Kevin O'Toole start again
Two key players returned to the starting lineup against Charlotte: Matt Freese and Kevin O'Toole.
Freese spent June with the United States men's national team, reaching the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final. O'Toole, who missed all of May due to injury, made substitute appearances in the last three matches played.
Birk Risa filled in for O'Toole while he was out and seemed to have won the starting role. But Risa might no longer be with New York City. The defender didn't make tonight's lineup card as reports surfaced that the Norwegian is set to rejoin Molde FK. His absence made way for O'Toole, who recorded his first start since the 1-0 win over Toronto FC on April 26.
Freese had a quiet night and made just one save, but couldn't do anything about the two goals he conceded. As for O'Toole, the 26-year-old was involved offensively, completing 59 of his 63 passes while playing five passes into the final third.
Hudson River Blue Staff
3. Rough start to four-game road stretch
New York City opened its four-game road gauntlet with tonight's loss to Charlotte, and continues to be winless at Bank of America Stadium. Up next for NYCFC are games in Florida, Missouri, and Texas during these dog days of summer, making it one of the toughest roadtrips in club history.
Our highly scientific five-point scale, the Roadtrip Misery Index, gave this away gauntlet a rating of 🥵🥵🥵🥵, tying with the 2017 four-game roadtrip for the most miserable.
Considering that New York City has just one away win this season – and that tough matches like this in the blistering heat in the middle of the country – it's hard to see that this team will get many points from this extended roadtrip.
Oliver Strand
