NYCFC silenced by Charlotte in storm-delayed 2–0 loss

New York City FC endured a frustrating night in North Carolina when the weather ended up playing more of a role than even Maxi Moralez. A nearly 90-minute storm delay disrupted the match's rhythm, as Charlotte FC shut out New York City 2-0 and kept the visitors winless at Bank of America Stadium.

The red-hot Hannes Wolf and ever-dangerous Alonso Martínez were both kept unusually quiet. But it was a team loss: The defense was exposed on both goals, and the attack struggled to generate meaningful chances on target.

Alonso Martínez needs help

Martínez looked isolated in New York City's loss. One of the team's primary attacking tactics is to get the ball to the striker in behind, but Martínez was well-covered by the Charlotte defense. At times when Martínez did successfully carry the ball into dangerous spaces, no other teammates made runs to help create chances.

Head coachPascal Jansen started Agustín Ojeda and Hannes Wolf, bringing on Julián Fernández at the half for Ojeda, but the three failed to offer consistent service. None of them could connect crosses into the box or complete a pass to tee up a teammate for a shot. Collectively, the trio managed only one shot on target, three accurate crosses, and three chances created in 90 minutes.

The lack of clinical finishing sunk a New York City that controlled possession and finished the night with the higher xG, but that was held scoreless for the eighth time this season.

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Hudson River BlueOliver Strand

Road woes continue

New York City has just seven points after 10 games played on the road: The team's travel form remains a severe liability. After the loss to Charlotte, the team remains in 7th Place in the Eastern Conference because of results at home, but New York City’s road form is a glaring concern that could very well make or break the season.

This loss to Charlotte was the first match in a four-game roadtrip that has NYCFC spending July in North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, and Texas. It's the sixth four-game roadtrip in club history.

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Last year, a stronger squad earned just two points over a similar four-game roadtrip in July; in 2023, New York City earned just one point.

How will NYCFC fare this year? After last night's game, it doesn't look promising. Against Charlotte, the starters in New York City's defense accumulated an average match rating of just 6.8, per FotMob, winning 17 duels and making just three tackles. That might not sound catastrophic, but Charlotte absorbed the pressure and sprang forward when they had the ball, making the most of their few chances and catching New York City flat-footed in key moments.

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Hudson River BlueOliver Strand

No sign of Birk Risa

One of the most notable surprises came before kickoff: Norwegian defender Birk Risa was left out of the matchday squad entirely. On Friday, Hudson River Blue published a rumor from Norwegian outlet Nettavisen  that the defender was on his way back to Molde FK in Norway. Risa's absence in the lineup seemed to confirm that he was no longer with the squad.

After the game ended, Tom Bogert posted that Risa is indeed about to leave.

Risa played at left-back in recent games in place of the injured Kevin O’Toole. But O’Toole was back in the Starting XI for this game and performed well despite the result — he completed all of his tackles, misplaced just four of his passes, and won seven of eleven duels. O’Toole now has the opportunity to make the position his own again, with Nico Cavallo behind him on the depth chart.

New York City 0-2 Charlotte: 3 Thoughts

NYCFC remains winless at Bank of America Stadium as Charlotte FC score twice on a weather-delayed night in North Carolina. So what if the first goal was offside? It was a lack of clinical finishing that sunk New York City.

Hudson River BlueMatthew Mangam

Official Highlights | Charlotte FC 2-0 New York City FC