An incredible solo goal from Alonso Martínez was enough to give New York City FC the 1-0 win in Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, as the Pigeons arrived in the Queen City as the underdog and walked out leading Charlotte FC in this best-of-three series.
Going into Tuesday night, Charlotte had just two losses at Bank of America Stadium in all of 2025, boasting the best home record in the Eastern Conference with 13 wins. The last league loss came all the way back on May 17th, when Chicago Fire won 4-1.
This gave the Pigeons a daunting challenge in Game 1 as they played in front of an announced crowd of 33,709. But New York City Head Coach Pascal Jansen and his staff got it right once again, with the Dutchman's tactical tweaks giving his team the first away victory for any MLS team so far this postseason, and a chance to win the series in The Bronx on Saturday.
New York City: 1.47 xG, 12 shots, 5 shots on target, 50% possession, 368 passes, 84% pass accuracy, 8 fouls, 7 corners, 4 saves
Charlotte: 0.43 xG, 10 shots, 4 shots on target, 50% possession, 462 passes, 85.3% pass accuracy, 7 fouls, 8 corners, 4 saves
Goals:
• New York City, Alonso Martínez, 34'
Attendance: 33,709
Hudson River Blue Staff
Hudson River Blue Staff
Martínez the hero once again
The key to New York City's success in the MLS Cup Playoffs is Martínez, the Pigeon's talisman.
With 17 goals during the regular season, Martínez was New York City's most threatening attacker in 2025, leading the squad in goal contributions. Even when he doesn't score, the Costa Rican's dangerous runs create space for the rest of the team's attackers. It's fair to say that Martínez finding the back of the net is critical to Jansen's game plan.
Yet, the Costa Rican closed out the season with zero goals in his final three games in the regular season: The Pigeon's most reliable source of goals was a question mark heading into the highest-pressure environment of the season. But as they say, pressure makes diamonds.
Martínez got on the scoreboard in a dominant first half for New York City when he created something out of nothing. With his back to goal, Martínez picked up a Charlotte half-clearance deflected off Andrés Perea in the 34th minute. The striker then carried the ball towards the goal at speed. One by one, the Costa Rican skipped past the entire Charlotte backline, beating two midfielders and three defenders, before a well-placed pick from Maxi Moralez allowed Martínez to skate past the ageless Tim Ream, leaving him one-on-one with Kristijan Kahlina in goal.
Seeing the whites of the Croatian's eyes, Martínez slotted the ball home with power and conviction, capping off an early contender for goal of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
No shortage of confidence from El Clinico. Cred: New York City FC
Martínez's moment of magic proved to be the difference on a night where New York City looked the more threatening side for nearly the entire 90 minutes. Outshooting Charlotte eight shots to four in the first half, NYCFC dominated proceedings during the first 45 minutes, controlling the flow and possession of the match, while taking the energy out of the stadium.
Though Charlotte applied more pressure after the halftime interval, the NYCFC game plan didn't falter, as Martínez & Co continued to test Kalhlina until the final whistle. On the night, the Costa Rican fired off four shots, with three hitting the target. Martínez completed 50% of his dribbles and was dispossessed just once.
The objective this Saturday will be to get Martínez good looks at goal more often, as Charlotte's defense struggled to contain the speedy striker between the lines. His partnership with Nico Fernández creates a nightmare for opposing defenders by exploiting open space and executing precise link-up plays. On the smaller field inside Yankee Stadium, this precision will be crucial for dismantling Dean Smith's now-desperate Charlotte side.
Glenn Crooks
Versatility wins again
If Jansen has proved one thing during his first season of MLS soccer in 2025, it's that he is not afraid to change his lineups and adjust his tactics from opponent to opponent.
Jansen prioritizes versatility over all else, as exhibited by his ability to utilize various formations and tactical schemes, giving the Pigeons an unpredictable edge. Summer signings Nico and Raul Gustavo are both capable of playing multiple positions, and it makes sense that they both played critical roles in New York City's win in Game 1.
In possession, the Pigeons lined up in a roughly 3-2-4-1 formation, with Thiago Martins, Justin Haak, and Gustavo forming a back three. Kevin O'Toole and Tayvon Gray flanked either side as wingbacks, pushing high up the field. This provided the midfield defensive cover, encouraging Nico and Maxi to roam freely and exploit the space between Charlotte's defensive lines.
This is especially effective in transition, with NYC moving the ball from back to front quickly and incisively. Aussie midfielder Aiden O'Neill, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the 1-0 Decision Day loss to Seattle through illness, was instrumental in transition, completing 98% of his passes.
Perea pings the crossbar. Cred: New York City FC
Perea thrived in this system as well. Replacing Hannes Wolf in the starting lineup, Perea caused chaos on both sides of the ball as a box-to-box midfielder, even smacking the crossbar just minutes before Martínez's first-half strike. Defensively, the American was an effective sweeper, making six recoveries and two interceptions along with two tackles — oh, and the assist for Martínez as well.
But once the Pigeons lost the ball, Jansen's tactical acumen was on full display. Out of possession, NYC reverted to a loose 4-4-2, with Raul Gustavo moving to left back, and forming a back four alongside Thiago Martins, Haak, and Gray. This pushed O'Toole into a wide midfielder, as with O'Neill.
This formation formed a more solid base defensively, as shown during the second half when Charlotte threw more bodies forward. This proved an effective strategy, with Charlotte attempting seven shots in the second half, but only mustering 0.32 xG.
Jansen's unpredictability makes preparing to face New York City a difficult task for any coach, let alone in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The small field of Yankee Stadium will allow Jansen to get creative with his midfield and wide players. Fans could expect a wing partnership of Wolf and Nico, or Wolf and Agustín Ojeda, or Wolf and Julián Fernández, or Ojeda and Nico, or Nico and Fernández. Any one of these combinations is a tantalizing pairing.
That's the beauty of a Jansen side: You just don't know what combination of players the Dutchman is going to utilize.
Liam Fitzpatrick
Pressure mounting for both sides
With Game 2 set for 3:30 pm ET at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, pressure will be mounting on both sides to get a result in front of what's expected to be a rowdy crowd for the first MLS playoff game in The Bronx in four years.
There's no love lost between these two sides. That much is true based on the extracurriculars seen at the end of regulation, with both sides coming together in a scrum following a shove in the back of Charlotte's Ashley Westwood from O'Toole.
Welcome to the MLS Cup Playoffs | Courtesy Fox Sports
The MLS Cup Playoffs are where all the hard work of the regular season is put to the test. For both sides, this series defines the legacy of each club's 2025, and neither side has come this far to go home early.
For Charlotte, it is simple: Win or go home.
Dissecting New York City FC's 1-0 win over Charlotte FC | Courtesy MLS and Apple TV
Star signing Wilfred Zaha will return to the side after serving his Game 1 suspension after being sent off for a silly and unnecessary foul against vs Philadelphia on Decision Day. The Ivorian pestered the NYCFC defense last time Charlotte visited The Bronx, and he'll have a point to prove in Game 2, after abandoning his team in Game 1.
Forwards Idnan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas looked unconvincing in Game 1, with the pair combining for just three shots on the night, and just one on target. You have to think they'll be more dangerous on Saturday. Zaha's return to the left wing will reestablish a creative outlet for Toklomati, while relieving some pressure off Vargas on the other wing.
For New York City, the pressure will be to make sure that Round One doesn't return to Charlotte for a Game 3. The Pigeons already got the hard part of the series out of the way, grabbing a result in Charlotte. Now, the pressure is on to build on that momentum, and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a win.
Andrew Leigh
• New York City, Aiden O'Neill, yellow card, dissent 36′
• New York City, Tayvon Gray, yellow card, foul 56′
• New York City, Raul Gustavo, yellow card, foul 68′
• New York City, Justin Haak, yellow card, foul 71′
• New York City, Kevin O'Toole, yellow card, foul 90′
Officials
• Referee: Jon Freemon
• Assistant referees: Jeffrey Greeson, Tyler Wyrostek
• Fourth official: Allen Chapman
• VAR: Timothy Ford
• Assistant VAR: Craig Lowry
