Charlotte FC stops Orlando City on PKs, forcing decisive Game 3 in MLS Cup playoff series
In dramatic fashion, Charlotte FC won its first home playoff match in franchise history.
Charlotte secured its victory on penalty kicks — three goals to one following more than 100 scoreless minutes — against Orlando City SC on Friday night at a raucous Bank of America Stadium, sending the playoff series back to Orlando for a decisive third game.
Charlotte striker Patrick Agyemang scored the team’s first, blasting a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Karol Swiderski, the left-footed Polish forward, converted his ensuing shot, then it was midfielder Ashley Westwood who lifted the Queen City side over the top.
“That was more like us,” Westwood said. “The energy, the fans brought it. And we called it — I called it — last week, I said: ‘This is a different game.’ No matter who you’re playing, we know we’ve got a chance. That’s how important fans are to us.”
Another standout performance in goal from Kristijan Kahlina
There was a crowd of 40,238 inside the venue Friday who witnessed Charlotte’s historic playoff win. Orlando won the time of possession battle throughout the night, but Charlotte’s potent defense kept it to a single shot.
Goalie Kristijan Kahlina, who led Charlotte to surrender the second-fewest goals in the MLS this season, showed up when it mattered most. After giving up a pair of goals in the Queen City side’s previous loss to Orlando, Kahlina saved three of Orlando’s four penalty shots to secure the victory.
“If you ask me, it would have been much easier if we scored a goal and won the game in regular time,” Kahlina said. “(Orlando) was thinking that they are close. Emotions go down. They come to the penalty kicks, they think they are close.
“We won the game, and now we go to their place, and again, they are thinking that they are close. And we will see who will be closer: Us or them.”
Charlotte wins in city’s first home playoff game in eight years
Charlotte won for the 10th time in 17 home matches this season. The teams will now head back to Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando for a winner-take-all Game 3, scheduled for next Saturday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.
The energy was there from the opening kick inside a packed Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte had offensive chances early, making several pushes downfield and even netting a pair of shots on goal; Kahlina maintained a clean sheet and left Orlando with just its single shot on goal during regulation. The Queen City side’s attack was critical, drawing 11 corner kicks compared to just three from its opponent.
It marked the city of Charlotte’s first home playoff game in eight years, since the Charlotte Hornets battled the Miami Heat in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
“The noise at the end for the penalty shootout was incredible,” Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith said. “That win is for the Carolinas. We know it’s been a real tough time over the last month with the hurricane hitting, and hopefully that can put some smiles on some faces.
“Because that’s the first playoff home game in eight years for a sports team. And hopefully, we can show the way forward, and others can follow.”
This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 10:07 PM.
