Charlotte FC forces Game 3 in MLS playoffs with shootout win at NYCFC

Kristijan Kahlina dove the wrong way. Julián Fernández missed wide left anyway, and suddenly Charlotte FC’s season breathed again.

The Croatian goalkeeper made saves with his hands, his positioning and sheer fortune Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. His penalty shootout heroics powered Charlotte to a 7-6 victory after 90 scoreless minutes against New York City FC, forcing a decisive Game 3 at 7 p.m. Friday back at Bank of America Stadium.

When Agustín Ojeda stepped up for NYCFC’s seventh attempt, Kahlina blocked it and sent the Crown home alive.

“I felt comfortable during the game, which is pleasing because I didn’t in the first half last week,” manager Dean Smith said. “The lads got it done in the penalties.”

Regulation chances wasted

Charlotte created enough opportunities to avoid penalties entirely. Brandt Bronico hit the crossbar twice — once in the 14th minute, again in the 45th. Harry Toffolo missed wide from point-blank range in the 42nd minute with a 22% expected goal opportunity. Ashley Westwood’s shot hit the post.

The pattern repeated for 90 minutes: create, miss, survive.

“We created some really good chances,” Smith said. “BB hit the bar, West has hit the post, or the top of the post. Toffs missed a really good chance at the far post.”

Wilfried Zaha’s return from suspension provided the attacking spark Charlotte lacked in Game 1’s home loss. The former Premier League star was fouled before the 12th minute, drew a yellow card in the 27th minute for a hard foul, then picked up his own caution in the 81st for arguing with the referee.

But his presence forced NYCFC to commit fouls and opened space for teammates.

“It makes a big difference,” Smith said. “He’s probably just topped up the MLS fouls ratio a little bit more with the fouls that were on him today. He’s got that extra quality.”

In the 56th minute, Bronico had a one-on-one opportunity but chose to cross to Idan Toklomati instead of shooting. The ball went harmlessly by. Another chance evaporated.

NYCFC held a 59.54% possession advantage in the first half and finished the game with a 17-8 shot advantage. While Charlotte’s energy was noticeably better than Tuesday’s flat performance, the scoreboard remained stuck at zero.

Kahlina holds the line

While Charlotte’s attack misfired, Kahlina kept NYCFC scoreless with critical saves. A diving stop in the 41st minute denied Raul Gustavo’s header from a corner kick with an 8% expected goal opportunity. In the 74th minute, he made an even bigger save on Thiago Martins’ header from a free kick with a 24% expected goal rating.

Those moments proved critical as regulation ended scoreless, sending the match to penalties, where Charlotte had lost its previous three shootouts and NYCFC had won five of its past six.

“We’ve been working on penalties, obviously, because of the competition format,” Smith said. “After 90 minutes, there’s got to be a winner. We knew this format.”

Shootout drama decides season

Twenty-year-old Archie Goodwin, a late substitute for Bronico in the 75th minute, stepped up first for Charlotte and scored. NYCFC’s Alonso Martinez answered.

Westwood missed Charlotte’s second attempt when Matt Freese deflected it wide. Toffolo slipped on his approach but still scored to knot it at three, making up for his crucial first-half miss. When Fernández stepped up for NYCFC, he missed wide left with Kahlina diving the wrong direction.

Zaha scored to give Charlotte the advantage. Then Justin Haak tied it again.

Charlotte’s defenders took over. Djibril Diani whipped his penalty into the top corner. Adilson Malanda scored. Nathan Byrne put his down the middle for a 7-6 advantage.

“They stood up,” Smith said. “Diani was probably one of the best penalties. He reversed, whipped it into the top corner. Adi took a great penalty as well. Nathan’s put one down the middle as well.”

Ojeda stepped up for NYCFC with Charlotte’s season in Kahlina’s hands. The goalkeeper blocked it. The Crown was coming home alive.

Return to Charlotte for Game 3

Charlotte returns home Friday for Game 3, having built a reputation as one of the league’s toughest venues. Winners of Game 1 in best-of-three series have advanced to the semifinals 13 out of 16 times, but Charlotte will try to buck that trend.

“This is two out of three. We’ve got another game to go,” Smith said he told his team. “Now we take them back to the Bank and it’s a proper elimination game.”

Charlotte hasn’t scored a goal during regulation in these playoffs. Players have hit posts, crossbars and missed from close range. But Charlotte’s still alive because when elimination stared the team down Saturday night, Kahlina stared back and won.

“I thought players handled the ball a lot better,” Smith said. “Technically, we were better. We created some really good chances as well and looked more of a team today.”

One more match. One more chance. All thanks to the goalkeeper.

This story was originally published November 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM.