Overview

• New York City FC beat Charlotte FC 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 20 as Alonso Martínez converted penalties in the 11th and 58th minutes.
• The first spot kick followed a foul by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina on Andrés Perea, and the second came after a VAR review ruled a handball on Idan Toklomati.
• Goalkeeper Matt Freese recorded his eighth shutout of the season and saved a 69th-minute penalty taken by Wilfried Zaha.
• Field Level Media reported the win clinched a playoff berth for NYCFC, which moved to 53 points and narrowed the gap near the top of the Eastern Conference.
• Charlotte’s loss halted its nine-match winning streak and ended its bid to set a new MLS single-season record after tying the 2018 Seattle Sounders’ mark.