Round 1, Match 3: Game Recap and Player Ratings for Charlotte FC vs NYCFC

By Brian Maurer

Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90

Charlotte FC saved their season with a big PK shootout result in New York last weekend, returning home-field advantage to their playoff series. Now the focus turned to whether Charlotte's attack could put goals up in a crucial home playoff match, something they have never done before.

The Charlotte faithful's pre-match Poznan set the tone for a high-energy start for the Crown's fast, high-pressure through the first few minutes of the match. They controlled the vast majority of the first half, but a decision to go for an aggressive long throw to close out the first half turned into a dangerous counter for New York, who clinically finished their chance.

The second half started poorly for Charlotte as well, as they gave up a second on a one-on-one where Alonso Martinez buried his chance, making the Crown look dead in the water. Then seemingly out of nowhere, Idan Toklomati put away a chance that fell to him from an Archie Goodwin assist, giving them life with less than 10 minutes and another 12 of stoppage time.

Unfortunately, Charlotte couldn't find an equalizer, and New York was able to chip home a third dagger late.

Kristijan Kahlina - 5/10

Kahlina had to save one comfortable free kick and collect one searching cross that looked dangerous, but other than that, it was a comfortable first half for the Croatian keeper until New York took advantage of Charlotte putting numbers forward on a long throw.

In the second half, Kahlina didn't have to face much volume besides the second New York counterattack goal, but again, not much he could have done with the one-on-one chance.

He faced a third one-on-one chance and was chipped on the third goal to ice the game for NYCFC.

Harry Toffolo - 6/10

In possession, Toffolo would get high down the left, giving Zaha the flexibility to push more centrally to get on the ball in the final third. He posed as a great outlet on the left wing in the attacking half.

Toffolo continued to play extremely high, especially down the stretch when Charlotte was looking for an equalizing goal. He put a dangerous header in towards Goodwin, but his acrobatic scorpion kick was nowhere near.

Tim Ream - 4/10

Ream's presence and one-on-one defending were strong through the first 30 minutes of the first half. The only hiccup on what was otherwise a great first half was the one-on-three after the long throw, but most defenders stranded on that island aren't going to be able to do much in that spot.

In the second half, Ream and Malanda struggled a bit more to stay compact and keep sound shape, allowing New York to find opportunities and a second goal.

On the third goal, Ream and Zaha both failed to stop Wolf as he drove forward strongly on the counter to put the game to bed.

Adilson Malanda - 4/10

Malanda's passing was aggressive early, but he had multiple passes that led to turnovers in bad areas. Defensively, he and Ream looked strong through the first half until the New York counter that led to Charlotte going down 1-0.

Malanda and Ream looked less stable and were drawn out of position more in the second half, leading to a second goal scored by NYCFC in the second half. The third goal was on a last-ditch scramble as Charlotte put all their numbers forward.

Nathan Byrne - 4/10

Byrne's support with the high press helped keep New York pinned back through the first stretch of Game 3. Hannes Wolf didn't have many dangerous moments early, largely due to the recoveries from both Byrne and Vargas.

New York found two goals, one at the end of the first half and at the start of the second half both involved Byrne as he couldn't manage the last ditch defending well enough. The first goal was tricky to blame any one player, as it was Smith's coaching decision that led to that heavy counterattack.

The second goal was Alonso Martinez being distinctly faster, stronger, and more composed in that moment.

Djibril Diani - 5/10

Diani was able to provide support with his press and as a runner in the box early on with a chance at a free header that sailed high. Throughout the majority of the first half, Diani's pressing and work rate were strong, but Charlotte's midfield got played through a lot more in the second half as New York began to impose itself on the game.

Ashley Westwood - 5/10

Westwood faced another game in this series where he struggled to make the impact needed from the captain in a make-or-break game. Defensively, Westwood and Diani's work in the middle was solid pressing during the first half.

After going down 2-0, he put in a good cross into Vargas, who hit the side netting and had more of an impact in attacking build-up, but it felt like it was too little too late.

Brandt Bronico - 5/10

Bronico was key at the top of Charlotte's press early on and had a moment to turn the tide with a go-ahead goal from a Toklomati layoff, but he put his shot over the bar. While the pressing and running from the midfielder was solid, he had a moment to change the game, and he failed to do so and was eventually subbed for Archie Goodwin in the 61st minute.

Wilfried Zaha - 6/10

Zaha started Game 3 well, making an impact early, getting on the ball and distributing, setting up multiple attacks in the final third. Unfortunately, the key moment never came in the first half, which set up the moment for New York to steal the thunder in stoppage time during the first 45.

In the second half, Zaha's frustration started to boil over as New York continued to get under his skin.

Idan Toklomati - 7/10

Toklomati found multiple dangerous moments, but his biggest moment was when he couldn't quite pull the trigger, and then he decided to dish it to Bronico, who put his shot over the bar.

Toklomati struggled to make an impact through most of the second half, but when the ball fell to him in the six, he slotted it home coolly to give the Crown a chance at a comeback.

Kerwin Vargas - 5/10

Vargas' work rate on the high press early helped keep Charlotte on the front foot and provided multiple recovery runs to support Byrne defensively as well. He struggled to make the offensive impact needed in the second half and was subbed by Liel Abada in the 78th minute.

Archie Goodwin - 7/10

Subbed in for Bronico in the 61st minute. He made an impact with his first goal contribution as a Charlotte FC player with an assist to Toklomati, as the Crown attempted to mount a comeback.

Liel Abada - 5/10

Subbed in for Vargas in the 78th minute, and struggled to make the attacking impact needed off the bench.