MLS
MLS Wild Card New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC: Preview, team news, stats
The two sides face off at Red Bull Arena for the chance to take on Supporters’ Shield champions FC Cincinnati in Round One of the playoffs.
After eight months of regular season action, the MLS Cup Playoffs are here. This year’s adjusted format sees the introduction of a Wild Card round between the eight- and ninth-placed teams in each conference.
In the Eastern Conference the New York Red Bulls will host Charlotte FC in a one-off game to decide who makes it through to the best-of-three Round One. The Wild Card fixtures are single-legged affairs, which will be decided by a penalty shootout if the scores are level at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
On a thrilling Decision Day in the East, both teams needed late dramatics to secure passage to the Wild Card game. The Red Bulls required a 94th-minute John Tolkin penalty to get the victory against Nashville; Charlotte relied on a stunning performance from goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina to see out a narrow win over Inter Miami.
Read more about the MLS Cup playoffs...
All to play for in Wild Card clash
Although they qualified in similar circumstances, that is where the comparisons between the two teams ends. NYRB have extended their record stretch of post-season qualifications to a 14th consecutive year, while Charlotte FC are making the playoffs for the first time in their history.
With thanks to our friends at Sofascore, here’s how the two sides compare in MLS this season...
Since taking over the team mid-season Red Bulls head coach Troy Lesesne has drawn from the club’s famed youth academy to build a hard-working team that finished the regular season with the joint-second-best defensive record in the East. However they are painfully short of goals and the Red Bull’s top scorer in MLS was wideman Omir Fernandez, who notched just six goals.
Charlotte have a nice blend of youth and experience that was crucial in the victory over Inter Miami. Kerwin Vargas scored the crucial wining goal last Saturday and the 21-year-old looked dangerous, but the late intervention of experienced goalkeeper Kahlina was just as important. In the middle of the pitch team captain and former Premier League star Ashley Westwood adds real elite know-how.
New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC team news
Neither team picked up any suspensions or sustained any serious injuries in their final games of the regular season. Both teams could therefore name unchanged teams if they wish, although the four-day turnaround may persuade the coaches to rotate their squads in certain areas.
The hosts are still without the Hassan Ndam (thigh); Lewis Morgan (hip); Dante Vanzeir (back); Cory Burke (groin) due to long-term injuries. Charlotte boss Christian Lattanzio has just two absences; Vinicius Mello and Benjamin Bender, both of whom are out for the remainder of the year.
It looks set to be a tense encounter between two teams who drew both of their regular season encounters. With that in mind, it would be no surprise if the first-ever MLS playoff Wild Card fixture is decided with a penalty shoot-out.