For Charlotte FC and New York City FC, the theme of their respective matches last week was about one team being able to finish and another falling short.
As a result of Charlotte's disappointing loss and one of NYCFC's best performances of the season, the teams share identical records heading into their encounter Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.
Charlotte (3-4-2, 11 points) scored three goals for the first time two weeks ago when it earned a one-goal home win over Toronto FC, but the follow-up was a dud in a 3-0 home loss to Minnesota on Sunday. After rallying to earn its previous win, Charlotte mustered one shot on goal and gave up three goals in a span of 22 minutes bridging the first and second halves.
"We just can't play like that in this league, you get punished," Charlotte captain Ashley Westwood said. "We've had a reality check."
Charlotte is coming off its third shutout loss of the season, and two are on the road, where it has scored just twice.
NYCFC (3-4-2, 11 points) are on a modest four-game unbeaten streak and are 3-1-2 in its past six matches. The club scored only once in a season-opening three-game losing streak that culminated with a late collapse against Portland on March 9.
After starting its unbeaten streak with 1-1 draws against Inter Miami and Atlanta United, NYCFC are coming off consecutive 2-0 victories.
In last Saturday's win over D.C. United, Santiago Rodriguez scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 20th minute and set up Julian Fernandez, who scored in second-half stoppage time for the second straight week.
"I said after the game in the locker room it has been a long time since we've gone back-to-back -- too long, really, since we went back-to-back -- so it's good to enjoy that after the game," NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said.
"Now we have the opportunity to do a three-game run. We have to make sure we do that before we think about anything else."
NYCFC also produced 22 shots -- eight on target -- against D.C. after scoring twice in the second half two weeks ago against the New England Revolution.
Charlotte is 4-0-1 in the clubs' previous matchups, including a 1-0 home win in the 2024 season opener.
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