FIVE. Five matches without a win, and this one felt like they all feel right now — close enough to hurt, not enough to count.
New York City FC came to Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, May 13, and Nicolás Fernández Mercau made sure they left with three points. His eighth-minute strike — the ninth goal of his 2026 season — was all NYCFC needed. Final: New York City FC 1, Charlotte FC 0. Matt Freese posted a clean sheet. Your Crown heads into the week winless in five.
The goal came fast and it came clean. Moralez found Ojeda, Ojeda released Wolf, Wolf set up Fernández Mercau — who cut inside and drilled a low effort through Kristijan Kahlina. Eight minutes gone. One-nothing. The rest was Charlotte trying to answer.
They came close. Matt Freese — who kept a clean sheet against Charlotte in the Five Boroughs in mid-April — did it again in their own building. Vargas was turned away in the first half. Biel, set up by Zaha, was turned away in the second. Five minutes after the restart, Morrison Agyemang stepped in to deny Hannes Wolf a one-on-one opportunity — and Charlotte couldn't capitalize going the other way.
Then came the 67th minute. A short corner cleared to Vargas at the byline. Toklomati turned it home. The officials raised the flag. Offside. The disallowed goal was the evening in miniature: Charlotte doing enough to look dangerous, never enough to make it count.
NYCFC claimed their second road win of 2026 and their third straight victory against Charlotte. Five matches without a win for the Crown.
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