Charlotte FC scored in the seventh minute and again in the twelfth on Saturday night in Harrison, New Jersey, and won 2-0. It was the club's first ever win at Red Bull New York, and it completed a two-match season series Charlotte took by a combined 8-1. The clubs met once before this year, in Charlotte on March 21, and Charlotte won that one 6-1.
According to the club, it is the first time in Charlotte FC's history that it has won every meeting with an opponent in a single season.
Pep Biel got the first goal, from a Liel Abada assist. Captain Ashley Westwood got the second, assisted by Kerwin Vargas and Idan Toklomati. Kristijan Kahlina kept the clean sheet, and Red Bull New York finished a man down when Mehmeti was sent off for a second yellow card in the third minute of stoppage time.
Biel and Westwood are back on the field Wednesday, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Both were named to the MLS All-Star team, along with Tim Ream, and Charlotte head coach Dean Smith will coach the side because his club is hosting the game against the Liga MX All-Stars.
What Saturday was worth
Smith managed his 100th match for Charlotte FC. His record across all competitions now stands at 43 wins, 36 losses and 21 draws.
Biel's goal was his eighth of 2026 and the twentieth of his MLS career, which, with 22 assists, puts him in the league's 20-goal, 20-assist club. Westwood's was his second of the season and his eighth for Charlotte, and the club has still never lost a match in which Westwood scores: seven wins and a draw. Vargas recorded his fourth assist of the season and his fifteenth for Charlotte, and it was his fifth career goal contribution against Red Bull New York, where he has four goals and an assist. Abada's assist was his fourth of the year and the tenth of his Charlotte career.
Henry Kessler started at center back and made his first MLS appearance for the club.
Next
The All-Star Game kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m. Charlotte then travels to Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, August 1, at 8:30 p.m. at Soldier Field.
This month Charlotte has signed the winger Allan Saint-Maximin as a designated player, had three players and its head coach named to an All-Star Game it is hosting, and won at a ground where it had never won. It is also sixth in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 17 matches.