Major League Soccer Regular Season - 5

Charlotte 6 - 1 FT New York Red Bulls

Bank of America Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
83
FT
Sat, Mar 21
Charlotte
6-1
New York Red Bulls
⚡ Intensity 100
⚖️ Balance 16
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 0
Charlotte demolishes Red Bulls in first leg.

Charlotte Dismantle Red Bulls in Seven-Goal First Leg Thriller

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 83/100. A devastating second-half surge, fueled by a pivotal red card, leaves Charlotte holding a massive aggregate lead in this knockout tie.

Early Strikes and Tactical Warfare

A barrage of early action at Bank of America Stadium immediately set the tone for this critical first leg. While New York Red Bulls attempted to dictate the game by edging possession at 55%, Charlotte completely bypassed their setup with lethal verticality. In the 14th minute, I. Toklomati drew first blood, capitalizing on a perfectly weighted pass from P. Biel to crack the defense open. The early Balance of the game shifted violently toward the hosts, forcing the visitors into chase mode. Despite trailing, the Red Bulls continuously fired away, contributing heavily to a staggering 38 combined shots on the night. Both goalkeepers were incredibly busy, making 11 combined saves to manage the furious Intensity. Charlotte held their ground, heading into the locker room with a crucial 1-0 advantage.

The Turning Point

The game completely fractured moments after the second-half restart, turning a tight contest into a blowout. Just after K. A. Calderon Vargas doubled the lead in the 46th minute, disaster struck for the visitors. Gustav Berggren committed a cynical professional foul as the last man, earning a straight red card in the 52nd minute. This catastrophic ejection annihilated any chance of a Red Bulls comeback and heavily skewed the Upset potential of the tie. Charlotte ruthlessly exploited the numerical advantage just two minutes later when P. Biel fired home to make it 3-0. The floodgates officially opened. The visitors were left reeling, entirely unable to cope with the relentless transition attacks orchestrated by a vibrant Charlotte midfield that capitalized on every inch of extra space.

A Historic Rout

With the enormous Stakes of this two-leg tie looming over every possession, Charlotte showed absolutely no mercy in padding their aggregate lead. W. Zaha added a dazzling fourth goal in the 68th minute, capping off an attacking masterclass alongside midfield anchor Ashley Westwood. Substitute A. Goodwin then stole the late spotlight, netting a quick-fire brace in the 77th and 90th minutes to push the scoreline to an unbelievable 6-1. J. Hall managed to grab a brief consolation goal for the visitors in the 81st minute, but it was a mere footnote in a devastating defensive collapse. As the final whistle echoed, Charlotte effectively booked their ticket to the next round, leaving the Red Bulls needing a miraculous turnaround in the return leg this July.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Gustav Berggren impact the match?

Berggren's 52nd-minute dismissal left New York shorthanded, instantly turning a 2-0 deficit into a 6-1 blowout as Charlotte easily exploited the open field.

What made Wilfried Zaha the Man of the Match?

Zaha was electric throughout, scoring a clinical 68th-minute goal and generating three key passes, driving Charlotte's ruthless attacking transitions to unbalance the defense.

What caused the 7-goal thriller?

A combination of clinical finishing, a pivotal red card that removed defensive structure, and a staggering 38 total shots between two highly aggressive teams.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
45%
55%
Charlotte 45%
New York Red Bulls 55%
Shots
15
23
Charlotte 15
New York Red Bulls 23
Shots on Target
10
8
Charlotte 10
New York Red Bulls 8
Expected Goals (xG)
2.55
2.61
Charlotte 2.55
New York Red Bulls 2.61
Passes
459
555
Charlotte 459
New York Red Bulls 555
Pass Accuracy
88%
91%
Charlotte 88%
New York Red Bulls 91%
Corners
2
8
Charlotte 2
New York Red Bulls 8
Fouls
8
7
Charlotte 8
New York Red Bulls 7
Yellow Cards
1
1
Charlotte 1
New York Red Bulls 1
Red Cards
0
1
Charlotte 0
New York Red Bulls 1

Match Events

14' I. Toklomati (P. Biel)
19' 🟨 Djibril Diani
HT
M. Dos Santos O. Valencia 🔄 46'
Gustav Berggren 🟥 52'
54' P. Biel
C. Cowell M. Sofo 🔄 56'
A. Mehmeti T. Parker 🔄 56'
66' 🔄 D. Diani L. de la Torre
66' 🔄 K. A. Calderon Vargas L. Abada
68' W. Zaha (H. Toffolo)
75' 🔄 H. Toffolo D. Schnegg
75' 🔄 I. Toklomati A. Goodwin
Ronald Donkor 🟨 77'
J. Ruvalcaba T. Rosborough 🔄 77'
77' A. Goodwin
J. Hall 81'
85' 🔄 P. Biel B. Bronico
90' A. Goodwin
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Charlotte

Goalkeepers
K. Kahlina
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
N. Byrne
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Ream
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Toffolo
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
89%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
M. Agyemang
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Westwood
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Diani
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
K. A. Calderon Vargas
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
P. Biel
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
W. Zaha
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
8.9
Rating
Forwards
I. Toklomati
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
T. Miller
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
D. Schnegg
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
21
Minutes
6.9
Rating
J. Neeley
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Privett
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. de la Torre
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Bronico
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Goodwin
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.3
Rating
T. Smalls
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Abada
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
30
Minutes
7.6
Rating

New York Red Bulls

Goalkeepers
E. Horvath
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
J. Marshall-Rutty
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
G. Berggren
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.5
Rating
R. Voloder
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
M. Dos Santos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Midfielders
A. Mehmeti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
E. Forsberg
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Donkor
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Forwards
C. Cowell
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
J. Hall
CLOSER
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
J. Ruvalcaba
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
37%
Pass Acc
BENCH
J. McCarthy
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
O. Valencia
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
T. Parker
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Rosborough
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. M. Choupo-Moting
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Mosquera
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Rojas
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Sofo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Mina
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
08/24/2025 Charlotte 1 - 0 New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
05/28/2025 New York Red Bulls 4 - 2 Charlotte Major League Soccer Sports Illustrated Stadium
08/24/2024 Charlotte 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
05/29/2024 New York Red Bulls 3 - 1 Charlotte Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
10/25/2023 New York Red Bulls 5 - 2 Charlotte Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
06/21/2023 New York Red Bulls 2 - 2 Charlotte Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
03/25/2023 Charlotte 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
10/09/2022 New York Red Bulls 2 - 0 Charlotte Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
06/11/2022 Charlotte 2 - 0 New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
08/24/2025
Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
05/28/2025
Major League Soccer Sports Illustrated Stadium
08/24/2024
Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
05/29/2024
Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
10/25/2023
Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
06/21/2023
Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
03/25/2023
Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
10/09/2022
Major League Soccer Red Bull Arena
06/11/2022
Major League Soccer Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte Win
New York Red Bulls Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Inter Miami 4 10 9 5 +4 WNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
2 Nashville SC 3 9 10 1 +9 WNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
3 Chicago Fire 4 7 6 3 +3 WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
4 Toronto FC 3 7 4 2 +2 WToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
5 DC United 4 7 4 3 +1 DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
6 New York Red Bulls 5 7 5 11 -6 LCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
7 New York City FC 3 6 9 4 +5 LNew York City FC 2 - 3 Inter Miami (22-03-2026)WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
8 FC Cincinnati 4 6 7 10 -3 WFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
9 Charlotte 2 4 6 1 +5 WCharlotte 6 - 1 New York Red Bulls (21-03-2026)DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)
10 Atlanta United FC 3 4 3 3 0 DAtlanta United FC 0 - 0 DC United (21-03-2026)WAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
11 New England Revolution 3 3 7 6 +1 WNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
12 CF Montreal 4 3 7 9 -2 LFC Cincinnati 4 - 3 CF Montreal (22-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
13 Orlando City SC 5 3 5 17 -12 LNashville SC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (21-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
14 Columbus Crew 3 1 1 3 -2 LToronto FC 2 - 1 Columbus Crew (21-03-2026)LColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
15 Philadelphia Union 4 0 3 8 -5 LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 Chicago Fire (21-03-2026)LAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)