Charlotte is in 5th place, New York RB is stuck in 8th place in MLS.
Charlotte defeated New York RB 2-0 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, with goals from Biel and Westwood, placing them 5th with 25 points; New York RB finished 8th with 22 points. Neither team has yet secured qualification as the group stage is not yet complete.
- 0'The match has started.
New York RB hosts Charlotte.
- 7'Pep Biel put Charlotte ahead.
In the 7th minute, Pep Biel scored after an assist from Liel Abada, giving Charlotte a 0-1 lead over New York RB. If they maintain this score, Charlotte will temporarily be in 7th place with 22 points, but qualification for the next round is still uncertain.
- 12'Ashley Westwood helps Charlotte pull further ahead of New York RB.
In the 12th minute, Ashley Westwood scored, doubling Charlotte's lead against New York RB to 0-2. Charlotte are having a great start to the season, and if they maintain this scoreline, they will temporarily be ahead of New York RB in the standings.
- 13'New York RB controlled possession, Charlotte was sharp.
At the 13th minute, New York RB had possession with a 64-36 ratio but hadn't created enough pressure. Charlotte defended tightly and showed effectiveness in their attacking moves, with 1-2 shots and 0-2 shots on target.
- 25'New York RB controls, Charlotte is sharp.
At the 25th minute, New York RB had more possession with 58-42, but Charlotte was the team that made the difference, leading 0-2. The game wasn't overly intense, with the total number of shots tied at 2-2, but Charlotte was more effective, having 2 shots on target compared to their opponent's 0.
- 37'New York RB pressed forward, Charlotte defended.
At the 37th minute, New York RB was controlling the game with 59-41 possession and a shooting advantage of 11-2, but Charlotte was still leading 0-2. Charlotte had to retreat into a defensive stance, as evidenced by their three saves while New York RB had none.
- 45'End of the first half
At the end of the first half, the score was 0-2.
- 46'The second half has begun.
The second half has begun.
- 47'Liel Abada received a yellow card at the start of the second half.
In the 47th minute, Liel Abada received a yellow card at the start of the second half, with Charlotte leading New York RB 0-2.
- 50'New York RB pressed hard despite being behind.
In the 50th minute, New York RB controlled the game with possession.62-38and superior in finishing.12-2Charlotte is leading 2-0 but is forced to defend deep, as evidenced by the visiting team's goalkeeper having...4a crucial save.
- 56'Jorge Ruvalcaba received a yellow card.
In the 56th minute, Jorge Ruvalcaba received a yellow card while New York RB was trailing Charlotte 0-2.
- 61'Will Cleary came on as a substitute for Harry Toffolo.
In the 61st minute, Will Cleary came on as a substitute for Harry Toffolo when New York RB were trailing Charlotte 0-2. New York RB needed to generate more momentum to find a way back into the game.
- 62'New York RB pressed hard despite being behind.
At the 62nd minute, New York RB was still controlling the game with a possession rate of 61-39 and a superior shooting percentage of 15-4. Charlotte, despite leading 0-2, was under considerable pressure as their opponents had 4-1 corner kicks.
- 70'Mijahir Jiménez came on as a substitute for Emil Forsberg.
In the 70th minute, Mijahir Jiménez was brought on to replace Emil Forsberg. Charlotte were still leading 0-2, making this substitution all the more noteworthy.
- 70'Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty enters the field.
In the 70th minute, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty came on as a substitute for Dylan Nealis. Charlotte made further personnel changes in the second half.
- 70'Two substitutions in the 70th minute.
In the 70th minute, Mohammed Sofo came on to replace Cade Cowell, while Jahkeele Marshall Rutty was also brought on to replace Dylan Nealis.
- 71'Charlotte made personnel changes while leading.
In the 71st minute, Djibril Diani came on as a substitute for Luca de la Torre, with Charlotte leading New York RB. If they maintained this score, Charlotte would temporarily be in 7th place in the group, but qualification for the next round would still be uncertain.
- 71'Tyger Smalls came on as a substitute for Liel Abada.
In the 71st minute, Tyger Smalls came on as a substitute for Liel Abada. Charlotte made the substitution while controlling the game and having a comfortable lead.
- 74'New York RB pressed hard despite being behind.
In the 74th minute, New York RB controlled the game with 63-37 possession and dominated shooting 18-3. Charlotte was struggling under constant pressure, as evidenced by their 1-6 save record.
- 76'Adri Mehmeti received a yellow card.
In the 76th minute, Adri Mehmeti received a yellow card after a challenge with Mohammed Sofo. Charlotte still held a significant advantage, leading New York RB 2-0.
- 82'Charlotte made a personnel change in the 82nd minute.
In the 82nd minute, Brandt Bronico came on to replace Pep Biel, as part of a personnel change by Charlotte.
- 82'Archie Goodwin came on in the 82nd minute.
In the 82nd minute, Archie Goodwin came on as a substitute for Idan Toklomati. This was a notable personnel change in the final minutes of the match.
- 84'Andy Rojas comes on to replace Jorge Ruvalcaba
In the 84th minute, Andy Rojas was brought on to replace Jorge Ruvalcaba. Charlotte made the substitution in the final minutes, when the game was under pressure.
- 84'Omar Valencia came on in the 84th minute.
In the 84th minute, Omar Valencia came on as a substitute for Matthew Dos Santos. The substitution came when Charlotte were leading New York RB 0-2; if this score remained, the two teams would still be temporarily ranked 7th and 8th respectively, but qualification for the next round was not yet secured.
- 85'Omar Valencia received a yellow card in the 85th minute.
In the 85th minute, Omar Valencia received a yellow card. New York RB were trailing Charlotte 0-2, and this card only added to the tension in the final minutes.
- 86'New York RB pressed hard, Charlotte defended.
In the 86th minute, New York RB still dominated the game with 64-36 possession and a shooting advantage of 22-3. Charlotte had to focus on defense, as evidenced by their goalkeeper making 6 saves compared to the home team's 1.
- 90+1'Justin Che received a yellow card in injury time.
In the 90+1st minute, Justin Che received a yellow card in the final minutes of the match. Charlotte is still leading New York RB 0-2.
- 90+3'Adri Mehmeti received a red card in injury time.
In the 90+3 minute, Adri Mehmeti received his second yellow card and was sent off. The red card came at the very end of the match, when Charlotte was leading New York RB 0-2.
- KTFinal score: New York RB 0-2 Charlotte
The match ended with a score of 0-2.
Updated at 07:36 on 26/07/2026
Match information
New York RB will face Charlotte at Sports Illustrated Stadium at 5:30 AM on July 26, 2026, in an MLS match. This is a noteworthy clash as the two teams are close together in the standings, both with 22 points.
Charlotte is currently ranked 7th, while New York RB is 8th. There's no significant points difference, so the matchup at Sports Illustrated Stadium could be decided by one side's ability to maintain consistency throughout the game, rather than one side completely dominating the other.
The form suggests a closely contested match.
New York RB entered the match with a run of form consisting of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in their last 5 games. This result reflects a team capable of earning points but lacking consistency throughout the recent period.
It's worth noting that New York RB has had some positive performances in this series, but the two defeats also show that the home team cannot be complacent when approaching the game. With their current 8th place position and 22 points, they need to translate their home advantage into clearer control of the game, especially during moments when the match is evenly balanced.
Charlotte's recent record consists of 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. Compared to New York RB, the visiting team has lost fewer games in their last 5 matches and has maintained a consistent scoring record. However, the two draws also show that Charlotte hasn't always been able to translate positive results into wins.
Therefore, both teams have reason to be confident, but neither has yet created a significant advantage in terms of form. New York RB has home advantage, while Charlotte has a less inconsistent recent run of results. These details could lead to a cautious approach in the early stages of the game.
The confrontation is not entirely one-sided.
In their last five meetings, New York RB won two matches, drew one, and Charlotte won two. This balance shows that recent head-to-head history does not give either team a clear advantage.
The balanced record also increases the importance of the approach. New York RB cannot rely solely on home advantage, while Charlotte needs to demonstrate that more consistent form can be maintained against an opponent with a similar head-to-head record. With the gap between the two teams already very small, every decisive play in the penalty area can significantly impact the outcome.
The battle is between teams in close positions on the leaderboard.
Charlotte is currently ranked 7th with 22 points, while New York RB is ranked 8th, also with 22 points. Their close positions and equal points create a remarkably balanced situation before kick-off.
For New York RB, the home game is an opportunity to show initiative and apply pressure from the start. However, they need to avoid letting recent setbacks affect their game organization. An impatient approach could open up space for Charlotte to exploit.
Conversely, Charlotte can aim to maintain the solidity they've shown in their last five matches. The visitors don't necessarily need to push the pace too high if they can control the spaces and wait for the right moment to switch tactics. Having won two of their last five encounters also gives Charlotte a basis for entering the match with confidence.
The key tactical point
Since pre-match data doesn't provide tactical diagrams or a list of absent players, it's impossible to determine the exact lineups of both teams. However, based on current form and league standings, the ability to control the tempo will be a crucial factor.
New York RB needs to utilize their possession effectively instead of just increasing pressure impulsively. Organized attacks, maintaining distance between lines, and patience against Charlotte's defense could determine the quality of the home team's chances.
Charlotte will likely have to balance defensive duties with the goal of creating counter-pressure. With both teams tied on 22 points, a single mistake in the transition from defense to offense could change the course of the game. Therefore, safety in ball distribution and the ability to capitalize on moments when New York RB is unbalanced will be particularly important.
Pre-match analysis
New York RB vs Charlotte is a difficult match to predict, as both teams are tied on points, sit next to each other in the standings, and have an even recent head-to-head record. New York RB has home advantage, but Charlotte enters the match with a less undefeated run of form.
The match will most likely be decided by the team that controls the game better during the back-and-forth moments and minimizes individual errors. Neither side will show absolute dominance, so focus, disciplined team organization, and effectiveness in crucial situations will be key at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
