NEW YORK (AP) — Alonso Martínez scored two penalty-kick goals and goalkeeper Matt Freese made a penalty-kick save as New York City FC beat Charlotte FC 2-0 on Saturday to clinch a playoff spot.
New York City (17-9-5), which won just its second game in eight meetings with Charlotte, extended its overall unbeaten run to three.
Charlotte (17-13-2), which clinched a playoff spot last weekend, had its nine-game winning streak halted. Charlotte tied the post-shootout era record for longest winning streak with a victory last Saturday.
Martínez opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a shot down the middle, with goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina diving to his right.
Martínez added another in the 58th with a shot into the upper-right corner for his 17th goal of the season.
Freese, who signed a contract extension this week, dove to his right to make a save of Wilfried Zaha spot kick in the 69th. It was Freese’s eighth clean sheet of the season.
Charlotte FC only has three games remaining in the regular season. The Crown’s next match is on September 27 back at The Fortress. Charlotte and New York City both have 53 points, four points back of the Eastern Conference leaders, the Philadelphia Union.