CHARLOTTE (AP) — New York City FC (17-12-5, fifth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Charlotte FC (19-13-2, fourth in the Conference during the regular season)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Tuesday, 6:45 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Charlotte FC +151, NYCFC +162; over/under is 2.5 goals
BOTTOM LINE: New York City FC visits Charlotte FC in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Charlotte is 15-10-1 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference with 141 shots on goal, averaging 4.1 per game.
NYCFC is 15-8-3 against Eastern Conference opponents. NYCFC is 6-0-2 when it records two goals.
The matchup Tuesday is the third meeting of the season between the two teams. NYCFC won the last game 2-0.
TOP PERFORMERS: Idan Gorno has 11 goals and three assists for Charlotte. Wilfried Zaha has scored four goals over the last 10 games; however, he will not play in Tuesday’s game due to a red card suspension he received towards the end of the last regular season game against Philadelphia.
Adrian Alonso Martinez Batista has scored 17 goals with two assists for NYCFC. Nicolas Ezequiel Fernandez Mercau has three goals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Charlotte: 8-2-0, averaging 1.4 goals, 2.9 shots on goal and 3.8 corner kicks per game while allowing 0.7 goals per game.
NYCFC: 6-4-0, averaging 1.6 goals, 4.6 shots on goal and 5.2 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.5 goals per game.
NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Charlotte: Pep Biel (injured).
NYCFC: Nico Cavallo (injured), Malachi Jones (injured), Keaton Parks (injured).