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Julián Fernández curls in a stunning winner for NYCFC (0:51)

Julián Fernández bends in a beautiful goal in stoppage time to lift NYCFC past the Crew. (0:51)

Sep 20, 2025, 03:20 PM ET

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.

Alonso Martínez helped NYCFC clinch an MLS playoff spot on Saturday. Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images

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 save a Wilfried Zaha spot kick in the 69th. It was Freese's eighth clean sheet of the season.