"Starting with the hosts, while Charlotte might have signed off September with consecutive MLS defeats, it appears that was just a minor blip for Dean Smith's camp. Signing off their regular-season adventure with a deserved 2-0 victory at home against Philadelphia, the Crown have come roaring back since their public summer crisis. Getting October underway with a gritty 1-0 win away at DC United, the former Aston Villa boss will know the importance of claiming a first-leg advantage here."
"As for the visitors, while New York might have enjoyed a stellar September flurry, the Pigeons largely limped their way over the finishing line. Last seen signing off their regular-season campaign with a disappointing 2-1 loss at home against Seattle, Pascal Jansen's camp have certainly failed to find any kind of momentum over the past month. Hit with a nightmare 4-0 drumming at the hands of Inter Miami last month, the former AZ Alkmaar boss"
Charlotte regained momentum late in the regular season, finishing with a 2-0 home win over Philadelphia and a 1-0 away victory at DC United. The team has won nine of their previous eleven matches across competitions and four of their last five MLS home games at the Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte have suffered only one domestic home defeat since mid-May and will seek a first-leg advantage in the play-offs. New York ended their campaign poorly, losing 2-1 to Seattle and suffering a 4-0 defeat to Inter Miami, with three losses in their final four MLS matches and a 1-0 loss away to Philadelphia to start October, raising concerns about momentum and away form.
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