New York City FC scored a pair of breakaway goals just before and shortly after halftime, then held off a late rally from host Charlotte FC to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs with a 3-1 decision on Friday.

Nicolas Fernandez scored twice for New York City in the decisive third game of a best-of-three first-round series. Eastern Conference No. 5 seed NYCFC advance to oppose the top-seeded Philadelphia Union in a single-match conference semifinal.

NYCFC (2-1) built a two-goal cushion in a matter of minutes of game time.

The scoring opened in first-half stoppage time. New York City's Nico Fernandez won possession from Tim Ream deep on the visitors' side of the pitch, coming out of the exchange with an open lane to run down the right side.

Byrne bore down and attempted to disrupt Fernandez

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