New York Red Bulls 5-2 Charlotte FC: Hosts go on a rampage as a John Tolkin masterclass and an Elias Manoel hat trick see them advance to the first round of MLS Cup Playoffs

The New York Red Bulls would have not made it this far were it not for left back John Tolkin. The Chatham, New Jersey native converted a crucial penalty kick in their final match of the regular season to arrive at this moment: the first Wild Card match of MLS’s new playoff format.

Tolkin played the part of hero once again tonight – scoring a goal and providing two miraculous assists in a 5-2 win over Charlotte FC to advance to the best-of-three First Round where they will play FC Cincinnati. Striker Elias Manoel also deserved star billing as he bagged the club’s first ever postseason hat trick.

The Red Bulls carried a streak of 14 consecutive playoff appearances into this match – setting a new MLS record. But it would all be for naught if they couldn’t get past Charlotte at their home ground of Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night. 

Charlotte FC entered this match on something of a hot streak – going unbeaten in their last four matches and winning over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Decision Day to reach the playoffs for the first time in the club’s short history.

Fans of ‘The Crown’ made the long trip up for the occasion – with roughly 60 people taking up the club’s offer of a free ticket and a free coach bus trip up to New Jersey for the match. They knew that regardless of the result, they’d be facing a 10 hour trip both ways.

Within ten minutes, one could imagine that some of those fans began to dread the trip ahead. New York midfielder Daniel Edelman won a header and looped the ball over Charlotte’s backline and right into the running path of Manoel. The Brazilian took a touch off his chest, let it fall, and then rifled it past Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina to take the lead.

A crucial foul on the Red Bulls’ Brazilian dynamo Luquinhas gave New York a free kick about 22 yards out in the 26th minute. Saturday’s hero, John Tolkin stood over the ball and curled a perfectly struck ball into the top right corner to make it 2-0.

Tolkin grabbed his first assist of the night just eleven minutes later. After streaking down the wing, he left a ball off for Manoel. No one attempted to mark the striker, who took a touch and bent his shot across the keeper’s body to make it 3-0.

Two key saves made by RNBY goalkeeper Carlos Coronel had the hosts walking into the changing room with a comfortable advantage. 

By halftime, it was clear this was a vastly different game than their last two meetings: a 1-1 draw and a 2-2 draw respectively. That latter match saw a Charlotte brace from winger Ben Bender, who was injured and absent for this match. No doubt the club would have liked his services today.

But Charlotte proved they wouldn’t give up so easily coming out of the break – with winger Kirwin Vargas scoring the most beautiful goal on the night to make it a 3-1 game. A setpiece play saw Karol Swiderski cross the ball into the box – with Vargas leaping up for a bicycle kick that stunned and silenced the ground.

The hosts responded in kind. Luquinhas let the ball bounce over his head and dropped his shoulder around the defender. Rushing up the pitch he passed the ball to Tolkin, who crossed it into the middle for striker Tom Barlow. He only needed to get a touch on it to deflect it into the net for a 4-1 score. 

With that assist, Tolkin set a new club record for the most assists in a season by a homegrown player across all competitions. The man he passed is USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams.

Charlotte would once again eat into the deficit by minute 64. A long distribution from keeper Kahlina bounced into the path of substitute Patrick Agyemang. 

The physically imposing striker was able to muscle off Red Bulls full back Kyle Duncan, somehow finding the composure to toe poke the ball over Coronel as he was getting dragged to the ground to make it 4-2.

But the night truly belonged to the Red Bulls – and Manoel in particular. Luquinhas found his fellow countryman down the wing in the 78th minute and he had the time and space to dribble, compose himself, and then rifle a shot into the net. 5-2 New York.

It was his third score of the night, the sixth hat trick in MLS Cup Playoff history, and the first playoff hat trick in team history.

After a season full of controversy, manager firings, and general tumult, the New York Red Bulls were able to accomplish something they would not have expected just six months ago. Now, they have a chance to shock the Supporters Shield winners and take their miracle run even further.