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

Without left back John Tolkin, the New York Red Bulls would not have gotten this far. The Chatham, New Jersey native converted a crucial penalty kick in their final match of the regular season and arrived at this moment: the first Wild Card match of the new MLS playoff format.

Tolkin played the role of hero 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 earned a star as he bagged the club’s first ever hat-trick.

The Red Bulls had a streak of fourteen consecutive playoff appearances coming into this match, setting a new MLS record. But it would all be for naught if they couldn’t get past Charlotte on their home turf, Red Bull Arena, on Wednesday night.

Charlotte FC went into this match on something of a hot streak, going undefeated in their last four games and beating Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Decision Day to reach the play-offs for the first time in the club’s short history.

Fans of ‘The Crown’ made a long journey for the occasion – with around 60 people taking up the club’s offer of a free ticket and a free bus trip to New Jersey for the match. They knew that regardless of the outcome, they would have to make a ten-hour journey in each direction.

The spotlight also shone on Elias Manoel (11) who scored three goals into the back of the net

Within ten minutes, you could imagine that some of those fans were beginning to dread the journey ahead. New York midfielder Daniel Edelman won a header and looped the ball over Charlotte’s back line straight into Manoel’s running path. The Brazilian took a touch off his chest, dropped it and then fired 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 from 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 evening eleven minutes later. After being shot down the wing, he left a ball for Manoel. No one tried to mark the striker, who took a touch and bent his shot over the keeper’s body to make it 3-0.

Two important saves from RNBY goalkeeper Carlos Coronel ensured the hosts walked into the dressing room with a comfortable advantage.

By half-time it was clear that this was a very different match to their last two meetings: a 1-1 draw and a 2-2 draw respectively. In that last match, Charlotte got a brace from winger Ben Bender, who was injured and absent for this match. The club would undoubtedly have appreciated his services today.

But Charlotte proved they weren’t going to give it up so easily coming out of the break – winger Kirwin Vargas scored the best goal of the night to make it a 3-1 game. During a setpiece play, Karol Swiderski passed the ball into the penalty area, with Vargas leaping up for a bicycle kick that stunned and silenced the ground.

Charlotte came out strong in the second half, with Kerwin Vargas scoring a bicycle kick

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Manoel (11) kept his composure and scored the first hat-trick in team history after the season

The hosts responded in kind. Luquinhas bounced the ball over his head and dropped his shoulder around the defender. He rushed onto the pitch and passed the ball to Tolkin, who crossed the ball into the middle for striker Tom Barlow. All he had to do was touch it to send it into the net, making it 4-1.

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

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

The physically imposing forward was able to slow down Red Bulls defender Kyle Duncan and somehow found the composure to poke the ball over Coronel as he was dragged to the ground to make it 4-2 .

But the evening really belonged to the Red Bulls – and to Manoel in particular. Luquinhas found his compatriot on the wing in the 78th minute and he had the time and space to dribble, compose himself and then fire 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 upheaval, the New York Red Bulls were able to accomplish something they wouldn’t have expected just six months ago. Now they have the chance to shock the Supporters Shield winners and take their miracle run even further.