Top-seeded Crown Legacy FC built a two-goal lead in the first half and held off a late push from #8 New York Red Bulls II to win 2-1 in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Sunday, October 18 at the Sportsplex at Matthews, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
It was the club’s first home playoff win, and it came with several firsts: Nathan Richmond became the first player in club history with 20 goal contributions in a single season; Adrian Mendoza became the first Charlotte FC Academy player to score in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs; and Jahiem Wickham set a career-high in saves.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Richmond told reporters after the match. “But we won our duels in the first half, created a lot of chances, and at the end of the game, we scrapped it out and got the win.”
The victory also marked the first time that one of Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s pro teams won at home in regulation since David Tepper’s purchase of the Carolina Panthers.
Charlotte FC have two playoff wins, but both are from penalty shootouts. Legacy’s lone win in a knockout tournament prior to Saturday came in Cincinnati in 2024.
Today, the Legacy picked Columbus Crew 2 to be their opponent for the semifinals. They’ll host the match at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex on Sunday, October 25 at 7:00 PM ET.
There’s history there: in 2023, when Crown Legacy automatically advanced to the semifinals as a #1 seed, they picked the Crew as their opponent. In that semifinal, a second half winner gave the Crew a 0-1 upset over a stacked Legacy side that included Patrick Agyemang, Brandon Cambridge, and Neeley, among others.
MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
October 18, 2026
Sportsplex at Matthews
#1 Seed Crown Legacy FC
vs.
#8 Seed New York Red Bulls II
Final Score
Crown Legacy 2 - 1 Red Bulls
Crown Legacy Goals
Nathan Richmond 12’
Adrian Mendoza 31’ (Assist: Thomas)
New York Red Bulls II Goals
Tanner Rosborough 78’ (Gallagher)
Man of the Match
Jahiem Wickham (GK)
Fast Start, Two-Goal Cushion
With the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the second-best overall record in MLS NEXT Pro, Crown Legacy secured the #1 seed in East for the NEXT Pro playoffs. Despite the team’s success, it wasn’t clear until Sunday who would be in the lineup. As is common for a reserve team, the Legacy’s lineup went through a lot of changes this year.
First Round 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick Will Cleary signed a first team contract in February, and offensive standout Rodolfo Aloko had moved on to the first team early in the season.
Aron John was signed to a homegrown contract, the fourth for the club, but along with fellow homegrown and Legacy regular Nimfasha Berchimas he was sidelined with an injury. Another homegrown, Jack Neeley, was loaned to the Independence earlier in the year but came back by June.
Injuries and transfers at the first team level also pulled on the lineup. After multiple first team call-ups during the 2026 campaign, Charlotte FC finally signed Nathan Richmond to a full first team contract on October 10, ahead of the MLS roster deadline.
Luckily for the Legacy, Richmond - as well as Cleary and Neeley - were in the starting lineup for the playoff quarterfinal.
Richmond gave Crown Legacy the lead in the 12th minute. Adrian Mendoza’s initial effort was saved by Red Bull keeper Tobias Szewczyk, but Richmond was there at the back post to finish the rebound.
Richmond was happy to be back at the Sportsplex after a break of almost a month.
“I’m just grateful that we’re in this position and that the team did so well,” Richmond told Soccer Sheet. “We finished number one in the East, and I’m just glad we have the opportunity to play here in front of the fans and have a playoff push.”
Mendoza doubled the advantage in the 31st minute. He received a pass from Mikah Thomas, beat his defender and finished to put Legacy up 2-0, a lead they carried into halftime.
New York Answers, Wickham Holds the Line
The Baby Bulls got back into the match in the 78th minute. Substitutes Rafael Mosquera and Christian Gallagher combined to find Tanner Rosborough, whose deflected shot cut the deficit to one.
Crown Legacy protected their remaining advantage through the final stretch of a tense finish, with Wickham making eight saves on the night, the most of his career.
“It's all one unit,” said Wickham. “We just go out there as a team and just do it.”
Asked when he felt comfortable between the posts, Wickham credited the group around him.
“Knowing that my coaches and my teammates are on my back, just knowing that I can go out there and, no matter what ... is giving me the confidence to go out there and do what I do,” said Wickham.
Milestones
Mendoza was central to both goals, creating the chance that produced Richmond’s opener before scoring himself. His fourth goal of the season also made him the first Academy player in club history to score in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
Richmond reached 10 goals and 10 assists in 2026, making him the first player in club history with 20 goal contributions in a single season. It has been a jam-packed few months for the former Clemson forward, who went from a Leagues Cup debut to a first-team contract to a playoff push with Legacy.
What’s Next
Crown Legacy advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals where they will face Columbus Crew 2 at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex on Sunday, October 25 at 7:00 PM ET.
Given Charlotte FC’s long flight home from Portland, Ore. on Sunday morning, it remains to be seen how many first team players will have a chance to feature for the Legacy.
