Elias Manoel celebrates his first of three goals during the Red Bulls’ 5-2 Wild Card win over Charlotte FC on Wednesday night at Red Bulls Area. (Photo courtesy of the New York Red Bulls)
HARRISON, N.J. — The New York Red Bulls ended their four-match postseason losing streak in grand style on Wednesday night, defeating Charlotte FC 5-2 behind a historic Elias Manoel hat trick in the Eastern Conference Wild Card game, which kicked off the MLS Playoffs at Red Bull Arena.
Manoel, who has now scored six of his eight career MLS goals against Charlotte, recorded a brace in the opening 45 minutes as a part of a three-goal first half. He secured a momentous hat trick — the first ever in the playoffs for a Red Bulls player and the sixth in MLS postseason history — in the 78th minute for New York’s fifth and final tally of the night to relegate a nagging Charlotte toward elimination.
Elias Manoel now has the first ever @NewYorkRedBulls hat trick in the postseason. 🤯#RBNY // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Nlc9c0uLjC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2023
John Tolkin added a goal and two assists as he continues to flourish into a superstar for the red side of New York’s soccer scene.
The Red Bulls will now face the East’s No. 1 seed, FC Cincinnati, in the best-of-three first round of the MLS Playoffs.
Manoel sparked the first-half masterclass in the 10th minute when he managed to play a lofted ball into the right side of the box by Daniel Edelman off his upper chest and down perfectly into his stride. A right-footed shot beat Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina and tucked just inside the opposite left post.
Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel kept New York’s advantage intact just two minutes later when he saved a close-range chance inside the box by Charlotte forward Enzo Copetti, turning away a low curling chance with the fingertips of his outstretched left hand.
Tolkin doubled the host’s advantage in the 26th minute with a free…
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