"Some amazing offensive plays, obviously. So yeah, it was, I think, a full team win."

Just as Alonso Martínez had in Game 1, Fernández Mercau provided a moment of brilliance to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time, a stunning solo run from within his own half to net his first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs goal.

“It was a special one. Like the first game of the sequence of three with Tico [Martínez]’s goal, this is a special one,†head coach Pascal Jansen told MLS Season Pass at halftime.

“It helps us a lot because it takes a little pressure off us, especially the first 15, 20 minutes, we were under pressure, dealing very hard with possession and keeping our calm. But throughout the game, we grew into it.â€

Adding postgame, "The way we scored, also, it gives us a lot of energy, and it was a big slap in the face for Charlotte."

Early in the second half, Martínez proclaimed himself the match-winner for the 12th time this season, doubling the lead before Fernández Mercau sealed the victory in stoppage time with NYCFC’s third counterattacking goal of the night to complete his first MLS brace.

"I think the accuracy was by far on our side," praised Jansen.

"Overall, that was the message that we gave to each other going into Game 3, that we have to be more clinical in these type of games. Because, as you know, in Game 2, we had a big opportunity from a set piece to score and win the game, but we didn't score.
So in this game, playing away in a tough stadium like this, the clinical part of the game becomes even more important."