Major League Soccer’s last day of the regular season was very exciting. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami lost to Charlotte FC 1-0, but Charlotte FC won and made it into the playoffs.

Kerwin Vargas, a Colombian striker for Charlotte, scored a key goal in the 13th minute that decided the game. It was especially important for Charlotte to win because they had just played Miami and tied 2-2 in Florida a few days before.

After getting better from muscle tiredness, Lionel Messi started for Inter Miami for the first time since September 20. His return did not, however, inspire Inter Miami to win over Charlotte. This result pretty much killed Miami’s chances of making a late-season run into the playoffs.

When the regular season was over, Charlotte was in ninth place with 43 points. This put them in the wild-card round of the playoffs. With their win, they locked up one of the two Eastern Conference playoff spots that were still open.

The New York Red Bulls made a dramatic run to claim the other playoff spot. It looked like their game against Nashville would end in a scoreless tie, and it looked like their disappointing season might be over. If the game had stayed tied at 0-0, Montreal would have won the last playoff spot.

But in the last few seconds of the game at Nashville’s Geodis Park, Panama international Anibal Godoy fouled Red Bulls winger Luquinhas inside the penalty area. The referee called for a penalty, which was easily converted by Red Bulls defender John Tolkin in the fourth minute of extra time.

This late goal gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 win and made it 14 years in a row that they made the playoffs. The win sets up a wild card match on Wednesday between the New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC.

Tolkin, who is 21 years old, said after the game, “I haven’t really taken any professional penalties, but I wanted it.” My mom made me more worried because I knew she would probably be having a heart attack at home. We have worked very hard this year, and this is proof of that. It’s what everyone gets. We’re thrilled right now. We were ready to give everything we had because we knew it was a win or go home on the field.