New York City FC Goals:Â
Red Bull New York Goals:Â Hall 57'Â
Quick Read
New York City FC fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium. Despite creating numerous promising opportunities, the hosts were unable to find the net. Luighi and Alonso MartÃnez came close, but Julian Hall’s second-half finish proved decisive after a defensive error.
Match Recap
New York City FC were back in The Bronx on Friday night as they hosted Red Bull New York in the Hudson River Derby.
A 1-1 draw was the outcome the last time the two teams met, with the Hudson River Derby trophy up for grabs if a winner could be found.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen made one change to the team that beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 last time out, with Aiden O’Neill coming into midfield in place of Jonny Shore.
The hosts registered the first sight of goal in the fifth minute when Nico Fernández Mercau fired wide.
The Boys in Blue continued to ramp up the pressure, and in the 16th minute, O’Neill saw an effort blocked by Tim Parker.
Two minutes later, the hosts went close again after Andrés Perea picked Adri Mehmeti’s pocket inside the Red Bulls’ half.
Perea then received a layoff from Fernández Mercau before driving a low effort toward goal that forced a good save from Ethan Horvath.
Despite failing to register a shot on goal during the opening half-hour, the visitors remained a threat on the break.
That route earned the Red Bulls a dangerous free kick in the 31st minute, but Matthew Dos Santos ultimately fired high and wide.
In response, forward Luighi produced some dazzling skill on the left to glide past Parker before dancing down the byline and pulling the ball back. While his initial cross was intercepted, the ball landed at the feet of O’Neill, who could not keep his effort on target from a tight angle.
As the half wore on, the rhythm of the game became more broken and scrappy. A Red Bulls corner in the 41st minute led to nothing before the hosts earned a corner of their own thanks to a driving run and shot from AgustÃn Ojeda.
In first-half stoppage time, a Red Bulls corner almost provided the breakthrough when Mohamed Sofo was found free at the back post. Thankfully, Tayvon Gray was on hand to clear the ball from danger after the initial effort.
The start of the second period saw no changes for either side as both continued their pursuit of the opening goal.
The Red Bulls were handed a great opportunity to break the deadlock just 90 seconds into the half after a rapid counterattack allowed Cowell to square the ball to Julian Hall, but the forward sliced his effort wide from 12 yards.
At the other end, a poor headed clearance from Parker allowed Luighi to flick the ball inside to Ojeda. He laid it back to Hannes Wolf, who produced a low shot that Horvath did well to parry away from danger.
The hosts went even closer a minute later after brilliant play down the right by Fernández Mercau culminated in a low pass inside that Perea dummied for Luighi.
The Brazilian had the goal at his mercy but side-footed the ball just wide of the target.
Those misses would prove costly, however, as the Red Bulls took the lead through Hall in the 57th minute.
The forward pounced on an underhit back pass from James Sands before rounding Matt Freese and slotting the ball into the empty net.
Jansen turned to his bench just after the hour mark to make two changes, introducing Alonso MartÃnez and Bénie Traoré in place of Luighi and Wolf.
The visitors were keen to extend their lead, and Cowell was handed a chance to do just that in the 64th minute after being played in down the side of the defense. Thankfully for the Boys in Blue, his effort from a tight angle hit the side netting.
The two substitutes almost linked up in the 69th minute after Traoré attempted to clip a pass in behind for MartÃnez, but it just evaded the forward.
MartÃnez then thought he should have been awarded a penalty after a coming together with Sofo in the box, but the referee chose to play on.
A third change for the Boys in Blue came in the 76th minute as Malachi Jones replaced the tireless Ojeda.
MartÃnez was becoming an increasing influence on the game, and a brilliant slide-rule pass from Cavallo put him in behind the Red Bulls’ defense. While he could not convert on this occasion, he did earn his team a corner.
Next, it was Traoré’s turn to go close after a quick one-two with MartÃnez. Unfortunately, he could not keep his thunderous effort under the crossbar.
The pressure on the Red Bulls’ goal continued to mount, and in the 81st minute, captain Thiago Martins powered a header toward goal from Fernández Mercau’s free kick.
Unfortunately, Horvath was equal to it and tipped the ball over for a corner.
Traoré then did well down the left to beat his man before finding MartÃnez, who prodded an effort just wide.
The Red Bulls remained a threat at the other end, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting firing a shot from the edge of the area that was well blocked by Nico Cavallo.
In stoppage time, an attempted one-two from Traoré hit a Red Bulls defender before falling back to the forward, whose effort was saved by Horvath.
Further chances followed for Gray and Perea, but Gray headed wide before Perea saw his effort blocked by Julian Bazán.
At the other end, a fast breakaway allowed Harper to cross to the back post for Choupo-Moting, but his volleyed effort flew wide of the goal.
That proved to be the final chance of the night as the Boys in Blue fell to a narrow defeat against the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby.
How We Lined Up
What's NextÂ
Next up for New York City FC is a game against Atlanta United on Saturday, September 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30PM ET.
