The MLS has garnered greater prestige in recent times through the gradual stockpile of footballing behemoths from bygone years, but it would appear some fans of New York Red Bulls have short-term memories.

Ahead of their Big Apple derby against not-so-young upstarts New York City, some of the crowd were only too happy to remind Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard that their days as midfield wrecking balls are behind them.

On a banner hanging from the top tier behind one of the goals, Red Bulls' ultra set of supporters taunted the two decorated stars as cartoon characters holding walking sticks, with the words 'City Retirement Home' on the blue ribbon above their heads.

New York City duo Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo were mocked by rival fans prior to the Big Apple derby

Experienced midfielder Lampard has arrived at City as a 37-year-old while Pirlo is only one year his junior

Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard was unable to prevent his side from slipping to another defeat

The newly-formed club have also managed to lure Athletic Bilbao's long-standing full-back Andoni Iraola and World Cup winner David Villa across the pond, but while these two former Spain internationals were spared the OAP treatment, the mockery was a rather rich card to play.

Thierry Henry signed for the Red Bulls as a 32-year-old back in July 2010, only leaving the club last December, a fortnight before announcing his retirement from the game to take up his role as a TV pundit for Sky Sports.

Granted, the former Arsenal striker was a few years younger than Lampard and Pirlo when he first arrived at the Red Bull Arena, but to tease their rivals for attracting illustrious names was slightly ironic.

Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard, 37, had been troubled with a calf problem prior to the match, and neither he nor the 36-year-old Pirlo were able to prevent City from going down to a 2-0 defeat.

Thierry Henry was playing for the Red Bulls in November last year just before he announced his retirement

New York City had former Juventus star Andrea Pirlo in their ranks but he couldn't inspire a victory

Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips celebrates the opener as the New York Red Bulls took a lead in the derby

Former Charlton and Southampton striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored a brace in May to settle the first ever meeting between these two sides before starring again at the end of June, was the hero once more.

His 10th of the season on 21 minutes settled nerves and allowed the midfield three of Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarthy and Felipe Martins to control proceedings. Martins' 85th-minute strike helped stretch Red Bulls' unbeaten run to five and consolidate second place in the Eastern Conference.

Jason Kreis' wildly inconsistent City side remain in eighth place, four points behind Montreal in sixth, although Didier Drogba's side, who occupy the final play-off spot, have two games in hand.

The derby was marred by fans brawling in the streets of New Jersey prior to the match, with bins and sandwich boards used as weapons in ugly scenes outside supporters' bars.