August 25, 2019.

With both New York sides in the top four, Saturday’s installment of the Hudson River Derby was nothing short of a monumental clash with great playoff significance. After 90 minutes of electric soccer, NYCFC defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score of 2-1 at Yankee Stadium and now sit second in the East with 47 points.

Despite a loud home crowd rallying around NYCFC from the very first minute, things quickly turned sour for the ‘Boys in Blue’ as Alex Muyl put the NYRB ahead in the 10th minute. NYCFC’s Valentin Castellanos gave the ball away in transition near midfield, and the Red Bulls quickly went the other way to capitalize on the mistake. Muyl played a short give-and-go with Kaku at the top of the box, and he blasted a shot past Sean Johnson into the top corner to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Almost immediately, NYCFC looked to respond. In the 19th minute of play, Valentin Castellanos nearly found an equalizer off a header from ten yards out. Castellanos ran onto a soft cross from the endline and flicked the ball towards the far post. The ball looked destined for the top corner, but it ended up rebounding off the crossbar.

NYCFC continued to knock at the NYRB goal, and in the 35th minute they struck the woodwork once again. This time, Heber rifled a 25-yard running half-volley that shook the frame of the goal. Had it not been for the upright, Heber could have easily had a goal of the season contender.

The equalizer would not make itself wait much longer, though, as Maxi Moralez earned a penalty in the 41st minute and converted from the spot himself to level the game at 1-1.

In the second half, NYCFC continued to put pressure on the NYRB back line, and two minutes after the break, Castellanos hit the woodwork once again. The NYCFC forward ventured into the NYRB box from a tight angle down the right-hand touchline and placed a shot under a sprawling Luis Robles. The ball rolled across the mouth of the goal and kissed the inside of the post. Unfortunately for Castellanos, the post spit the ball right back into play. Heber tried to slide onto the rebound, but Alex Muyl was there to blast the ball away.

Shortly after, in the 53rd minute, NYCFC finally found a second goal. Anton Tinnerholm played a nice one-two with Maxi Moralez off a throw-in, and he penetrated the NYRB right flank with pace. After getting to the endline, Tinnerholm sent a teasing ball to the near post, and Heber slotted the ball in between the legs of Luis Robles to make the game 2-1.

In stoppage time, Ronald Matarrita got himself sent off for headbutting NYRB defender Michael Murillo in the chest.

NYCFC were able to survive the last few minutes down a man and walked away from the derby with three valuable points. Despite trailing leaders Atlanta United by one point, NYCFC still have a game in hand, and they control their own destiny with eight fixtures left to play.

As for the NYRB, they remain in fourth place despite a disappointing derby performance, and they will look to bounce back against the Colorado Rapids next Saturday.

-Pablo Bayona Sapag / Leonel Pillcorema & Peter Bonilla