The Hudson River Derby is almost upon us.
New York City FC lock horns with Red Bulls once more at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening.
Here’s the Keys to the Match, presented by Tri-State Ford…
Battle for the East
NYCFC may not have been at their best in the second half of Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Columbus Crew but they got the job done.
When you’re making up games on those around you, the matches will come thick and fast, so the most important thing is to get the result and turn the page to the next one.
This encounter with a familiar rival is about more than local pride – it’s a game which has great significance to the Eastern Conference, with NYC and Red Bulls separated by just three points in third and fourth position.
For Dome Torrent’s men, there’s an opportunity to move within a point of Atlanta in top spot in the East with a victory (still with a game in hand). All the incentive in the world to make it a winning derby day for the Boys in Blue.
Score to Settle
Saturday marks the second Hudson River Derby of 2019 after Red Bulls edged out NYCFC in the first meeting back in July.
The 2-1 scoreline in the hosts’ favor only tells a part of the story, however, as the match was settled in one controversial moment in the second half.
Danny Royer scored after a quickly-taken throw-in after the referee overruled his assistant who had signaled for a corner.
It was a painful moment and an unfortunate way for such a big match to be settled. Here’s hoping that we’re all talking about the soccer at full-time this time around (and that NYC can settle the score)…
Calm Heads Prevail
When Red Bulls last came to Yankee Stadium, NYC turned in a performance for the ages as they shrugged off red cards shown to Eloi Amagat and Ebenezer Ofori to claim a gritty, resilient 1-1 draw.
City still managed to dominate, despite the visitors’ numerical advantage, and actually walked away disappointed with only a share of the spoils.
This time, Dome will be urging his men to keep it 11 vs. 11 and treat it like a normal game, despite the added charge injected when these two teams meet.
Keep the Streak
That Taty Castellanos winning goal vs. Columbus made it two wins in-a-row.
Now it’s back to the Bronx on a quick turnaround looking to make it three and keep the streak as we enter a critical period in the MLS Regular Season.
With a long trip to Vancouver up next, NYCFC will seek to put three more points on the board and put some space between themselves and Red Bulls with eight games remaining after Saturday’s derby.
Let’s keep it going #ForTheCity.
