There’s a place in the fifth round of the US Open Cup at stake when NYCFC and Red Bulls meet for the first time in 2017.
Managing Editor Mark Booth picks out the Major Keys to the game…
Derby Day
Whether there’s three points on the line, or a place in the next round of a cup competition, meetings between these two teams are always competitive affairs – to put it lightly…
Even ahead of the preseason meeting in Tucson’s Diamond Desert Cup, Patrick Vieira described the exhibition match as “a little bit spicy”, so Wednesday night promises to be even more so.
When you combine the old soccer clichés about derby games and cup matches and you’ve got all of the ingredients for an explosive, unpredictable encounter.
Despite this, NYCFC’s Head Coach will be telling his players to play the game rather than occasion in the buildup, knowing that his team’s best chance of success will be to stick to the footballing principles which have served us well in the first 15 MLS games of 2017.
Up for the Cup
NYCFC’s 2017 season is likely to be judged on going deep for MLS Cup but after two seasons of failing to progress through a round of US Open Cup, Vieira is eager to put that right.
As someone who won so many trophies in his playing career, Patrick will see this as an opportunity to put his first senior cup as a coach on the table and, considering the young history of this club, there is an intention to take every chance at silverware seriously.
The Frenchman shouldered the blame for NYCFC’s exit to Cosmos in 2016, admitting that he rested too many players for the game and he’s already said that he intends to play a strong team which he believes will win the match on Wednesday night.
Opportunity Knocks
A strong team but it’s likely that Vieira will make a few alterations to the usual XI with our showdown against reigning MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders coming up early on Saturday afternoon.
There could also be some degree of poker face entering into this selection debate too, considering our MLS meeting against Red Bulls is also coming into view on the schedule.
In the past, Shannon Gomez was someone who advanced his reputation on the strength of an impressive US Open Cup performance… who will step up and take their opportunity this time around?
Could Eirik Johansen get a first start in goal in 2017? Will we see more of Jonathan Lewis who shone against Philadelphia last time out? Is it time for fit-again Andrea Pirlo to come back into the XI?
All will be revealed on NYCFC.com at approximately 7pm on Wednesday night.
Red Bulls Rivalry
There’s no getting away from it, NYCFC’s record in this fixture could use some improvement.
As it stands, we’ve managed just one win from six meetings with our cross-river rivals and we’ve lost all of our games in New Jersey to date.
This meeting is the first of four derbies this season, with two this month and the other two taking place in August.
That means there are four opportunities to set the record straight in this relatively new, but keenly felt rivalry.
We can’t wait!
