NYCFC Goals: Moralez 85'
Red Bulls Goals:
Quick Look...
New York City FC made it three Hudson River Derby home wins in a row thanks to Maxi Moralez’s 85th minute winner vs. Red Bulls.
In Domènec Torrent’s first derby as Head Coach, City kept their sixth clean sheet of the season and moved ahead of Red Bulls in the standings.
Match Recap...
Dome made two changes to his lineup for his first Hudson River Derby.
Maxime Chanot and Rodney Wallace both returned to the XI for this 11th MLS meeting with City’s local rivals.
In the two 4-0 defeats earlier this season, Red Bulls seized the initiative with the early goal but there was no chance of it this time around, with City flying out of the blocks, determined not to allow a repeat.
In fact, it was Torrent’s men who looked the more dangerous side throughout an attritional first period, creating some sweeping moves where just the last pass was missing.
Jesus Medina went closest to giving NYCFC the lead early on with a deflected effort that sent Luis Robles scrambling across his goal, but it flashed just past the post.
That was about the sum total of meaningful penalty box action in the first period, until the final two minutes when both sides had good opportunities.
First, Red Bulls were denied by a diving Sean Johnson save before NYC broke and Maxime Chanot was inches away from marking his return with a goal, but his stabbed volley just missed the target.
0-0 was how it stayed until the half but Medina set about changing that on 56’ when he let rip from 25 yards with a knuckle shot which only flew a foot over the crossbar.
A minute later, Ronald Matarrita was introduced from the bench in place of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi for his first appearance since the end of May and he nearly made an instant impact with a shot which Robles had to move quickly to get his body behind.
Red Bulls forced chances of their own in their first dominant spell of the match between 70’ and 80’, with Johnson making a couple of excellent saves, including a solid one at his near post from Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Just when it looked as though the spoils might be shared, Jonathan Lewis was introduced late on to try and spark a late winner and that’s just what he did, within minutes of his entry.
Lewis ran down Aaron Long deep in Red Bulls’ territory and pickpocketed him, leaving him through on goal where he unselfishly squared for Moralez who tapped into the empty net.
That was enough to make it three Bronx derby wins in a row.
New York is Blue.
NYCFC.com Star of the Game
Sean Johnson
Usually when a goalkeeper is awarded Star of the Game, it's because a team has been under siege and they've been bailed out by their no.1.
It wasn't like that this time around... instead, the NYCFC 'keeper made a couple of crucial stops at key moments to ensure all three points for his side.
Social Post of the Match…
Stats and Milestones
- Rodney Wallace made his first start since the 2018 World Cup
- Maxi Moralez scored his seventh goal of the season
- NYCFC have won their last three home Hudson River Derby games
- Ronald Matarrita returned for his first appearance since the end of May
- Sean Johnson kept his sixth clean sheet of the season
- Domènec Torrent took charge of his first Hudson River Derby
- 30,027 fans watched the game inside Yankee Stadium - the biggest crowd of the season so far
How they lined up…
NYCFC XI: Johnson, Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Sweat, Ring, Ofori, Medina (Ibeagha 89'), Tajouri-Shradi (Matarrita 58'), Wallace (Lewis 76'), Moralez
Subs: Stuver, Abdul-Salaam, Awuah, McNamara
What’s Next…
The Boys in Blue are back at home on Wednesday night when Montreal Impact are the visitors. Get your tickets at NYCFC.com/Tickets.
