Match Recap: NYCFC 3-2 Red Bulls

NYCFC Goals: Villa 27mins, 72mins & 75mins

Red Bulls Goals: Wright-Phillips 42mins & 61mins

A Quick Look

“The David Villa Derby”.

El Guaje scored his first NYCFC hat-trick to fire his team to their first series win over Red Bulls in front of 33,697 at Yankee Stadium.

In a back and forth five-goal thriller, NYCFC led, trailed and led again, holding out for the 3-2 win which clinched a historic (and deserved) win for the Boys in Blue.

What Happened

New York City FC went into this second of three Hudson River Derby engagements of 2017 with the opportunity to seal a first-ever series win over their rivals.

A raucous sold out Yankee Stadium played host for a game which was full of intensity from the first whistle which bled in from the stands to the Etihad Pitch.

A flurry of chances fell NYCFC’s way in the early minutes, with Yangel Herrera working Luis Robles on 2’ with a snapshot from an acute angle, before Villa got his first sight of goal on 9’, breaking clear but he was falling backwards as he struck and the effort was saved by the Red Bulls ‘keeper.

Jesse Marsch had clearly sent out his team to be physical but they overstepped the mark on more than one occasion early on, with Dani Royer perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a poor challenge on Maxi Moralez.

In the 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena, NYCFC had sought to eradicate the Red Bulls press by playing longer than usual and that approach was utilized once again here to try and draw the sting from a visiting side who had won their last four games.

On his second start, Jonathan Lewis was next to go close on 25’ when he burst into the area in behind the defense and prodded the ball past Robles but a defender was on hand to clear off the line.

Two minutes later, NYCFC were ahead and it was the captain who scored it after he found himself with a third of the field to himself, running on and rounding Robles before sliding in his 15^th goal of the season.

Smelling blood, Vieira’s men pressed on and had chances to double their lead but it was the visitors who scored the game’s second goal through Wright-Phillips on 41’ as the Englishman beat Sean Johnson with a daisycutter to the bottom corner.

That goal just before halftime carried Red Bulls into the second half full of confidence and they would have taken the lead if not for a valiant double block from the captain after a corner pinballed around the box.

Khiry Shelton made his long-awaited return on 57’, replacing Lewis, as Vieira went to introduce some more physicality to his frontline but Red Bulls seized the advantage four minutes later, taking the lead through a second goal by Wright-Phillips.

Again, it was a ball in from wide which NYCFC failed to clear and Wright-Phillips was on hand on the penalty spot to slide home and make it 1-2.

Ugo Okoli was introduced from the bench immediately after and he was straight into the action, providing an opportunity for Villa with an excellent cut-back, forcing Robles into a fine save down to his left.

That proved to be a warning shot as a couple of minutes later NYCFC equalized through a stunning solo goal from Villa, who skipped and slalomed through a series of challenges, tying the Red Bulls backline in knots before slamming home at the near post with an unstoppable strike.

Just three minutes later, NYCFC retook the lead and it was Villa again who scored his first hat-trick for the club, converting the penalty after Sal Zizzo had kicked him in the face.

Zizzo’s night would get worse as he was sent-off in the dying minutes of the game, helping the home side hold out for a famous victory they fully meritted, leading to these scenes of celebration outside Yankee Stadium at the end of an unforgettable night.

Key Moment

It had looked as though Wright-Phillips’ equalizer on the stroke of half-time would be the key moment for a time as it gave the away team a confidence boost going into the second period.

But then Villa happened…

The MLS MVP scored twice in three minutes on 72’ and 75’ to completely change the complexion of this encounter, scoring his first hat-trick for the club in the process.

Man of the Match

David Villa

Who else? El Guaje scored his 15^th, 16^th and 17^th goals of the season to win the day and the goals only tell part of the story.

As ever, Villa gave absolutely everything for his team, straining every sinew to ensure that this would be another derby day to remember in the BX.

Social Post of the Game

Stats and Milestones

• This was the first game in NYCFC history with the Video Review system implemented
• NYCFC have clinched a seasonal series against the Red Bulls for the first time (2-0-0 with one to play)
• NYCFC have won three of the last four Hudson River Derby matches
• David Villa scored his first hat-trick for NYCFC
• David Villa scored his 15th, 16th and 17th goals of the season and his second, third and fourth against the Red Bulls
• Khiry Shelton came on as a substitute for his first appearance in four months
• NYCFC are now 12-7-4 for the 2017 season
• Jonathan Lewis made his second start for NYCFC
• Maxi Moralez received a yellow card and so will be suspended for the game at LA Galaxy next Saturday
• Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored ten goals against NYCFC

How They Lined Up

Patrick Vieira made two changes to his lineup for the second Hudson River Derby of the 2017 season.

Yangel Herrera had served his one-match suspension for the red card issued against Chicago Fire and came straight back into the XI in place of Andrea Pirlo.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Lewis was handed his second start for the Boys in Blue, lining up on the left wing in place of Tommy McNamara who dropped to the bench.

NYCFC XI: Johnson, White, Callens, Brillant, Sweat, Ring, Herrera, Moralez, Harrison, Lewis, Villa (C)

NYCFC Subs: Johansen, Awuah, Lopez, Pirlo, Shelton, Okoli

What’s Next

NYCFC return to action next Saturday when they travel to the City of Angels for the only showdown with LA Galaxy this season. Our next home game is against New England Revolution on August 20. Get your tickets below!