The only Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium is just days away…
To celebrate, we’re running through the alphabet to showcase what makes this rivalry matter with our A-Z guide to NYCFC vs. Red Bulls.
A is for Audience
We’ve enjoyed some awesome crowds at NYCFC’s home derbies to date, with 37,858 attending the first Yankee Stadium clash last season.
B is for Baptism
Yangel Herrera started his first Hudson River Derby in NYCFC’s 2-0 win in Harrison in June and went on to earn the Man of the Match award for a breathtaking display.
C is for Cards
Where there be derby matches, there be cards of the yellow and red varieties… 37 yellows and three reds have been dished out in the seven MLS meetings between the teams to date.
D is for Domination
Although Red Bulls have enjoyed more meetings with NYCFC than we have, there was a sense that the tide could be turning when the sides last met in June when Patrick Vieira’s side completely dominated their 2-0 win, outpassing and outshooting their hosts.
E is for Ex
There are three players who have worn both shirts in their careers… Mehdi Ballouchy, Jason Hernandez and Ryan Meara have all had feet on both sides of the divide.
F is for Five Boroughs
This is a rivalry which really puts local pride on the line as the only MLS team to play out of the Five Boroughs faces off against the team from over the Hudson River. A mouthwatering rivalry!
G is for Goals
For better and worse, there have been a lot of goals scored in this fixture… the teams have never shared a goalless draw. In fact, there have been 27 goals scored in the seven MLS clashes – an average of 3.8 per match.
H is for Head to Head
Red Bulls enjoy a 5-2-0 advantage over NYCFC across the seven MLS matches to date.
I is for If…
There’s a lot on the line on Sunday when it comes to the Eastern Conference standings… depending on results elsewhere, NYCFC could finish Week 22 in second place, or they could be leapfrogged by their rivals in the event of a defeat.
J is for Jack
This is a game with a great deal of significance for Jack Harrison who made his debut in the infamous 7-0 defeat before taking revenge by scoring the opener in NYCFC’s first-ever win over Red Bulls in May 2016. The Englishman scored his second derby goal to open the scoring in our first win in New Jersey a month ago too!
K is for Kick-Off
Could there be a better end to a weekend? No way! This latest episode in the rivalry kicks off at 6pm on Sunday evening.
L is for Locker Room
Go behind the scenes before, during and after our win in Harrison in June with this exclusive locker room cam video…
M is for May 10th
May 10th 2016, an historic day in the young history of NYCFC as the Boys in Blue beat the Red Bulls for the first time.
N is for New York
#NYisBlue… now it’s over to you to show it! Share your messages of support for the boys on social media using the #NYisBlue hashtag.
O is for On Form
Red Bulls enter this game in their best form of the 2017 form so far, winning emphatically in their last three games, netting more than three goals in each. What happens on Sunday?
P is for Patrick
The man who masterminded NYCFC’s first-ever derby win… and the second: P is for Patrick Vieira.
Q is for Quickest
Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored the fastest-ever goal in Hudson River derby history, netting four minutes into the first meeting between the teams in May 2015.
R is for Relatives
Until last month, there was a family connection between the two teams. Before Brandon Allen’s loan move to Minnesota United, RJ Allen's brother was on the roster at Red Bulls.
S is for Sweat
Ben Sweat wrote his name in derby folklore at Red Bull Arena in June, assisting and scoring in the 2-0 win.
T is for Tommy
West Nyack’s finest is one of two NYCFC players with multiple goals in this fixture – Tommy McNamara has struck in two different HRD games for the boys in blue.
U is for Unbeaten
NYCFC are undefeated in seven games at Yankee Stadium, winning five and drawing two since the 2-1 defeat to Orlando in April.
V is for Villa
The MLS MVP David Villa is on All-Star duty this week but will return to New York later this week aiming to fire his side to victory and to build upon his one goal in derby games.
W is for Wright-Phillips
This fixture’s top scorer, BWP has netted eight times against NYCFC.
X is for X-Rated
A goal so good, it must be watched again and again and again…
Y is for You
Yes, you! We need you on Sunday, so make sure you click that link at the bottom of this very article and get your tickets for his unmissable match!
Z is for Zero
As in “zero excuse”… as in “you have zero excuse to miss this game”… as in “z is a tough letter for this format of article and this was the best we could come up with…” \(ツ)/¯
