Red Bull NY, NYCFC draw 1-1 in Fiery Affair
- E Lopez
- May 17
- 3 min read
May 16, 2026 Sports Illustrated Stadium Harrison, NJ
The two local MLS sides came into the Hudson River Derby match looking to extend their two game winning streaks, after both having endured lengthy winless runs in the seasons early going. Red Bulls was also looking to avenge a 3-1 home loss to NYCFC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on April 29th. The announced crowd of 26,765 would enjoy a competitive and spirited affair.
The Red Bulls began the match with great intensity, causing all sorts of trouble to Matt Freese and the City defenders. The Red Bull high press did not allow NYCFC to come out of the back efficiently, leading to numerous turnovers in the early going. The City players were clearly frustrated, and it resulted in on-field confrontations between the sides. Cade Cowell also created many chances for the home side, but Red Bulls were unable to get the opening goal despite the good play. NYCFC would be forced to make a substitution in the 39th minute, Maxi Moralez would be taken off in place of Andres Perea, after suffering what looked to be a non-contact knee injury.
When it looked like both sides would settle for a scoreless draw at the break, a good passing sequences started by Adri Mehmeti to Ronald Donkor, found Cowell out wide. Cowell would play a cross into the six-yard box to an oncoming Julian Hall. The ball would be deflected off of a City defender unto the path of Jorge Ruvalcaba. The Mexican international would pounce on the ball, and score his fifth of the season in the 44th minute. Red Bull would go into the half with a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
Looking to change his club’s fortunes, City coach Pascal Jansen would insert the pacy Malachi Jones for Hannes Wolf. Jones would declare his intentions soon after the start of the second half firing a dangerous shot from outside the area over the bar. The control of the match would now switch to City’s side as Jones speed would trouble the Red Bull backline. The breakthrough for New York City FC would come in the 52nd minute. From a set piece, Fernandez Mercau would deliver a dangerous in-swinging ball from the right, Andres Perea would flick it into the bottom corner. The NYCFC supporters in the upper bowl of Sports Illustrated stadium would erupt in excitement as the match was equalized.
Over the next few minutes NYCFC would have the better of the play, with quality chances. However, the Red Bull defense would rise to the occasion to help keep the match level. The confrontations between both sides would continue, as it was evident there was no love lost between the two local sides. In the 89th minute, Red Bull would have their best chance of the second half. Matt Freese would do well to hold onto a Julian Hall shot from a tight angle. NYCFC would have one final chance in the final moments of stoppage time. Seymour Reid would find space and find Jones, but Jones was unable to generate much power on his shot, which Ethan Horvath would handle easily. Both clubs would have to settle for a 1-1 draw.
This Hudson River Derby was a tale of two halves. The first half controlled by Red Bull New York, and the second half controlled by New York City FC. The match showed the potential for both sides. With the World Cup Break coming up, both sides can focus on regrouping and coming back stronger in the second half of the 2026 MLS campaign.
Comments