The New York Red Bulls earned a crucial three points at the expense of their biggest rival, topping New York City FC 1-0 in the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening behind a game-winning goal from Omir Fernandez late in the first half.
The defeat wasn't for lack of chances from NYCFC, but the Cityzens were unable to find the scoresheet due to a combination of some wayward finishing and stalwart goalkeeping from RBNY's Carlos Coronel.
NYCFC controlled the action early, but after settling into the match, RBNY jumped on top on 43 minutes through Fernandez. The 22-year-old attacker from the Bronx squared up a pinpoint cross from Kyle Duncan and cashed in a first-time finish past NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
The visitors continued to apply pressure to start the second half, narrowly missing on a pair of opportunities to double the lead. The first was a converted shot by Patryk Klimala that saw the Polish forward have the goal waved off for offside. That was followed up by a laser shot from Dru Yearwood that made Johnson have to go full extension for a diving save. Johnson was then forced into a sprawling save once again just past the hour mark, laying out to deflect a distance shot from John Tolkin from going into the top corner at the near post.
NYCFC, meanwhile, had a pair of golden looks in the second half that came up empty. The Citzyens first came tantalizingly close to the leveler in the 71st minute, but Taty Castellanos's shot on the doorstep off a corner kick was denied by Coronel's reaction save.
Coronel then came up huge again to preserve the lead in the 78th minute, making another reaction save on a close-range header from Jesus Medina, who had a clean look right in front of goal.
Goals
- 43' - RBNY - Omir Fernandez | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It was the second time the sides have faced off in four days after a scheduled August matchup was postponed due to unplayable weather conditions, and it was certainly the type of feisty and intense contest we've come to expect from this rivalry. In the end, credit to RBNY for gutting out a rare three-point result at Yankee Stadium and maintaining a glimmer of hope of making a late push in the Eastern Conference playoff race. For NYCFC, their hold on the No. 3 spot in the East is a tenuous one, with the Philadelphia Union and Orlando City SC just one point shy of the Cityzens' mark of 39 points and just five points now separating them and ninth-place Columbus Crew.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Jesus Medina was this close to an equalizer that could have salvaged his team at least a point, only to see Coronel come through with the massive save.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Coronel is the obvious choice here. Without his pair of game-saving denials in the second half, RBNY could have left Yankee Stadium with zero points instead of all three.
Next Up
- NYC: Wednesday, September 29 at Chicago Fire FC | 8 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+)
- RBNY: Wednesday, September 29 vs. Philadelphia Union | 7:30 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+)
