BRONX, NY — The rivalry is significant when NYCFC and New York Red Bulls of nearby Paterson, New Jersey meet on the pitch, known as the Hudson River Derby. Local fans of Major League Soccer view the matchup as their Subway Series version of baseball’s Mets vs. Yankees.
But this season finale rivalry had more significance Friday night at Yankee Stadium, considering this is the home stretch of a long season.
Despite creating numerous promising opportunities Friday night at Yankee Stadium, New York City FC fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
NYCFC and Red Bulls in MLS’ Eastern Conference are vying for playoff position, neck-to-neck in the standings. One team is bound to miss their opportunity come Decision Day in early November.
So 28,270 rabid fans of both clubs were heard in the Bronx, except the repetitive theme for NYCFC (8-8-10, 32 PTs) continued in their failure to score goals. The Red Bulls (9-6-11, 33 PTs) got the lone goal early in the second half, the deciding shot as 18-year-old forward Julian Hall found the net.
Their keeper Ethan Horvath would not allow a ball into his territory.
Again though it was NYCFC at that crucial time of their season and their consistency of not scoring in their final match this year at Yankee Stadium. A strong Red Bulls defense also prevented NYCFC from attacking. There were missed opportunities from many as well as Luighi and striker Alonso Martínez who recovered from a torn ACL and returned to the pitch at Yankee Stadium for the first time since October of last year.
They came close but not enough. It’s frustrating, players had difficulty explaining their recent inconsistency of scoring and at the wrong time of a season with playoff chances in jeopardy.
One goal from Julian Hall is all the Red Bulls needed Friday night in the Bronx to get by The Boys in Blue, 1-0, in the Hudson River Derby – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
NYCFC, with eight games remaining, sits ninth in the conference and now have to make up ground in the month ahead.
But the prevailing question to coach Pascal Jansen was about the inconsistency. Horvath in his first MLS season was consistent, recording a fourth clean sheet and did not have to make a save.
“The only thing I can think of now is that we created these moments. They (the offense) got themselves into these positions,” Jansen said. “So, the quality of finishing is what needs to be better in these moments. Overall, if you look at the moments that we’ve created, the looks that we’ve had, we deserve more. But then you have to have clinical finishing in these moments, and we’ve been clinical in several other matches.”
Time is of the essence for Pascal Jansen and NYCFC, sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference Standings (8-8-10, 32 PTs) – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
He said the looks are not sufficient. He tried to keep a positive attitude, though this was a coach who seemed as frustrated as his players. And in stoppage time where NYCFC has not been successful they were unable to seize the moment.
“You have to put them in the back of the net,” he said about the shots that failed to convert. This was brief and to the point. Jansen was honest and also with a reality of perhaps this NYCFC season is running out of time if they don’t begin to convert shots and create more opportunities beginning Saturday on the road at Atlanta United.
They were quick to exit the stadium, for the moment NYCFC players had that concern knowing there is not much time to turn this around.
Before Friday night’s Hudson River Derby, a 1-1 draw was the outcome the last time the Red Bulls and NYCFC met on May 16, 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Again goals were hard to find, a lingering issue since their return from the MLS’ World Cup hiatus
“I understand it’s a tough result for everybody; the players, the staff, and the fans,” said forward James Sands. “I feel a big responsibility for that. It’s important that we all stick together during this time and make a push for the (MLS Cup) Playoffs because we need everyone.”
He was commenting also about a fan base that is quickly realizing the significance of this loss. Sands made reference to the final eight matches, including two next month at their other home venue in Queens at Citi Field.
Fans of all ages were in attendance for Friday night’s Hudson River Derby with the same turnout expected for NYCFC’s remaining home matches – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
This is possibly the first time since the 2021 NYCFC MLS Cup champion team has confronted adversity of this sort. Then it was a team effort of constantly getting important goals often. Then they had a consistent offense that also had MLS “Golden Boot” scoring leader Valentín Castellanos.
Leading scorer Nicolás Fernández has also been silent, scoring at a proficient rate prior to the World Cup break. MLS offers a rigorous schedule and that could also be a factor of the lack of scoring. And it’s noticed that Jansen has not been consistent with the starting lineup, also making numerous in-match changes on the pitch in a quest of hoping there will be a spark.
A New York Rivalry: The Red Bulls lead the all-time series in all competitions 17-13-5 vs. NYCFC and they are 2-1-1 in their last four trips to Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
“Now it’s about working during the week, taking responsibility, and improving the mistakes we made, both in attack, where we didn’t finish our chances, and in defense,” said forward Agustín Ojeda, silent on the pitch like his teammates.
“We have to correct those things for the next match and get the three points we need to keep climbing the standings,” he said through an interpreter.
Instead it’s the Red Bulls with momentum after splitting two season Derby games with NYCFC.
Malachi Jones of NYCFC believes this year’s club has all the right pieces to get things going on the pitch and finish out the 2026 MLS regular season strong – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
It’s the mentality and urgency that needs to be there and NYCFC knows the reality of their situation.
“We still have really good pieces, and we just got to make those pieces work together and finish out a game,” said forward Malachi Jones.
Yet finishing off a game has put NYCFC in their situation, time though as they say time is of the essence.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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