May 18, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
New York City FC recorded in the first edition of the 2024 Hudson River Derby. City took the lead after three minutes through Hannes Wolf. The visitors would find an equalizer in first-half stoppage time through Cameron Harper. City would retake the lead through Mounsef Bakrar in the 64th minute. The Algerian’s strike would prove to be the matchwinner, with City taking all three points on derby day.
Match Recap
The World’s Borough was the setting for the 28th installment of the Hudson River Derby on Saturday night.
New York City FC was seeking to stretch its unbeaten run to three games after impressive road wins against Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union.
Head Coach Nick Cushing made four changes to the side that recorded a 2-1 win at Subaru Park on Wednesday night with Tayvon Gray, James Sands, and Malachi Jones all restored to the starting XI in place of Mitja Ilenič, Andrés Perea, and Agustín Ojeda. Elsewhere, there was a first MLS start for Serbian striker Jovan Mijatović as he came in for Alonso Martínez.
A raucous atmosphere had been building long before kickoff and that encouraged a fast start from both teams, with City striking first through Hannes Wolf after just three minutes.
Inspired by a brilliant driving run and cross from Jones, the winger was able to burst past his defender and put in a low delivery that evaded everyone but Wolf.
Far from rushing the chance, Wolf then showed supreme composure to settle the ball with his first touch before slamming the ball past Carlos Coronel in goal.
Red Bulls were quick in their attempts to strike back and that saw Frankie Amaya fire off a shot from the edge of the box that took a wicked deflection en route to goal. Thankfully for City, Matt Freese adjusted quickly and gathered the ball into his arms.
City almost made it two in the 15th minute after a corner was cleared into the path of Gray. The defender opted for a curled shot with his weaker foot that forced Coronel into a good save down low to his right.
The contest showed no signs of slowing down heading into the half-hour mark with both teams unwilling to relent.
In the 33rd minute, a dangerous freekick from the Red Bulls required a well-timed intervention from Birk Risa – one of several key interceptions the defensive unit would make during the first 45 minutes.
Jones was proving an influential presence in the final third, and he was handed a great chance to double City’s…
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