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NYCFC earn first derby win at Red Bull Arena

New York City FC took bragging rights in New York derby on Saturday, recording their first win at Red Bull Arena as they dominated their rivals, the New York Red Bulls, in a 2-0 win on Saturday.

The first strike came from Jack Harrison in 33rd minute. Rodney Wallace began the play, working his way around a Red Bulls defender before finding Ben Sweat. From there, Sweat played a short pass to Jack Harrison, who curled the ball in for his seventh goal of the season.

The away side doubled their lead in the 65th minute, as Sweat grabbed his first goal for the club. Sweat’s header from an angle barely found itself in the top right corner after he connected with Alexander Ring’s pass. 

The Red Bulls looked out of sorts on the day, as they never quite got into a rhythm. The opposition, meanwhile, successfully interrupted a majority of the Red Bulls’ plays, and threatened the home side’s defense frequently. Luis Robles, though, was perhaps his side’s top performer, making multiple important stops throughout the match to limit the scoring.

NYCFC and the Red Bulls have two meetings left in the regular season, with the next one coming on August 6 at Yankee Stadium.

Man of the Match

Midfielders Alexander Ring and Yangel Herrera were crucial in their team’s victory. Their bossing of the midfield allowed for the rest of their team to shine, which they did very brightly on enemy turf.

Moment of the Match

Jack Harrison’s 33rd minute opener saw him excel along with teammates Rodney Wallace and Ben Sweat, who both recorded assists. Wallace skillfully worked around a defender, and eventually, the play ended with a Harrison curler that New York City FC fans will remember for a long time.

Match to Forget

The match was a poor outing for the New York Red Bulls midfield, with them being defensively liable and offensively unproductive. Particularly, captain and last season’s assist leader, Sacha Kljestan, remained largely absent, not being able to showcase his talents as a difference maker.

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