photo by Andy Marlin/USA Today Sports
HARRISON, N.J. — The New York Red Bulls may have gotten some payback, but they also strengthened the case for why New York is red.
The Red Bulls continued to assert themselves as the alpha dogs in the Big Apple on Wednesday, putting together a thorough 4-1 win over the Cosmos in the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup. The victory came three days after the Red Bulls knocked off New York City FC in league play for the second time this season, and had them bristling with confidence as they left Red Bull Arena with even more bragging rights.
“Certainly we have shown, not just in the last two games, but I think we have shown that we are a good team and deserve to be treated as the premier club in New York City,” said Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch. “That has meant a lot to us and we have taken a lot of pride in stepping on the field and showing that.”
It is hard to argue that at the moment. The Red Bulls boast a 3-0-0 record in matches against fellow New York teams this season, winning by a combined score of 9-3.
Almost half of those tallies came on Wednesday against the Cosmos, who suffered their first loss in three matches against the fellow New York clubs dating back to last year.
Playing in front of an announced crowd of 11,442 that included boisterous fans from both clubs, the Red Bulls scored twice on each side of halftime, including on a fifth-minute header from Sal Zizzo following a mouthwatering cross from returning midfielder Lloyd Sam.
The Cosmos pulled one back 11 minutes later through Lucky Mkosana, but never looked like they were ready to take the lead against the energetic Red Bulls. Marsch’s side piled on the pressure throughout and found its winner late in the first half via an Anatole Abang header. The MLS club then piled on the misery in the second half with a penalty kick from Sacha Kljestan and incredible individual strike from substitute Mike Grella.
As convincing as the performance was, the Red Bulls still showed their respect to the Cosmos while also reveling in the moment of winning yet another New York derby.
“It was a big week for us. I think we put a lot of focus, a lot of energy, a lot of effort into this week,” said Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty. “We knew it was going to be very difficult, we knew the Cosmos are a very good team. We talked before the game that we have a lot of respect for them. We assume that they’re better than a couple MLS teams that we play, actually. That proved to be the case.”
The Red Bulls capped the game against Cosmos and their special last four days in impressive fashion, as Grella, a Long Island native, scored a spectacular 90th-minute goal on an individual effort.
Grella sized up Hunter Gorskie on the right side of the penalty area, pulled off a series of cuts and stepovers that spun the Cosmos defender like a top, and then fired a low shot off the left post and in.
It was a jaw-dropping goal, and one that further made the Red Bulls feel like they are the New York club to beat.
“I have respect for all the teams, but no doubt this place is my home and I feel a real connection to them,” said Grella. “I’m very happy to get a good result against these teams and prove that right now we are the best team in New York.”
The Red Bull have done pretty well for a team that lost Henri and Cahill. Many said BWP would not be able to score without Henri to set him up. Many others said that firing Petke would destroy the team (I still find it mystifying why Petke was dropped, but that’s life as a pro soccer coach.) Marsch has proven he could find a plan that works with the talent he inherited and that he could identify some new young players who stepped up to play big roles. Sasha has grown as a player since it became clear the team needed him to be its leader.
For the 2015, season, it is pretty clear which NY team is best. The Cosmos and NYCFC, for now all they can do is echo the Chicago Cubs” “Wait ’til next year”
You kids!! If it wasn’t for New York Cosmos!! This wouldn’t be a NY derby!!
It would be really sad to see NJRB vs NYCfc…
Plus Cosmos still the best Nitches!! It’s 1-1!! So don’t claim victory lady’s!!
Being the best team in New York is like being the biggest pattie on the dung heap. You’re still a 1-trophy sh**pile.
Vamos United!
Sucks that the Cosmos aren’t in MLS instead of NYCFC. That was the obvious move. Imagine them in Yankee stadium?
They had their chance and they blew it thinking NASL was going to leapfrog MLS. Cosmos have a brand but where it counts here in NYC they are not 1st.
NY is red baby!
Yeah, sucks that not everyone wants to be part of a group that steals money from poor lil soccer clubs that are training Americas kids. Yeah, really sucks.
Yeah Cosmos didn’t wanna wear Adidas… They don’t need someone to tell them what to wear!!
The Cosmos are the best soccer club in NY, what’s the debate about?
What? Maybe when it comes to cache and history. Are you trolling?
What’s trolling on a soccer board?
.
Cache – yes
History – yes
Best soccer club in NY – yes
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Brooklyn Italians – good history. Icon FC – building some steam. LI RoughRiders – not bad, but seem to have stagnated lately. Uhm, Jersey Express – Cosmos beat them this year, maybe next year. If you have another club in mind who are you thinking of?
4-1 says they aren’t.
REd Bulls are the best right now, NYCFC will be coming with new players, nasl cosmos will go nowhere, they were good in 1977, who even cares anymore?…
nasl/cosmos are a 2nd rate b league, 0-7 against USL…
NY is Red!
Results are what matters people. Not future signings, not diversions about other games and rivalries. When we played in your stadium with the kiddie field, we won. When we played you on your 2015 hot ‘streak’, we won.
Your azz is red!
Lets see, cosmos barely won versus nyc, which nyc is a half ass team missing pirlo and lampard. Then red bull beats nyc again, which I think we all saw that coming since nyc has defense issues and needs pirlo and lampard. Now red bull won versus cosmos, a very good D2 team but not that good. I’m not a hater or red bull fan, but red bull won’t win the east conference or mls cup, or us open cup. The east conference is a weak one and basically Orlando can even win the conference. Red bull fans shouldn’t be happy or satisfied, the LA galaxy are about to get loaded with Gerrard and giovani, and tfc might have something up their sleeve.
If the NY teams gets to be the best in the US, then maybe it gets annoying, but I like the NY rivalry. Pretty cool. Very cool.
Wait eh minute. Best in the US? Rivalry? That is Cascadia. 1-2-3 in the West.
And we are not annoying, we are cool (?)