Red Bulls II Goals: Sserwadda 90+2′
Goals from New York City FC II: Elias 20′ (PK)
Read quickly
New York City FC II faced the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby on Sunday night. City were reduced to ten men after eight minutes when goalkeeper Alex Rando was shown the red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Despite this, they took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to a penalty from Piero Elias. The hosts equalized the game in second-half stoppage time through Steven Sserwadda. Red Bulls II took the bonus point with a 5-4 result in the shootout.
Match report
The Hudson River Derby took center stage at MLS NEXT Pro on Sunday night as New York City FC II crossed the river to take on the Red Bulls.
City looked to rebound from their last game loss to Columbus Crew 2 and win the third Hudson River Derby of the MLS NEXT Pro season.
Head coach Matt Pilkington named a strong team for the game, but had to play without the team’s top scorer, Taylor Calheira, led by Jonathan Jiménez.
After a quick start to the game, the Red Bulls created a good goal-scoring opportunity in the first minute before building a considerable lead in the eighth minute after goalkeeper Alex Rando was sent off for a foul on Julian Hall outside the penalty area.
This forced Pilkington to make an early substitution as William Meyer came on for Nicholas Kapanadze.
Despite this early setback, City had the perfect chance to take the lead in the 20th minute after Piero Elias was brought down in the penalty area by Copeland Berkeley.
The midfielder dusted himself off to take the penalty and fired it low under Red Bulls goalkeeper Alan Rutkowski towards the goal.
The hosts looked to maximise their man advantage by controlling possession and stretching City’s defence, forcing Pilkington’s side to endure a prolonged defensive spell.
In the 35th minute, a flat cross to the near post forced Meyer to make a brilliant save, directing the ball over the crossbar from close range.
City were still able to pose a threat on the counterattack. After a powerful run through the middle of the field by Jiménez, the striker was eventually brought down and Steven Sserwadda received a yellow card.
That changed a few minutes later when Elias and Johnathan Shore on the left side played a wonderful game that allowed the latter to dance to the byline and shoot the ball through the penalty area.
Carrizo entered the penalty area and attempted to convert, but his attempt was blocked and then cleared out of the danger zone.
Pilkington made a change at half-time, bringing on Stevo Bednarsky to replace Elias. The second half began with a sustained period of pressure from the Red Bulls, and Meyer saved an important shot from Omar Valencia.
In the 58th minute, Carrizo and Shore were replaced by Julien Lacher and Jonny Lopez.
City’s attacking efforts in the second half were almost entirely driven by the tireless Jiménez. In the 67th minute, he cut towards goal from the halfway line and fired a shot that Rutkowski saved well.
Barely three minutes later, Red Bulls II striker Frank Ssebuufu had the chance to equalize for his team with a header from a few meters, but Meyer was able to prevent the goal.
City’s defence and attack were admirable and they almost scored a second goal in the 77th minute when a brilliant one-two between Lopez and Jiménez allowed the substitute to deliver a dangerous cross which was deflected for a corner.
In the 84th minute, Drew Baiera was replaced by Camil Azzam Ruiz.
In the 86th minute, City came close to doubling their lead when Jiménez hit the crossbar with a curling shot.
Unfortunately, City suffered a bitter blow in the middle of injury time when Sserwadda volleyed home from inside the box. The match ended 1-1 and the bonus point went to penalties. Red Bulls II scored all five penalties and took the bonus point with a final score of 5-4.
