NYCFC Crushes Hudson River Derby to Ignite Championship Fire
There's hardly anything more satisfying than claiming victory in a derby clash, except perhaps pushing your crosstown rivals to the edge of elimination.
That was precisely New York City FC's approach on Saturday evening, as they triumphed over the New York Red Bulls 3–2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, casting serious doubt on their opponents' chances of maintaining their remarkable 15-year MLS Cup Playoff appearance streak with just two matches remaining.
Thiago Martins netted the decisive goal for NYCFC, converting a header from a free kick delivery in the 65th minute, while Nicolas Férnandez Mercau and Andres Perea also registered goals for the away side. For the Red Bulls, 17-year-old Julian Hall and Emil Forsberg managed to find the scoresheet despite the disappointing result.
The defeat leaves the Red Bulls trailing Chicago Fire FC by five points for the final spot in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, whereas NYCFC climbed to third position in the Eastern Conference standings, establishing a three-point cushion above fifth place. Securing a top-four finish would guarantee home field advantage during the best-of-three opening round.
This victory also represents NYCFC's fourth consecutive regular-season Hudson River Derby triumph, establishing their longest winning run in this fixture's history, and marking only the second time they've achieved such dominance, having previously suffered defeats in 2015 and 2016.
"It's enormous," commented NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen regarding the sweep. "I was genuinely surprised by the number of blue jerseys I witnessed in this red venue, as I was informed earlier this week that New York supporters from our side typically avoid visiting this stadium."
"Securing both victories this season against the Red Bulls holds tremendous significance for our supporters, naturally, but the reaction in the locker room was incredible, as we have several homegrown players who understand exactly what it means to win this matchup."
Adapting Without Martinez
While the defeat virtually eliminates the Red Bulls' postseason aspirations, it enables NYCFC to harbor ambitions they haven't entertained since capturing MLS Cup in 2021. They not only claimed all three points but accomplished this feat without top scorer Alonso Martínez, who was sidelined due to injury.
In Martinez's absence, The Pigeons relied on other crucial contributors, particularly new Designated Player midfielder Nicolas Férnandez Mercau, who orchestrated attacking movements, scored the opener, and guided the team to their seventh victory in eight matches since his arrival.
Beyond Fernandez, homegrown center-back Justin Haak delivered an impressive performance alongside his partnership with Martins. These tactical modifications culminated in the historic victory and an opportunity to claim the crucial top-four position, which they aim to secure through their remaining two fixtures.
"This validates what we've witnessed throughout this campaign," NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen explained. "What I consistently emphasize to my players is that this represents part of our arsenal, so we can deploy that strategy whenever required, and today we demonstrated that capability once again."
Freese Injury Causes Concern
Despite the overall success of the match, an early injury in the 10th minute forced NYCFC and USMNT goalkeeper out of action, leaving his availability uncertain going forward.
Freese managed one save before departing, with replacement Tomas Romero completing the match successfully. However, Jansen couldn't offer an update on his first-choice goalkeeper following the game due to a head contact incident.
"Matt represents a crucial component of our squad and has performed exceptionally this season, contributing significantly to the team, so we hope the injury isn't severe and he'll return soon," Jansen stated. "Conversely, it's essential we recognize that every squad member must be ready for the playoffs, so if Matt requires additional recovery time for postseason preparation, Tomas serves as an outstanding alternative."
NYCFC will resume action on Oct. 4 when they face the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union, before turning attention to Decision Day on Oct. 18 against Seattle Sounders FC.