MLS: New York Derby, Round 2 Preview and Prediction
The New York Red Bulls will travel to the Bronx on Saturday morning to take on NYCFC in the second New York Derby of the year. Will New York be Blue or Red?
It’s that time of the year again. New York’s two MLS teams will take the pitch against each other for the second of three times this season in Yankee Stadium on Sunday at 12pm ET. The first New York Derby of the season ending with a staggering 7-0 win for the Red Bulls. The Red Bulls completely destroyed NYCFC, in Yankee Stadium, in a fashion that hasn’t been seen before and will be virtually impossible to replicate.
NYCFC hopes this time around is much different. They come into this match in good form, winning two consecutive matches against the Philadelphia Union and the Seattle Sounders. Frank Lampard scored in both matches, after having his first cap of the season in the truly depressing 7-0 defeat.
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NYCFC’s leading striker, David Villa, currently leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 11 goals. NYCFC has gained momentum again since that shocking loss in the last Derby, and they’re hoping to use it to get a more favorable result this time around. As Frank Lampard has said, “we’re not seven goals worse than them.” NYCFC hopes to prove that tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Red Bulls have looked fantastic in the last couple of weeks. They are looking to end a four game road trip with a win in the Bronx and extend their New York Derby series record to 5-0.
The Red Bulls have won all the 4 meetings between the teams, and Bradley Wright Phillips has scored at least one goal in each of the games. He plays a huge role in the Red Bull’s versatile attack: he has scored 6 goals in the last 5 games and has 9 on the season.
But he’s not the Red Bulls’ only threat. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan leads the league with assists with 10 assists on the season. Forward Mike Grella has 6 goals on the season and has been in great form in recent weeks. With Dax McCarty holding down the midfield and Luis Robles in front of the net, NYCFC will have a difficult time finding a victory against this team.
New York Derby: Injury Report
NYCFC
- D/M – Connor Brandt – out with a bilateral hip arthroscopy for the rest of the season
- F – Steven Mendoza – out with a core injury
- D – Ethan White – listed as questionable with an adductor strain
- M – Federico Bravo – listed as questionable with a strained quad sustained 5/26, was expected to be out for 4 weeks
Red Bulls
- D – Damien Perrinelle – still out because of left knee surgery
- D – Kemar Lawrence – out with a groin injury sustained on 6/5; he is expected to be out for 1 month
- M – Shaun Wright-Phillips – out with a hamstring injury
- M – Tyler Adams – out with a concussion
New York Derby: Prediction
NYCFC has one of the worst home records in the league. Combine that with the Red Bull’s dominance in the series, their good form coming into the game and the result of the last meeting, I don’t think NYCFC will be able to get 3 points. I think they get a pair of goals though, but the final score will be 3-2 in favor of the Red Bulls.