NEW YORK – The Red Bulls are kings of New York.
HARRISON, N.J. (June 28, 2015) - The New York Red Bulls earned a 3-1 victory over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening behind goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and the first career markers from both Chris Duvall and Matt Miazga. The Red Bulls have now taken the first two installments of the New York Derby.
With the win the Red Bulls improve to 6-5-5 on the season, and 2-3-3 on the road.
New York City got on the board in the sixth minute with a goal from Thomas McNamara. The play started with a cross from midfielder Mix Diskerud that was headed across the box by Medhi Ballouchy. McNamara was able to bring the ball down, turn and fire a low shot past Luis Robles and into the far corner.
Wright-Phillips played like a man on a mission from the start, getting involved in the attack early and generating a number of scoring chances for himself and his mates. The former Manchester City man broke through to tie the game just after the start of the second half. In the 47th minute Kljestan brought the ball down at the edge of the box, worked into space and put in a cross for Wright-Phillips to finish on a half-volley. The marker was Wright-Phillips sixth of the season, and third in two derby matches. It was the first of two assists on the night for Kljestan, bringing his season total to three.
The goal seemed to flip a switch for the visitors. The Red Bulls pressed the issue and took the lead in the 52nd minute thanks to Chris Duvall. After a set piece taken by Kljestan, winger Mike Grella regrouped and put in a short cross that Anatole Abang headed into space at the back post, where a wide open Duvall was able to volley his first touch under the cross bar for the eventual game-winner.
In the 56th minute Wright-Phillips was on the attack again, wrong-footing a defender with a cut back on the left side of the penalty area and driving a shot that rang squarely off the far post behind a diving Saunders.
Matt Miazga got in on the scoring in the 72nd minute, getting on the end of another set piece from Kljestan to head home the Red Bulls' third goal at the back post.
Robles made two more quality saves, both on Kwadwo Poku, to preserve the lead. Robles pushed a drive from the penalty spot over the bar in the 74th minute, and held strong to the near post to deny another attempt in stoppage time.
The win was the first time the Red Bulls scored more than two goals this season. It would also be New York's first win when allowing the first goal.
New York returns home for another New York Derby on Wednesday with a match against the New York Cosmos in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. The Red Bulls return to league action with a trip to Columbus to meet Crew SC on Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
