New York City FC - New York Red Bulls live online updates, score and stats | MLS Cup Playoffs
NYCFC - NYRB: Live updates
As we head into the final ten minutes of the first half NYCFC are looking to push the pace. A long ball out to Ilenic on the right gets them moving forward but Tolkin does well to get a foot in.
James Sands
The NYCFC midfielder is booked for a late challenge on Cameron Harper.
It's Forsberg who takes the corner kick but it's overhit, floating out for a goal kick on the far side. That's a waste for NYRB.
Emil Forsberg wins a corner kick for the Red Bulls.
NYCFC will have to have their wits about them this time...
So, what do NYCFC do now?
Their game plan has worked fairly well so far, pinching the ball high up the field and driving straight at the Red Bull's backline. But they've been stunned by two goals - a long-range screamer and a set piece - that give the visitors a solid lead.
Red Bulls lead 2-0 against NYCFC.
The NYRB media team is straight to the point with with one. Dante Vanzier's close-range finish gives them a 2-0 lead.
VAR decision - GOAL
The goal will stand. New York Red Bulls have flown to a two-goal lead midway through the first half.
What a start to the Conference semi-finals!
Hold on, it'll be checked by VAR.
NYCFC believe that Vanzier was in an offside position...
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL! Dante Vanzier
The corner kick is whipped in and the Red Bulls striker pokes the ball home from close range.
NYRB in dreamland!
Both teams look really dangerous with the counter-press, successfully winning the ball back off opposition defenders multiple times in the opener stages here.
Red Bulls win a corner kick.
Martinez comes close with bicycle kick!
Nearly a spectacular leveller!
Sharp counter-attack from NYCFC with Wolf flying forward on the left. The ball is worked into the box and Martinez tries an acrobatic effort but it's blocked on the line.
Another decent opening for the Red Bulls and Edelman floats a neat ball over the NYCFC defence and into the path of Vanzier. He tries to nudge the ball past Freese but he's muscled out by a recovering defender.
It'll be a free kick for the Red Bulls but both Sean Nealis and Hannes Wolf get a talking-to from the referee for their part in the disquiet there.
That opener from NYRB doesn't seem to have dimmed the passion of the home crowd at all and the hosts are straight back on the offensive.
There's a heavy tackle in the midfield and both sets of players want a foul. The two teams come together for a bit of pushing and shoving.
Tensions high, already.
Yup, that covers it.
What a start to this game! The Red Bulls lead through a stunning 25-yard goal, rifled right into the top corner from the Uruguayan.
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Felipe Carballo
Sensational strike from distance from Felipe Carballo and the Red Bulls lead!
That's the goal of the post-season so far!
Both teams have been really resolute in their defensive work so far.
You can tell it's a high stakes game, there's very little space to play in the midfield and both teams are playing one- or two-touch.
Another good run down the left from Rodriguez and he's in behind the NYRB backline. He looks to be in on goal but Sean Nealis does brilliantly to get back and put a tackle in.
Red Bulls clear the danger.
Both teams will be fairly happy with how the opening 12 minutes have gone.
NYCFC have had more of the ball but the Red Bull have kept them at an arm's length, and even made a few forays forward of their own.
Santi Rodriguez is felled by Dylan Nealis on the left wing, winning a free kick for his team.
The NYCFC man wants Nealis to be booked by the referee thinks otherwise. Rodriguez isn't happy about it.
Powerful run forward from Ilenic down the right flank for NYCFC, bursting into the Red Bulls half before he runs out of room. Throw-in for the hosts.
The corner kick is cleared but only out for a Red Bulls throw-in. That, however, comes to nothing.
Nearly an opening for the Red Bulls as Dante Vanzier pounces on a loose ball in the NYCFC penalty box but recovering defenders manage to block the effort.
Corner kick for the visitors.
NYCFC go bold with their tifo.
There's not much chance of neighbouring love in New York City today. The hosts are looking to make a statement, as this tifo makes pretty clear.
The corner kick is taken short and NYCFC work a neat move but can't quite find the final pass.
Goal kick for the Red Bulls.
Daniel Edelman loses the ball in the midfield and NYCFC have a chance to break. Santi Rodriguez tries to play in a teammate but it's cleared for an NYCFC corner kick...
Plenty of touches for the NYCFC midfielders in the early stages. James Sands and Keaton Parks are getting on it well.
It looks like the Red Bulls are sticking to the three-at-the-back formation favoured by Sandro Schwartz throughout this season.
Will that cause them problems on this narrow Citi Field pitch, with less space for their wingbacks to exploit?
Carlos Coronel punts the ball long for NYRB but NYCFC defend it well.
It's a high-intensity start in the first of the 2024 MLS Cup conference semi-finals.
NYCFC look to get forward from the start, looking to play their way through this high-octane press from the Red Bulls.
Great atmosphere inside Citi Field today with hosts NYCFC making themselves heard from the off.
And we're off...
NYRB get the Eastern Conference semi-final underway!
Nick Cushing ready for historic matchup.
Just before the action gets underway in NYC, here's what head coach Nick Cushing had to say about the stakes for his New York City FC side today.
He knows that victory against the Red Bulls would be a moment to cherish for fans and players alike.
The teams are out!
We're just moments away from kickoff at Citi Field. The stakes could not be higher for the first-ever postseason Hudson River Derby.
Final preparations ahead of Hudson River Derby.
If the New York Red Bulls need a moment of inspiration today, you wouldn't bet against captain Emil Forsberg being the man to provide it. The Swedish playmaker has added a touch of class to the Red Bulls forward line this season and he proved decisive in the victory over Columbus in Round One.
Both NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls secured passage to the Eastern Conference semi-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory. Could we see the same again tonight?
New York City is bouncing!
We're expecting a bumper crowd at Citi Field today. New York City FC are looking to make a second successive Eastern Conference Final and would dearly love to eliminate their city rivals in the process.
As head coach Nick Cushing said: “If you can't get yourself up for a semi final against your rivals with a chance to progress. You're playing the wrong sport."
Emil Forsberg lead the Red Bulls in.
The Swedish international has been a star for NYRB this season, kitting things together and adding some much-needed guile to their full-throttle attack. He scored in the victory over Columbus Crew, can he repeat that performance today?
Over the summer New York Red Bulls star Lewis Morgan spoke exclusively to AS USA to reflect on his astonishing return from long-term injury.
“I don’t really think that many people had lofty expectations of this group at the start of the year."
"You can use that as a driving factor. I think the manager came in here with a point to prove as well, and the group of players have a point to prove.”
Heating up ahead of Hudson River Derby.
New York City FC will be the host team tonight and the home fans are making themselves heard outside of Citi Field. There's little over half an hour to go until kickoff now, tensions are on the rise.
Lewis Morgan hits hot streak for NYRB.
After suffering serious injury and missing most of a year, Lewis Morgan has been making up for lost time in 2024. The Red Bulls forward has been in incredible for this season and bagged the MLS Comeback Player Of The Year award after helping his team back into the postseason for a 15th consecutive season.
An inconsistent NYRB side eliminated reigning champions Columbus Crew in Round One. / Trevor Ruszkowski / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
New York Red Bulls relishing the postseason challenge.
What should we expect from the New York Red Bulls today? For all their talent they haven't always been able to find consistency but they now find themselves just three games from glory.
"We are having a good season, but we haven't always been rewarded for our strong performances. We have made up for that now," head coach Sandro Schwartz said ahead of today's game.
"As I said, it's like a new competition, all or nothing. A big challenge. We only think from opponent to opponent, with the knowledge that we can beat anyone."
And here's the New York Red Bulls line up...
No major surprises for the visitors. Emil Forsberg wears the captain's armband.
The Big Apple’s two MLS teams battle it out for postseason bragging rights.
What is the Hudson River Derby?
You may have noticed that the phrase 'Hudson River Derby' has been used a lot in our coverage so far. Well, it will continue to feature heavily. Here's a look back at where the term came from and what it means...
Home crowd out in force.
The MLS Cup playoffs has never before seen a Hudson River Derby. This first-ever post-season meeting between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls looks set to be one to remember.
Recap: Red Bulls shock Columbus Crew.
There had been some hope that the Red Bull's high-intensity style of play could disrupt the Crew's metronomic rhythm, but did anyone really see that pulling off a win. NYRB played at their scintillating best against the reigning MLS Cup holders and got their just deserts, winning on penalties to knock out the champions.
Recap: NYCFC hold their nerve against Cincinnati.
Few gave NYCFC a chance going away to Cincinnati for Game 2, even given their shock win in the opening game of the best-of-three series. In the end it was a nervy affair, with NYCFC coming out on top in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Let's take a look back...
Both these New York teams overcame tough opposition to make it through to the Conference semi-finals. NYCFC knocked out 2023 Supporters' Shield champions FC Cincinnati, while the Red Bulls beat reigning MLS Cup holders Columbus Crew.
Here's another look at those games...
NYCFC home crowd can make the difference.
“We know that as a team we play a huge part in making that night special. If I recall the Miami playoff game, the Cincinnati game, and many other games that we've had there in front of our fans, there's going to be a packed crowd.
“We're really proud that we're going to have 24-25,000 of our people in there, but we have to play our part in getting the atmosphere [going] and delivering a performance - in playing our way.
“I think together, if our fans bring the passion and are right behind us from the off, and we play on the front foot, I think it will give us every chance of putting in a good performance.”
Local bragging rights on the line in New York.
NYCFC may be the younger brother, but they can claim to have surpassed the Red Bulls in terms of postseason achievement. Despite being one of the league's founding clubs the Red Bulls - formerly the MetroStars - have never won a championship.
Could this be their year?
In recent days NYCFC were able to announce further details of their long-awaited new home, with the stadium's name confirmed for the first time. Given their links to Manchester City, no prizes for guessing what they're calling it...
Red Bull fans make themselves heard at CitiBank Field.
This is a home game for NYCFC but expect to see plenty of red jerseys in the crowd. Games in the Hudson River Derby are always feisty affairs but today's matchup will have a real bite.
MLS Cup Playoff fixture: Conference semi-finals
After a two-week pause, the MLS postseason action returns this weekend with four mouth-watering matchups across the two conferences. Which teams will book their place in the conference finals?
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig has had a season to remember this year but he's not happy with one element of the MLS postseason. Is the Spaniard right?
The scene is set.
There's a perfect blue sky above CitiBank Field in preparation for tonight's Eastern Conference semi-final. This is the first-ever postseason meeting between the two New York sides, which team will come out on top?
MLC Cup conference semi-finals begin!
After a mid-tournament hiatus for the November international break, the MLS Cup playoffs are back.
First up, it's an all-NY affair with New York City FC playing host to the New York Red Bulls. Both teams pulled off major shocks in Round One, one of them will see their postseason journey ended tonight...