HARRISON, N.J. – New York City FC claimed their regular season crown over New York Red Bulls in 2025 with a 3-2 win at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday night. The win puts the Red Bull playoff hopes in serious jeopardy while City improve their chances at home field advantage in the first round.
The scoring started quick for City as an errand pass from New York was pounced on by Justin Haak. He found Nico Fernandez who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel in just the second minute. From there NYC poured on the pressure, pushing for a second goal before Red Bull could find their legs in the game. Chances were plenty but the score remained 1-0, giving head coach Sandro Schwarz and his men the ability to find their way back into the game.
That chance came in the 24th minute when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting found the first of his two assists, placing the ball at the feet of youngster Julian Hall in front of goal. The standout player took little time, one-touching the ball past Matt Freese for the equalizer. The celebration was short lived as minutes later Raul Gustavo put a ball into the box that midfielder Andres Perea headed past Coronel to retake the lead.
From there City was able to control more of the first half but unable to find the back of the net to extend their lead. That came back to haunt them just minutes into the second half when Choupo-Moting showed his class on the ball, finding team captain Emil Forsberg for yet another equalizer. Red Bull continued to pressure from there, finding another chance for Wiki Carmona who put the ball over the net.
That missed opportunity came back to haunt New York as a corner kick created chaos in the box, hitting the post before captain Thiago Martins gave NYC the lead for good. Substitutes from Red Bull attempted to sway the game but the chances were few as City claimed the series sweep for the second year in a row.
What is left for Red Bull is no longer in their hands as wins this week and next from Chicago will see them out of the playoff picture entirely. For NYCFC, it brings them level on points with Charlotte FC as they push for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
STARTING XI:
New York Red Bulls: Coronel; Duncan (90′ S. Nealis), Eile, Parker (82′ Hack), Edwards (55′ Morales), Berggren (82′ Ngoma), Donkor, Carmona (65′ Gjengaar), Forsberg, Hall (66′ Sofo), Choupo-Moting
New York City FC: Freese (67′ Romero); Gray, O’Neill (82′ O’Toole), Martins, Haak, Gustavo, Perea, Ojeda, Moralez (67′ J. Fernandez), N. Fernandez (90′ Tanasijevic), Wolf (90′ Reid)
SCORING SUMMARY:
2′ (New York City FC) Nico Fernandez (2) assisted by Justin Haak
24′ (New York Red Bulls) Julian Hall (1) assisted by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
26′ (New York City FC) Andres Perea (3) assisted by Raul Gustavo
48′ (New York Red Bulls) Emil Forsberg (11) assisted by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Wiki Carmona
65′ (New York City FC) Thiago Martins (1) unassisted
DISCIPLINE:
8′ (New York Red Bulls) Raheem Edwards – YELLOW CARD
55′ (New York City FC) Maxi Moralez – YELLOW CARD
82′ (New York Red Bulls) Dennis Gjengaar – YELLOW CARD
90′ (New York Red Bulls) Sean Nealis – YELLOW CARD
photo by Matt Kremkau