NYCFC vs. Red Bulls: A Historic Hudson River Derby Showdown

For the first time in their 10-year history, the New York City FC and New York Red Bulls face off in the MLS Cup Playoffs. This highly anticipated match marks a significant moment in the rivalry known as the Hudson River Derby.

The Matchup

The Red Bulls, seeded seventh, pulled off a major upset by eliminating the defending champion Columbus Crew in the first round. Key players Emil Forsberg, Dante Vanzeir, and Lewis Morgan all contributed goals to their playoff victory. This win extended the Red Bulls' impressive streak of consecutive MLS playoff appearances to 15 seasons—a record among major North American men's professional sports leagues.

Meanwhile, the sixth-seeded NYCFC advanced after defeating FC Cincinnati. Alonso Martínez and Santiago Rodríguez led NYCFC's scoring this season.

<img src="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/11/20/USAT/76443357007-usatsi-24720683.jpg?crop=6246,4546,x280,y1210&width=660&height=481&format=pjpg&auto=webp" alt="Santiago Rodríguez helped spark New York City FC's first-round playoff upset of FC Cincinnati." >

Game Details

• Date: Saturday, November 23rd
• Time: 5:30 PM ET
• Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY (NYCFC's home stadium, Yankee Stadium, was unavailable due to a prior event)
• Stream: Apple TV's MLS Season Pass

Key Moments (Live Updates)

Red Bulls take the lead:

• 16th minute: Felipe Carballo scores with a stunning left-footed strike.
• 25th minute: Dante Vanzeir doubles the lead, capitalizing on a corner kick.

Betting Odds (via BetMGM)

• NYCFC: +115
• Red Bulls: +210
• Tie: +240
• Over/Under: 2.5 goals

MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule

• November 23-24: Conference Semifinals
• November 30 - December 1: Conference Finals
• December 7: MLS Cup

The winner of the NYCFC-Red Bulls match will face the winner of the Orlando City SC-Atlanta United matchup in the Conference Finals.