There is no other way to interpret this maneuver by NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira than to say his side is determined to put an end to the dominance the Red Bulls displayed in winning all three derby matches a year ago, NYCFC’s first in MLS existence.
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NY also is enduring a busy stretch following Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Chicago on Mike Grella’s goal.
Despite all of the hysteria about the team’s slow start this season, the Red Bulls are now 4-2-0 at home.
Both clubs are now looking up at the red line in a crowded Eastern Conference and are coming off forgettable performances on the weekend.
It started with a pretty innocuous “NYisRED” image and hashtag from the Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls finished the 2015 season, their 20th in Major League Soccer, with a three-game sweep over NYCFC and the best record in the league. “We haven’t shown the ability in a tight game to come out as the victors, so for me that was a really important game for us, important for us to be in and important for us to get the result”.
Poku, whose name is bellowed by the faithful any time he enters the match, isn’t the only player who thinks playing in front of the home crowd will give NYCFC a decided advantage. The Red Bulls struggled to create chances this week and it will be interesting to see if a healthy Gonzalo Veron will be able to add a creative spark to the team.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored four times against NYCFC past year.
Having only played on Sunday, New York City rested their star players, with David Villa and Andrea Pirlo named among the substitutes at BMO Field. Gonzalo Veron might come into the starting lineup here but Jesse Marsch is unlikely to make many changes from the side that beat Chicago on Wednesday.
After being picked apart last week by D.C. United, the makeshift pairing in the of Chris Duvall and Aurélien Collin in the heart of the Red Bulls defense got a second consecutive outing – and looked solid. Pirlo took part once in this rivalry since he was still with Italian club Juventus for the first two.
“We are a young team”, Paunovic said.
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But New York City still managed to take a 16th-minute via Kwadwo Poku’s stunning opener from the edge of the penalty area. “It’s a game in which you feel the atmosphere as a player”.
