NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls preview: The postseason Hudson River Derby

The MLS Cup Playoffs will continue for New York City FC when they take on the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  This will be the first Hudson River Derby in the postseason, making the match extra special.  To make things better, the Pigeons do not have to host their home fixture at Red Bull Arena.  Instead, they will be at one of their baseball stadiums, Citi Field.

The last time the two teams met, NYCFC dominated the derby.  The Bronx team beat RBNY 5-1.  It might not have been equal to the red wedding loss, but was one of the best games and wins the Pigeons had over their rivals.

Now, there is even more to fight for.  Many did not expect NYCFC to make it beyond the first round.  However, the Best-of-3 series win over FC Cincinnati means the Boys in Blue have a shot at making the Conference Finals.  While the regular season was better compared to 2023, there is no question this was still not an ideal year.  Making the Conference Finals would certainly make the season a little better.

Fans are extremely excited about the Hudson River Derby.  Here is a preview of the playoff game between NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls.

Date

NYCFC and RBNY will play each other on Saturday, November 23.

Time

The match is at 5:30 PM ET.

Location

The fixture will take place at Citi Field in Queens, NY.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the game on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

Weather

It will not be the coldest November match, but it will still be around 47 degrees.  However, it will be windy, with winds around 20 mph when the derby kicks off.  It will be partly cloudy with just a 2% chance of rain. 

Injury report

Malachi Jones (leg) remains on the injury report and is the only player unavailable.

Players to watch

NYCFC supporters should watch Alonso Martínez.  The Costa Rican had a decent international break and scored in the second game against Panama to tie it 2-2.  Sadly, his goal was not enough to move his team into the next round of the CONCACAF Nations League.  Hence, the striker might be hungry to score again, but this time, he will want to lead the Pigeons to a win. 

On the Red Bulls, fans should pay attention to Lewis Morgan.  The forward has an assist in his last three games.  In addition, he has 13 goals in the regular season.  He is threatening in all aspects of the game, so he is one of the top players to stop on the red team.

Prediction

After the 5-1 win in the last Hudson River Derby, it is easy to see NYCFC coming away with the win.  This will be a tighter match since RBNY has been playing well over the last few matches.  Therefore, it is predicted the Pigeons will win 2-1.  Matt Freese will put on another show between the sticks to help lead the Boys in Blue to the Conference Finals.