Harrison, NJ -- Jesse Marsch and the New York Red Bulls were under intense pressure to get a result Sunday in the New York Derby, and boy did they deliver. Propelled by a Bradley Wright-Phillips brace, the Red Bulls defeated New York City FC 4-1 at Red Bull Arena in the last edition of the rivalry in the regular season.
Pressure Rising
With temperatures on the field reaching 106ºF during the match, it was the younger and fitter Red Bulls squad that was able to bring the heat on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when Bradley Wright-Phillips received the perfect through ball from Sacha Kljestan and slotted the ball behind Josh Saunders to give the hosts the lead. Kljestan's pass, which came directly through the middle of City's midfield, would be a precursor to more of the same throughout the rest of the match.
It took only three minutes for the Red Bulls to double their lead. Ronald Zubar headed home a Kljestan corner in the 23rd minute to get his club's second goal. It was yet another goal conceded by New York City from a set piece, an aspect that has haunted their game throughout this season.
Stuffed
The Blue Pigeons attempted to get back into the match after conceding two in three minutes, but the attacking core of David Villa-Frank Lampard-Jack Harrison-Thomas McNamara consistently failed to get behind the Red Bulls' backline. Despite a Villa breakthrough and consequent miss wide in the early stages of the match, NYCFC were time and time again ruled offside when playing the ball up the field and into the Red Bulls' half.
Patrick Vieira was adamant in his post match press conference that the officiating in the match went completely against his side, but even he conceded that the penalty awarded to the hosts in the 40th minute was a definite handball. The man of the hour, Sacha Kljestan, slotted the ball into the left corner and gave the Red Bulls a three goal lead four minutes before halftime.
Wonder Hair, Wonder Strike
The Red Bulls' three goal lead would be short-lived, however. Tommy McNamara decided to have a go from over 30 yards from the Red Bulls' goal, and the West Nyack native's shot went into the top corner of the goal and past a diving Luis Robles. The jaw dropping goal looked as if NYCFC would be going into halftime with a chance at climbing back into the match in the second half.
Stuffed, Part Two
City's struggles to open up the Red Bull defense continued through the first twenty minutes of the second half. Red Bulls' fullback Connor Lade did an astute performance in his matchup against NYCFC rising star Jack Harrison, while the Red Bull domination of the midfield and constant turnovers in the middle of the park left David Villa on an island.
2 for 99
Bradley Wright-Phillips completed his brace and put the game to bed in the 70th minute. The English striker was played in alone by an Alex Muyl flick header, and Wright-Phillips was able to outdo Josh Saunders before slotting the ball into the back of the net in front of an elated South Ward.
Pushing and Shoving
The last twenty minutes of the match became a festival of skirmishes, as key players from both sides continued the antics and physical play. A frustrated New York City continent accounted for three yellow cards and one red card within the last ten minutes of the match.
Ethan White was sent off on a second yellow after Gonzalo Veron auditioned for the Olympic Diving squad in front of the assistant referee. David Villa refused to move in front of a Red Bull's free kick until the referee specifically gave him a yellow card, and then he graciously moved back the 10 yards. His show of self pride will cost the league leader in goals, as he is suspended on yellow card accumulation for his club's match against Colorado next weekend.
Antics Galore
In his press conference after the match, New York City head coach Patrick Vieira made it clear he believes the officiating was inclined by Red Bulls' head coach Jesse Marsch. Marsch criticized referee Mark Geiger in the lead up to the match last week, and City's French manager believes it clearly influenced Geiger on Sunday.
"The first three or four offside we had. No way it was offside."
It was clear that Vieira and Marsch were not buddies beforehand, but the antics from the two managers on Sunday dsfitnley confirmed the disdain. Vieira, who was send off by the referee during the first half water break, was clearly tired of Marsch's antics.
"The conversation with Jesse was to stop crying," Vieira said at the press conference. "I feel sorry for him. The manager was crying all the week, in the end he got wanted he wanted [to]."
Next
The Red Bulls travel to Chicago to take on the Fire next Sunday, while a depleted New York City squad will host Tim Howard and the Colorado Rapids next Saturday at Yankee Stadium.