New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 22
New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls
Yankee Stadium – Bronx
November 1 – 7:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: YES, MSG

Separated by just four points, New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls will battle for playoff positioning, as well as bragging rights, in the latest edition of the Hudson River Derby Sunday night at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC (10W-8L-3D) are coming off back-to-back wins, including a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC Wednesday, and sit in fifth place, just two points behind fourth-place Orlando City SC. The Red Bulls (8W-8L-5D) clinched their 11th straight postseason berth, and 21st overall, with a last-minute win over the New England Revolution (and some help from FC Dallas, which beat Inter Miami CF, 2-1) Wednesday at Red Bull Arena.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Red Bulls claiming a 1-0 victory at Red Bull Arena on a Kyle Duncan goal upheld following Video Review.

New York City FC

Jesus Medina scored his fourth goal of the season, pouncing on the rebound of Taty Castellanos' saved shot, to hand NYCFC a 1-0 win over Toronto FC that all but sunk their rivals hopes of winning the Supporters' Shield Wednesday night in East Hartford. Meanwhile, NYCFC move within two points of fourth-place Orlando. A top-four seed would secure a home playoff game for the Cityzens, who have made Yankee Stadium a fortress over the years.

“We just need to keep people injury free is the most important thing," Ronny Deila said after the match. "We don’t have so many players right now. Keep everybody fit. That’s going to be the most important thing. And to just keep on with the same things. We [won't] find anything new now going into the playoffs. It’s about getting confidence. Win games. Hopefully get among the four best. Now we have an opportunity to go past Orlando or Columbus…We’re two points behind both of them with two games left. It’s possible [to get top four and have a home playoff match in the quarterfinals]."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Gedion Zelalem (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Tayvon Gray (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Heber (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: James Sands (M) - fractured right foot
- OUT: Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Anton Tinnerholm (D)
International duty: None

New York Red Bulls

For the third straight game, the Red Bulls found a late goal, this one a winner by Aaron Long one minute from time, to beat the Revolution 1-0 at Red Bull Arena Wednesday. Coupled with FC Dallas' 2-1 win over Inter Miami, the Red Bulls extended an unbeaten streak to five matches and clinched a playoff berth in a tumultuous season that saw Chris Armas relieved of his duties on Sept. 4.

“We feel guilty, we feel responsible for our coach getting fired,” goalkeeper Ryan Meara said. “I think it really shows the character of the team and its a testament to every guy in the locker room that even though we had our downs for sure, we just stuck together and we’re kind of benefitting and getting the rewards for our good character right now, which is great.”