FT: New York City 0, Red Bulls 1

FT: NYCFC fall 1-0 to the most lifeless, lethargic, and boring game I’ve seen them play in 2020. And that’s saying something.

The VAR-allowed goal will surely be a source of controversy. But regardless, NYCFC looked awful. There was no creativity whatsoever. Any blip of encouraging play was immediately stomped out with an errant long ball or sloppy short pass.

I can’t even bring myself to get angry at this anymore. It’s become borderline comical.

---

10 minutes left to play. I haven’t a clue as to what NYCFC can do in this situation. There is no life. There is no bite. Everything looks lethargic or half-hearted. And at this point, I don’t know how anyone can have confidence with Deila at the helm.

---

---

67’: NYCFC just have nothing going for them. Yeah, that attack was OK. But the end result was a 40-yard shot that had no shot of going in. This team is capable of better. And I just can’t defend Ronny anymore — this is awful.

---

60’: Well, nevermind. Red Bulls are given the goal after Allen Chapman consults with the VAR. New Jersey leads 1-0.

---

---

54’: SeanJohn parries a long distance attempt. Johnson has held firm in net tonight.

---

52’: The Red Bulls are controlling the pace in the opening minutes of this second half. City need to start making some positive movement before all momentum is lost.

---

The second half is underway! Can City find that elusive go-ahead goal?

---

HT: Neither City or the Red Bulls could grab a goal before halftime.

City seemed to generate more chances, but both teams seem to be locked in a stalemate. Taty Catellanos and Jesus Medina have both been a good source of distribution for the Blues, but Héber still seems to be finding his scoring touch.

This is gonna be a cagey second half for sure.

---

36’: SeanJohn makes a brilliant save to deny Daniel Royer and the Red Bulls a go-ahead goal!

---

31’: Héber fades his mark with some nifty step-overs. He delivers a strike near-post, but Meara is there to meet it.

---

20’: We’re twenty minutes in. Here’s the story so far:

City have had the lion’s share of chances in the early goings. But no goals yet. NYCFC seems to have a serious problem with directing shots on target. We’ve seen how good how Héber can be. especially with Taty next to him. They need to start doing some damage/\.

---

---

13’: Taty lays it off to Héber open in the box. The Brazilian skies his attempt on goal.

---

10’: Well delivered free kick from Jesus Medina almost results in Maxime Chanot scoring a header.

This game has been sluggish for both teams out of the gate. But NYCFC has the only real chance so far.

---

---

The Battle for New York has begun! Can NYCFC climb out of the hole and return to form against their bitter enemies? We’ll find out in 90 minutes! Vamos New York City!

---

Rosters are out! And from the looks of it, NYCFC will line up in a 3-5-2 in an effort to dispatch of their New Jersey-based rivals, the New York Red Bulls. With Maxi Moralez out injured, it seems that Jesus Medina has been given the nod at CAM while Héber and Taty Castellanos will be tonight’s striker pairing.

James Sands slides into the middle of a back three that includes Maxime Chanot and Alex Callens on either flank. Fullbacks Anton Tinnerholm and Ronald Matarrita will play as wide mid’s.

---

Rosters

New York City Starting XI:

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International Duty: None
• Injury Report:
• OUT: Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (M) - hamstring injury
• OUT: Gedion Zelalem (M) - knee injury
• QUESTIONABLE: Maxi Moralez (M) - calf injury

Red Bulls Starting XI:

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: N/A
• Referees: Allen Chapman (referee); Logan Brown, Brian Dunn (assistant referees); Thomas Snyder (4th official); Jose Carlos Rivero (VAR)

---

How To Watch

Match date & time: August 20, 2020, 7:00 PM ET

Venue: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

Online streaming: Fox Sports App

TV: YES

Local radio: NYCFC.com/radio

The story: After a long five-month wait, MLS is back. And no, not in some weird tournament capacity in Orlando, Florida. The MLS is actually back. And for New York City FC, the hard work begins now.

Through their first five official MLS games of 2020, NYCFC have only three points and sit second-to-last in the Eastern Conference. And tonight, they’ll be tasked with making inroads towards a comeback against the rival New York Red Bulls in a very unique Hudson River Derby that will occur in front of a crowd of absolutely nobody due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

If City lose tonight, their chances at mustering a comeback to put them back in playoff contention becomes all the more unlikely. But a win against your most hated rival in their house — a house which City themselves will call home for the forseeable future — could be just what the doctor ordered for Ronny Deila & Co.

It will, however, be an uphill battle. NYCFC will be without clinical inverted winger Ismael Tajouri-Shradi due to a hamstring injury, while Maxi Moralez is officially listed as ‘Questionable’ on the injury report due. Without these two in the fold, NYCFC could have a pretty rough time converting in the offensive third.

We have no idea how many games will be played as MLS returns to play. But what we do know is that for New York City to have any shot at reclaiming their place towards the top of the Eastern Conference table, wins need to start coming. Let’s make tonight the first step towards that goal — both literally and figuratively.

This post will update with highlights and information as we receive it.