New York City FC player ratings are determined by Hudson River Blue readers: Here are your NYCFC player ratings after a cathartic 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls in the first Hudson River Derby to be played at Citi Field.
When the 2024 schedule was first released, this looked to be one of the roughest weeks of the year for New York City: Three games in eight days against tough opponents. But this week turned out to be the most rewarding so far this season, with NYCFC taking nine points out of a possible nine and rocketing up the table to third place in the Eastern Conference. New York City heading into Memorial Day with the fifth-best record in the league? Not many people had that on their bingo card at the start of May.
Even sweeter for the NYCFC faithful, Saturday’s win came at the expense of an in-form New York Red Bulls who were more than capable of getting a result in the first Hudson River Derby held in Queens. All wins are worth the same three points, but this one counted a little more.
Your ratings reflect the finally-feels-like-spring vibes that pulsed through the city this weekend. Mounsef Bakrar, Tayvon Gray, Birk Risa, Thiago Martins, and Hannes Wolf earned their highest numbers of the year, head coach Nick Cushing topped his personal best with an 8.4, and even referee Rosendo Mendoza got some love with a 7.4.
Wolf is POTM for the third consecutive week, and for good reason: His goal in the third minute of play was ice-cold, and took out 80% of the Red Bulls defense in humiliating fashion.
In other words, it was everything you could want in a derby win.
Note: FotMob ratings are in parentheses.
Andrew Leigh
Jovan Mijatović, off 58′ (6.4) – 5.6
Santiago Rodríguez , off 72′ (6.4) – 6.8
Hannes Wolf, off 90′ (8.3) – 8.8
Malachi Jones, off 73′ (7.4) – 7.6
Keaton Parks (7.5) – 6.8
James Sands (6.9) – 7.3
Kevin O’Toole (7.0) – 7.2
Tayvon Gray (8.1) – 7.6
Thiago Martins (6.8) – 7.9
Birk Risa (7.2) – 7.5
Matt Freese (7.5) – 8.4
Mounsef Bakrar, on 58′ (6.9) – 8.5
Andrés Perea, on 72′ (6.6) – 7.3
Agustín Ojeda, on 73′ (6.2) – 6.6
Mitja Ilenič, on 90′ (NR) – 6.8
Player Spotlight
Mounsef Bakrar
You can make the argument that the Player Spotlight should be on Tayvon Gray. The right-back was solid on defense, and the assist he provided to Mounsef Bakrar reminds us of the potential we saw on the offensive side of the game back in 2021, when had two goal involvements in 15 appearances.
But that would be unfair to Bakrar, who went from the best striker in MLS who has yet to score, to a No 9 who lashed in a game-winner.
Trusting the process. pic.twitter.com/cMBUH0Q2kT
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) May 19, 2024
Does this mean the Mounsef Paradox was solved? The TV pundits will tell you that when goal-scorers start scoring goals, all the bad memories fade away. Or maybe they’re shoved aside by the rush Bakrar felt when an announced crowd of more than 30,000 lost their minds when the ball hit the back of the net of New York City’s biggest rival, and greatest tormentor.
That one meant more 🥹🫂 pic.twitter.com/daIeqMI0pD
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) May 19, 2024
Bakrar’s 8.5 rating comes after weeks of 4s and 5s. At the start of the month, you gave him a season-low 3.6 after the home loss to Colorado Rapids. Those earlier numbers might have been a little unfair – and his rating today might be a little inflated – but a striker is supposed to score goals. Now that Bkrar is holding up his end, you’re holding up yours.
Matthew Mangam
Nick Cushing – 8.4
Did you give Cushing an all-time-best rating because you trust the process?
Or was it because you watched the hug?
If you haven’t seen the hug, look at the above clip. It shows Bakrar’s goal celebration, which was to sprint to Cushing on the sideline and leap into his arms with the joy of a U-7 throwing his arms around his daddy. Cushing hugged him back with the you-make-me-proud-no-matter-what love of a man proud to show his emotions.
Warm fuzzies aside, it demonstrated the bond between Bakrar and the head coach. If you want to know what loyalty looks like, rewatch the clip.
Rosendo Mendoza – 7.4
Player of the Match
Hannes Wolf
Eight Players received votes for POTM, which shows that you recognize this win was a team effort. But Wolf comfortably won for his third time in three games, which shows what you think of the quality of his play.
Just like after Wednesday’s win over Philadelphia Union, it wasn’t just the goal that Wolf scored. The attacking midfielder is a complete player who can carry the ball deep into the opposition’s box and create disorder in a defense that tries to keep organized: Wolf makes them struggle to keep their shape.
And just like after Wednesday’s win, it was the goal. This time the goal unfolded in the third minute, when Wolf’s two touches sent three Red Bulls defenders to the ground, then his shot sent goalkeeper Carlos Coronel moving in the wrong direction.
The Wolf was officially loose 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/fVR53GBWI6
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) May 19, 2024
Out of those seven other players who received votes for POTM, six were involved in the buildup play that Wolf finished so poetically. The ball is moved quickly and confidently around the field, with some first-touch passes played with pinpoint-accuracy to beat the Red Bulls press.
One of the best team goals you’ll see in MLS this season.
— Ben Wright (@benwright) May 19, 2024
