The Hudson River Derby is set to heat up as the New York Red Bulls face off against New York City FC in the US Open Cup round of 16 on Wednesday. Pascal Jansen’s squad will head to Sports Illustrated Stadium with hopes of breaking their losing streak against their local rivals, having been defeated in their last three cup encounters since June 2017.
The New York Red Bulls have encountered a tough opening to their MLS season, recently falling 2-0 to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Michael Bradley’s team has endured four consecutive league matches without a victory, recording two losses and two draws. Their only league win since March came from eight games. Currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls have shifted focus to the US Open Cup, where they began their campaign for a maiden title with a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the round of 32 on April 16.
New York City FC, on the other hand, enjoyed a strong start in the cup, defeating USL League One side Wenchester 5-2 at Memorial Field in their opening match on April 16. Despite their cup success, Jansen’s men have struggled in the MLS, failing to secure a win in six straight games, with two draws and six losses, including a 1-0 defeat to CF Montreal last Saturday.
New York City aims to recover in the cup, facing a team that has lost their previous three US Open Cup meetings, conceding eight goals and failing to score in any of those games.
New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- New York Red Bulls have a stronger record in this fixture, winning 16 out of the last 32 meetings.
- New York City FC has secured 12 victories, with four matches ending in a draw.
- Jansen’s team has won four of the last five encounters against the Red Bulls, with a 2-0 loss in November 2024 being the exception.
- The Red Bulls have been strong at home, losing only one of their five matches across all competitions this season, with three wins and one draw.
New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC Prediction
The upcoming clash at Sports Illustrated Stadium promises more than just a spot in the quarter-finals; local bragging rights are also at stake. Although Jansen’s team has a perfect cup record against the Red Bulls with three wins, we anticipate the Red Bulls will capitalize on their home ground advantage and achieve a favorable result.
Prediction: New York Red Bulls 2-1 New York City FC
New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result – New York Red Bulls to win
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – Yes (At least three goals have been scored in six of the Red Bulls’ last seven matches)
Tip 3: Both sides to score – Yes (Both teams have scored in seven of the hosts’ last eight games)
Edited by Ashwin Hanagudu
