KEYS TO THE GAME: New York Red Bulls vs. NYCFC

Get to know the matchup in Keys to the Game:

Win and Advance 

Thursday marks the start of the Red Bulls’ run in the inaugural Leagues Cup Knockout Stage. The club is set for a matchup with rival New York City FC in the round of 32. 

Both clubs made it through the tournament’s group stage, with New York earning five points to top group East 4 and New York City earning three points to place second in group East 3.

Moving forward, all remaining teams will have to win their respective matchups to keep their Leagues Cup run alive. 

The Red Bulls, who have already earned one win over NYCFC in 2023, will have to take their opponent down for the second time to get to the round of 16.

So, with the Knockout Stage beginning and a trophy on the line, the mission is simple: win and advance. 

New York Derby: Leagues Cup Edition

Thursday’s Derby will be the 26th all-time meeting between New York and New York City. This time, things are a little different.

The rival clubs are meeting in the inaugural Leagues Cup, something they have never done before, and only one team can advance.

The Red Bulls and the Boys in Blue have met three times in non-MLS regular season contests prior to Thursday. All three games came in the US Open Cup, with New York earning wins in each match.

The last time the teams met in the Open Cup was 2022, when the Red Bulls earned a 3-0 victory. Lewis Morgan, Luquinhas, and Omir Fernandez recorded goals in the win.

Heading into Thursday, the Red Bulls have history on their side, but with both clubs looking to stay alive in Leagues Cup, the match is sure to be a battle.

Match Makers 

Leagues Cup has offered an opportunity for players to step up in big ways to keep their clubs’ tournament dreams alive. 

For NYCFC, No. 10 Santiago Rodríguez put up two of New York City’s five goals in the tournament so far with a brace against Toronto. Three other Boys in Blue added a goal apiece to New York City’s dominant win. 

Likewise, the Red Bulls have seen players meet the moment on both sides of the pitch. On Sunday night, goalkeeper Carlos Coronel came up with a 91st-minute penalty save that kept the game locked at one.  
 
With the clearance from that save landing at the feet of forward Dante Vanzeir, who buried his second goal of the night in the 92nd, New York was able to take three points away from its match with Atlético San Luis.

With another heated battle coming up on Thursday, who will step up to make a difference and send their club onto the next round?