It's the Eastern Conference Semifinal of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, and New York City FC are back in Queens to host New York Red Bulls in the first-ever playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby. The stakes are high: The winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Final next week, while the loser will call it a season.
Both teams overcame the odds to make it this far, logging Round One wins that rank among the biggest upsets in MLS Cup Playoff history. No 6 seed New York City advanced past No 3 seed FC Cincinnati in three games, while No 7 seed Red Bulls beat No 2 seed Columbus Crew in two. Both of those series were decided by penalty kicks.
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• MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinal: New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls
• Date and Time: Saturday, November 23, 5:30 pm ET
• Venue: Citi Field
• Forecast: Gusty and chilly, with conditions that will feel colder than the thermometer, 45F/7C
• Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
• Apple Broadcast Team: Steve Cangialosi and Danny Higginbotham (English), Bruno Vain and Andrés Agulla (Spanish).
• New York City FC Radio: Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence (English), Roberto Abramowitz and Ariel Judas (Spanish)
• Officiating Crew: Allen Chapman (referee), Jeremy Kieso and Felisha Mariscal (assistant referees), Tori Penso (fourth official), Daniel Radford (VAR), TJ Zablocki (assistant VAR)
• Kits: New York City will wear their sky-blue Interboro kits, and Red Bulls will their red Legacy kit; Brad Sims will wear his lucky blue plaid jacket
Both teams have reasons to feel confident. New York City shut down Luciano Acosta when they faced Cincinnati at Citi Field three weeks ago, marginalizing one of the best No 10s in the league. For their part, a fully fit Red Bulls thoroughly outplayed a heavily favored Columbus, with playmaker Emil Forsberg demonstrating why he's the club-record signing.
Not only is it the first playoff game between these two clubs, it's the first time New York City hosted Red Bulls in a knockout game of any sort. The two have met four times in single-elimination games over the past ten years: Every one was played at Red Bull Arena, and every one was won by the home team.
Hudson River Blue Staff
New York City vs Red Bulls H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 10 | 4 | 15 | 32 | 47 | -15 |
The historic head-to-head favors Red Bulls, but the overall numbers tell just part of a larger story.
Four of those Red Bulls wins came in US Open Cup and Leagues Cup games. The MLS head-to-head is a more even 10W-4D-11L, with 32 goals scored and 39 goals allowed.
New York City swept the Hudson River Derby this season, handing Red Bulls their biggest defeat in the series on September 28 at Red Bull Arena. It was just NYCFC's third win in New Jersey. The Red Bulls also have just three wins as the away team: In 2015, 2016, and 2021.
Oliver Strand
Andrew Leigh
New York City
• Player Availability: Malachi Jones remains out after suffering a broken leg in July.
• Head Coach Nick Cushing confirmed that Maxi Moralez is fully fit after playing with a nagging injury in the three Round One games.
• Brad Sims will be wearing his lucky plaid jacket to the game. The NYCFC president and CEO wore the blazer to both Hudson River Derby games this year, and to Games 2 and 3 of Round One: The plaid jacket has a record of 3W-1D-0L, with 10 goals scored and 3 goals allowed.
• Looking to learn more about this NYCFC squad? You'll find analysis, a predicted Starting XI, and more at "Eastern Conference Semifinal Scouting Report: 5 Things about NYCFC."
Andrew Leigh
Oliver Strand
New York Red Bulls
• Player Availability: Defender Kyle Duncan (knee) and striker Rolls Mitchell (knee) are out.
• Lewis Morgan was back in training after missing practice last week. The striker was one of the team's key players in the away win over Columbus in Round One.
• Emil Forsberg is reportedly fit to play a full 90'. New York City have yet to see him at his full potential, as the playmaker came on as a substitute in both Hudson River Derby matches this year.
• Forsberg was in Stockholm earlier this week for the UEFA Nations League, and made a substitute appearance for the Sweden national team in their 6-0 win over Azerbaijan on Tuesday, November 19.
• Ready to learn more about these Red Bulls? Matthew Mangam talked to Michael Battista for "Oppo Research: 5 Things about New York Red Bulls."
Matthew Mangam
Hudson River Blue Staff
