New York Red Bulls 2-3 New York City FC 2025 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 37 Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 | Kickoff: 7:40pm ET Location: Sports llustrated Stadium | Harrison, NJ Attendance: 25,219
New York City FC earned a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Hudson River Derby. Nicolás Fernández Mercau struck inside two minutes to give City the lead, and although the Red Bulls equalized, Andrés Perea restored the advantage with a clever flick. Emil Forsberg leveled again early in the second half, but captain Thiago Martins followed up Perea’s header off the post to fire home the decisive third. Despite late pressure, New York City held firm to secure a memorable derby triumph.
UP NEXT: The ‘Boys in Blue’ take a trip to the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday, October 4, at 7:30pm ET. | Apple TV: MLS Season Pass | Radio (English/Spanish) newyorkcityfc.com/radio
New York City won the season series against the New York Red Bulls.
With the season sweep against the Red Bulls, this marks two consecutive seasons in which they have achieved this feat (2024 and 2025). In the 2024 MLS Regular Season, New York City swept the Red Bulls, winning 2-1 at Citi Field on May 18, 2024, and 5-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium September 28, 2024.
This marks the third time in four MLS Regular Seasons New York City swept the Red Bulls (2022, 2024, 2025). In addition to 2024, New York City also swept the Red Bulls in 2022, winning 1-0 at Sports Illustrated Stadium on July 17, 2022, and 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2022.
New York City FC has now completed their fifth sweep (two victories) of a Major League Soccer in the 2025 MLS Regular Season. This is a new Club record for the most sweeps in a single MLS Regular season.
Their other win against the Red Bulls was a 2-0 scoreline at Citi Field on May 17, 2025.
New York City has also swept Toronto FC, Orlando City SC, FC Cincinnati, and Chicago Fire FC this season.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen becomes the second Head Coach in Club history to sweep the New York Red Bulls in the regular season.
Former Head Coach Nick Cushing did it twice for New York City (2022, 2024)
This season, New York City FC has scored first in fourteen matches. When doing so, New York City FC has a record of 11W-2L-1D.
All time in the MLS Regular Season, New York City holds a record of 12-11-4 (W-L-D), scoring 37 goals and conceding 40.
On the road against the Red Bulls, New York City FC has a record of 4-8-2, scoring 16 goals and conceding 22.
Including tonight’s match, New York City FC has scored two or more goals against the Red Bulls in four consecutive MLS Regular Season matchups, dating back to May 18, 2024, where the ‘Boys in Blue’ won 2-1 at Citi Field.
In these four matches, they have scored 12 and conceded four goals. All the matches resulted in wins for New York City FC.
This is the team’s longest winning streak (four games) against the Red Bulls in Club history.
New York City is currently on a five-game unbeaten run against the Red Bulls in the MLS Regular Season, dating back to a scoreless draw at Yankee Stadium on September 16, 2023. Thus far, the Club has posted a 4-0-1 record.
This is the team’s longest unbeaten run (five games) against the Red Bulls in Club history.
Out of their 16 away matches played, the Club is currently on a six-game unbeaten run, having posted a 5-0-1 record in their last six.
The four most recent matches of this current streak were victories. The Club defeated FC Dallas 4-3 at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025, shut out Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025, defeated Chicago 3-1 at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025, and beat the Red Bulls tonight 3-2.
New York City FC equaled their second highest win total on the road in Club history with six wins.
The Club also attained six road victories in the 2017 and 2022 MLS Regular Seasons.
The most road victories recorded in a single season in Club history is seven.
The last time the Club recorded seven road victories was in the 2019 MLS Regular Season. The Club also accomplished this feat in the 2016 MLS Regular Season.
In the 2025 MLS Regular Season thus far, New York City is tied for their record for the fewest number of road losses in Club history in a full, 17 away-game, MLS Regular Season with five.
The team had five away losses in the 2019 MLS Regular Season as well.
The Club officially had the fewest away losses in the shortened 2020 MLS Regular Season with four in 11 matches played.
Midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored his second goal of the season and his first in the Hudson River Derby.
Fernández Mercau's second-minute goal marks the fastest goal of the season and the first goal scored within the first five minutes of a match.
The second-fastest goal of the season was scored by Julián Fernández on Matchday 11 against FC Cincinnati, which was scored in the ninth minute.
Mercau’s goal marks the second fastest goal scored in Club history against the New York Red Bulls.
Former Defender Alexander Callens holds the record of the fastest goal scored by a New York City FC player in the Hudson River Derby.
Midfielder Justin Haak provided his fourth assist of the season and his second assist in Hudson River Derby history.
Haak has talliedsix goal contributions in MLS Regular Season. He has a total of two goals and four assists.
He is tied with Former Forward Andres Jasson and Midfielder James Sands for the second most goal contributions by a Homegrown player.
Defender Tayvon Gray leads this stat with 12 goal contributions.
Midfielder Andrés Perea scored his second goal of the season and his second goal in Hudson River Derby history.
Perea's first goal in the Hudson River Derby was scored in the 5-1 victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 28, 2024.
With the 5-1 victory being the most recent away match against the New York Red Bulls, Perea’s goal marked his second consecutive strike in away games against them.
This was also the second time Perea has scored with a header in the first half against the Red Bulls.
Perea's goal in the 5-1 rout was scored in the 30th minute with header from the centre of the box with an xG of 52% to the upper left central zone.
Defender Raul Gustavo provided his first assist with New York City FC and in MLS.
Defender Thiago Martins scored his first goal of the season and his first in the Hudson River Derby.
This marks his second goal contribution against their Hudson River rivals (one goal, one assist). His assist dates back to September 17, 2022, in a 2-0 win for the ‘Boys in Blue’.
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the team lifting the Hudson River Derby Trophy... "It's massive. I was very pleasantly surprised by how many blue shirts I saw in this red stadium because I was told at the beginning of the week that the people from New York, from our side, do not like to come to this stadium. But I'm hoping they will be here many more times with a bigger crowd, because we love to give them these performances. When I saw the trophy come into the dressing room, I was a bit surprised because I wasn’t aware of it. Winning the two games this season against the [New York] Red Bulls means a lot to our fans. But also, the response in that room was massive because we have a few guys from here as well, so they know exactly what it feels like to win this trophy.”
On the intensity and pressing of the team in particular with Midfielder Justin Haak playing a role in the goal... “We try to be on the front foot every game, in every situation, because we believe that once we press with the high intensity that we bring into the game, mistakes will be made and errors will be forced by that intensity. On-and-off the ball, intensity is the key word. This moment with Justin [Haak] is particularly interesting because we chose a setup today with Raul [Gustavo] instead of Kevin O’Toole, which gave us the flexibility to bring Justin into midfield again and still have security behind the ball with Gustavo, Thiago [Martins], and Tayvon Gray. This moment shows that he reads these situations well and he gave the assist for the first goal. It's a massive thing for Justin to help us play in this way.”
NEW YORK CITY FC MIDFIELDER JUSTIN HAAK
On how tonight’s derby atmosphere compared to past Hudson River Derbys... “I think going ahead twice, having them come back and then finishing on top really felt special. Sweeping the series with them this year, especially after they ended our season last year, also felt special. The weather was perfect, the stadium was nice, and our fans were super loud. So, overall, it was an amazing game.”
Goal – NYC – 2' - Nicolás Fernández Mercau [7] -
Goal – NYC – 26' - Andrés Perea [8] -
Goal – NYC – 65' - Thiago Martins [13] -
2’ - NYC– Nicolás Fernández Mercau [7]
Scored with left footed shot from the centre of the box with an xG of 11% to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Justin Haak.
23’ - RBNY – Julian Hall [16]
Scored with right footed shot from the centre of the box with an xG of 42% to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
26’ - NYC - Andrés Perea [8]
Scored with header from the centre of the box with an xG of 5% to the top right corner. Assisted by Raul Gustavo.
47’ - RBNY – Emil Forsberg [10]
Scored with right footed shot from the centre of the box with an xG of 11% to the lower left central zone. Assisted by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, second assist by Wikelman Carmona.
65’ - NYC – Thiago Martins [13]
Scored with right footed shot from the centre of the box with an xG of 90% to the central bottom zone.
New York City FC crossed the river into Harrison, New Jersey on Saturday to take on Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Keen to put a midweek defeat to Inter Miami behind them, Pascal Jansen’s side knew victory would strengthen their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen made one change to the team that took on Miami, introducing Raul Gustavo in place of Kevin O’Toole in defense.
The visitors were backed by a strong traveling support that made themselves heard long before kickoff, and that energy translated onto the pitch with a fast start that saw New York City FC claim the lead after just 95 seconds.
Justin Haak pounced on a loose ball inside the Red Bulls’ half and played it to Nicolás Fernández Mercau, who slotted it low past Carlos Coronel.
The game showed no signs of slowing down during the early exchanges, and a dangerous free kick on the left presented a chance for the Red Bulls, but New York City’s defense cleared the danger.
In the 19th minute, a fast break from New York City saw Nico Fernández play Agustín Ojeda in behind down the left. Ojeda attempted to return the ball to his teammate, but a last-ditch clearance denied him.
The Red Bulls claimed an equalizer in the 24th minute when a rapid counter allowed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to square the ball to Julian Hall to slam home from close range.
New York City found the perfect response just three minutes later, however, when a speculative cross from Gustavo was wonderfully flicked high and over Coronel by Andrés Perea.
It was almost three on the half-hour mark after brilliant play by Nico Fernández down the right saw him skip by his marker and pull it back to Maxi Moralez. Unfortunately, his effort flew just over the bar.
After a chaotic first 30 minutes, the contest began to settle as half-time neared. That allowed New York City to settle into a rhythm in possession as they chased a third goal.
In first-half stoppage time, a loose ball rolled through New York City’s penalty area and forced a brave intervention from Freese to deny Choupo-Moting.
New York City once again flew out of the gates at the start of the half, but it would be the Red Bulls that found the net next through Emil Forsberg in the 47th minute.
The visitors then went close to retaking the lead ten minutes later when a curled pass from Nico Fernández found Ojeda. The winger drove outside and fired a shot across goal that fizzed just past the post.
In the 65th minute, another swing in New York City’s favor came after a dangerous free kick from Moralez was powered toward goal by Perea. Coronel was able to tip the ball onto the post, but captain Thiago Martins was there to slam it home from close range.
Jansen turned to his bench in the wake of that goal with a double change. Freese and Moralez were replaced by Tomás Romero and Julián Fernández.
Moments later, the visitors thought they had a fourth after Nico Fernández combined with Julián Fernández to put the latter through on goal. Julián Fernández’s shot was parried back to Nico Fernández, who slammed it home, only for the offside flag to deny him a second on the night.
The Red Bulls were now desperately chasing an equalizer, and Forsberg went close again with an almost identical effort to his first of the evening, only for Tayvon Gray to make a vital block and deflect it behind for a corner.
Further changes came for New York City in the 82nd minute as Kevin O’Toole replaced Aiden O’Neill. The closing stages were tense, with both teams pushing for the next goal.
Midway through ten minutes of stoppage time, Jansen made his final changes as Seymour Reid and Strahinja Tanasijević replaced Hannes Wolf and Nico Fernández.
A dangerous free kick for the Red Bulls saw Forsberg find Alexander Hack, but his goalbound header was brilliantly cleared away by a combination of O'Toole and Romero.
That intervention proved decisive, sealing a memorable 3-2 Hudson River Derby win for New York City FC.
