HARRISON, N.J. — New York City FC produced one of their most memorable Hudson River Derby victories on Saturday night, edging the New York Red Bulls 3-2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in front of 25,219 fans. Nicolás Fernández Mercau opened the scoring inside two minutes, Andrés Perea added a clever flick in the first half, and captain Thiago Martins delivered the decisive strike after the break.
The result secures City’s second straight season sweep over their fiercest rivals and extends the club’s unbeaten run in derby play to five matches — the longest in their history.
Lightning Start Sets the Tone
City manager Pascal Jansen made one change from the midweek loss to Inter Miami, inserting Raul Gustavo into the back line. His side were backed by a noisy traveling support and rewarded them almost instantly.
In the second minute, Justin Haak pressed high to win possession, slipped the ball to Fernández Mercau, and the midfielder calmly slotted past Carlos Coronel. The early strike was City’s fastest goal of 2025 and their second-fastest ever in the Hudson River Derby.
Though Red Bulls equalized through teenager Julian Hall in the 24th minute, City’s response was immediate. Three minutes later, Gustavo’s hopeful cross found Perea, whose audacious flick looped over Coronel and restored the lead.
“It felt special to go ahead twice, have them come back, and still finish on top,” Haak said afterward. “Sweeping the series, especially after they ended our season last year, makes this one mean even more.”
Momentum Shifts After the Break
The derby’s chaotic rhythm carried into the second half. Emil Forsberg leveled for the Red Bulls just after the restart, converting Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s service. At that point, the game seemed poised to tilt toward the hosts.
But City regained control. Agustín Ojeda went close on a curling effort before the breakthrough arrived in the 65th minute. A Maxi Moralez free kick was headed onto the post by Perea, but captain Thiago Martins reacted quickest to bury the rebound.
Jansen praised both the execution and the setup: “We try to be on the front foot in every game. With Justin [Haak] stepping into midfield and Raul [Gustavo] behind him, we had the balance we wanted. The intensity forced mistakes, and that’s how our first goal came. The third was about commitment — Thiago showing why he’s our leader.”
History Made in Rivalry
The win cements a historic derby campaign for City. With a 2-0 victory at Citi Field in May and Saturday’s triumph in Harrison, they swept the Red Bulls in consecutive seasons for the first time. It also marks the third sweep in the last four years (2022, 2024, 2025).
In addition, 2025 has become a record-breaking year for sweeps overall. City have now completed five — against Toronto, Orlando, Cincinnati, Chicago, and the Red Bulls — the most in a single MLS regular season in club history.
For Jansen, it was a first taste of derby dominance. He becomes just the second manager to guide City to a sweep, joining predecessor Nick Cushing.
“When I saw the trophy come into the dressing room, I was surprised,” Jansen admitted. “Winning both games against the Red Bulls means a lot to our fans. The response in the room was massive — especially for the guys who grew up here and know exactly what it feels like.”
Road Form Fuels Playoff Push
Beyond the rivalry, City’s road form has become a defining storyline. Saturday’s win extended their unbeaten away run to six (5W-1D), equaling the second-highest road win total in club history with six victories. With two away matches remaining, they have a chance to match or surpass the all-time record of seven set in 2016 and 2019.
Alonso Martínez — absent through injury this time — had delivered the game-winner in each of the previous three road triumphs. On Saturday, others stepped forward, underscoring the team’s depth.
Statistically, City remain formidable when striking first. In 14 matches this season where they opened the scoring, they now hold an 11-2-1 record.
Key Performances
- Nicolás Fernández Mercau: Scored his second of the season and first in the derby, the fastest strike of 2025.
- Andrés Perea: Notched his second goal of the year and second in derby play, both headers.
- Justin Haak: Collected his fourth assist of the season, continuing his emergence as a homegrown contributor.
- Thiago Martins: Scored his first of 2025, delivering the game-winner and reinforcing his captaincy.
The Red Bulls, meanwhile, saw goals from Hall and Forsberg but could not overturn the deficit despite late pressure. Emil Forsberg’s creativity combined with Choupo-Moting’s two assists gave the hosts a platform, but defensive lapses proved costly.
What’s Next
The victory lifts City to 53 points and consolidates their push for a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference. For the Red Bulls, the defeat may prove fatal: still sitting below the playoff line, their postseason hopes hang by a thread.
Next up, New York City FC travel to Subaru Park to face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, October 4 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). With history already made in the derby, Jansen’s side will now look to carry their momentum into the final stretch.
