Red Bulls Edged by NYCFC, Playoffs are fading fast

A poor start, a good fight to come back, and more poor defense to lose the season series

Harrison, NJ- The New York Red Bulls were ready to face their Hudson River rivals in NYCFC at Sports Illustrated Stadium to earn the full three points and force the Chicago Fire into a corner. However, an abysmal start once again doomed them to a terrible loss at home. Losing the last four regular-season matches, the Red Bulls fell by a final score of three goals to two.

Early goal dooms them again.

NYCFC had great transition with the ball when Justin Haak laid off a pass to Nicolas Fernandez. He was covered by Tim Parker just outside the area, but not enough when Fernandez turned to his right. Shot the ball across inside the near post to beat Carlos Coronel in the 2nd minute.

Julian Hall equalizes

The Red Bulls survived that early mistake with a chance to equalize. It was Wiki Carmona who had a good fight to win the ball and started the breakout. Gustav Breggren quickly found Emil Forsberg, who sprung Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Got toward the endline, pulled the ball back a bit, and found Julian Hall in the middle with a quick pass, and he just beat Matt Freese inside the front post in the 23rd minute.

“It was a very special moment. My first goal this season. So, it’s a big, big boost of confidence for me. The main goal was to just try and get the team back in the game. Unfortunate result, but I’m happy to get my first,” said Julian Hall.

Magical deflection

The visitors got the lead back when Raul Gusavo, along the far side touchline, crossed the ball towards Andres Perea. Somehow, Perea deflected the ball off the top of his head in a backward jerking motion to rainbow the ball high in the air and dropped it behind Coronel for the two goals to one lead in the 26th minute.

Collision at the net

Inside first half stoppage time, a loose ball was rolling toward the endline and inside the area of
NYCFC. Both Choupo-Moting and Freese went after the ball and collided, but Matt Freese took the worst of it and was being evaluated for a concussion. At the time, he did return to the pitch at the start of the second half.

The Captain converts the equalizer

The Red Bulls came out of the tunnel at the start of the second half with a purpose. After a long ball was headed out by Freese, Carmona once again stepped up and intercepted the ball at the near side. Quick Pass to Choupo-Moting, then a long diagonal cross toward the outside of the area, and Emil Forsberg smashed it inside the far post in the 47th minute.

City with the winner on the rebound

As NYCFC earned a corner at the near side, the ball was delivered inside the area. A header shot was stopped by Coronel with help from the near post and crossbar, but not enough, as Thiago Martins was allowed to run in and smash the rebound home in the 65th minute.

Freese subbed out for Concussion, but couldn’t beat the backup

After NYCFC retook the lead for the third time, Head Coach Pascal Jansen made the substitution to take Matt Freese out for Concussion issues and put in the backup Tomas Romero. As he came in cold, the Red Bulls couldn’t take advantage of him. Even when they had two fantastic chances to earn a third equalizer, Romero’s defenders helped him save the full three points.

Chicago Fire watch

The Chicago Fire, holding the last playoff spot in ninth place, defeated the Columbus Crew by the final score of two goals to nil. It’s a five-point lead as the Fire have a match in hand. The goal differential advantage the Red Bulls had is now even. Both the Red Bulls and the Fire have a +4.

“For me, it was not a point of structure or something like that, but you need the focus. You need the responsibility with the ball, and I would say that the way how we concede the first goal, then we were in our mind the next step in our transitions, and then Kyle was joining then. We lost the ball and then we open in the center, the gap for NYC FC and that’s the reason.

But the reaction after, for me, was top. This was good. But I agree a hundred percent. It’s not necessary to go 1-0 down in these moments. It’s not necessary, and this is what we have to improve every time, every time, because we lost so many times the points in this season because of small moments, little moments, and this is what we have to improve and then especially in our game against Cincinnati,” said Sandro Schwarz.

Their final home match of the 2025 season will be on Saturday, October 4th, against FC Cincinnati at Sports Illustrated Stadium, 7:30 PM EDT on MLS Season Pass Through Apple TV

JULIAN HALL: Scored his first MLS Goal of the season, his second goal in all competitions, his second goal in his MLS Career.

EMIL FORSBERG: Scored his 11th goal of the season, his 20th career MLS Goal

ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING: Converted two assists, his fourth of the season

WIKI CARMONA: Concerted an assist, his third of the season, his 10th career MLS Assists.

New York Red Bulls News:

• Hudson River Derby Preview: Red Bulls’ Playoff Lives Hang in the Balance
• Red Bulls Play a Complete Game Against Montreal, Sweeps the Series
• Red Bulls Drop Points at Timbers, Poor play Again

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