The New York Red Bulls open up their U.S Open Cup play with quite a test. Not only did they draw a strong team, they drew their bitter cross town rivals: New York City FC. These teams will meet three more times after Wednesday night’s match, however, none may be bigger then this one. The Red Bulls will meet NYCFC in a single elimination cup tournament for the first time. This is sure to bring the best out of both the players and the supporters.
Hudson River Rivalry: U.S Open Cup Preview
Key Factors
Red Bulls Home Success
The Red Bulls once again continue to be one of the best teams at home in the MLS. They have won five of their eight matches in Harrison this season and have been unbeaten in seven of them. Despite their lack of success on the road, they continue to play well while in the confines of Red Bull Arena.
Success vs. NYCFC
The Red Bulls have dominated the series since the two sides first played in 2015. They have won five of six meetings and have a 3-0-0 record against NYCFC at Red Bull Arena, holding NYCFC to one goal in each of those three matches. NYCFC have struggled to score in this series as a whole, being outscored 18-5 in all six meetings. This success should certainly give the Red Bulls confidence, regardless of their up and down form recently.
Lineup
Jesse Marsch certainly has some decisions to make for this Open Cup match. Including this game, the Red Bulls will have three matches in a ten day span. After Wednesday’s game, they will travel to Philadelphia this Sunday to play the Union, then meet NYCFC at Red Bull Arena again on the 24th. While Marsch would like to not go full strength for this match, he may think otherwise. Is he willing to sacrifice the match in Philadelphia to advance to the next round of the U.S Open Cup? While he has stated that MLS Cup is the team’s ultimate goal, the club has never won the U.S Open Cup either. Another early exit from a cup tournament will certainly heighten frustration with the supporters, as well as having it come at the hands of one of the team’s biggest rivals.
Predicted Starting XI
Final Thoughts/Match Prediction
This is going to be an intense match. NYCFC have never won at Red Bull Arena and will certainly be looking to reverse that trend. With the blue side of New York having a lot to play for, the Red Bulls will have to absorb some early pressure. However, in the end I see the Red Bulls continuing their dominance over NYCFC at home. The Red Bulls take this one by a score of 3-1 and advance to the next round.
