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| New York City FC v New York Red Bulls: MLS – live! | New York City FC v New York Red Bulls: MLS – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.34pm BST | |
| 21:34 | |
| Klinsmann names USA Copa Centenario squad | |
| Goalkeepers: Guzan, Howard, Horvath. | |
| Defenders: Besler, Birnbaum, Brooks, Cameron, Chandler, Johnson, Orozco, Yedlin. | |
| Midfielders: Beckerman, Bedoya, Bradley, Jones, Kitchen, Nagbe, Pulisic, Zusi. | |
| Forwards: Dempsey, Wondolowski, Wood, Zardes. | |
| So Jordan Morris is left out. And Klinsmann confirms Brad Guzan is the No1 goalkeeper. | |
| 9.29pm BST | |
| 21:29 | |
| The Red Bulls have been completely in control. NYC have been hesitant in defence, sloppy in midfield, and impotent in attack. If they don’t get it together, this could be five or six. | |
| 9.28pm BST | |
| 21:28 | |
| Patrick Vieira looks thoroughly downbeat. “It’s been a disaster. I think we didn’t play at all, and nothing more to say. It’s been a really bad first 45. We didn’t turn up; we didn’t play, and we couldn’t live with the importance of the game.” | |
| 9.27pm BST | |
| 21:27 | |
| Half-time: NYC FC 0-3 New York Red Bulls | |
| That’s the half. | |
| 9.27pm BST | |
| 21:27 | |
| 45 min +3: A disaster for the home side. Grella played it in from the left, NYC FC couldn’t clear, and Wright-Phillips just reacted quickest. Brillant might have done better, but Wright-Phillips got his body in position, and volleyed past Saunders, who might have done better. | |
| 9.25pm BST | |
| 21:25 | |
| GOAL! NYC FC 0-3 New York Red Bulls (Wright-Phillips 45 +2) | |
| Wright-Phillips again! NYC FC have fallen apart. | |
| 9.23pm BST | |
| 21:23 | |
| 45 min: Three minutes of stoppage time. Robles is quickly out to gather as Villa looked to pounce. | |
| 9.22pm BST | |
| 21:22 | |
| 44 min: Nearly three for Wright-Phillips! More top work from Grella, and Wright-Phillips slid in, but it was deflected wide. Kljestan’s ball in is cleared, and NYC FC can regroup. | |
| 9.21pm BST | |
| 21:21 | |
| 43 min: Patrick Vieira looks chastened. His team just haven’t been at it. Red Bulls much the better side. | |
| 9.21pm BST | |
| 21:21 | |
| 42 min: Superb work from Grella down the left. He completely befuddled Allen, crossed with his left, and Wright-Phillips headed past Saunders from six yards. Less than stellar defending from NYC FC, but Grella did brilliantly. | |
| 9.19pm BST | |
| 21:19 | |
| GOAL! NYC FC 0-2 New York Red Bulls (Wright-Phillips 42) | |
| It’s two! | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.21pm BST | |
| 9.17pm BST | |
| 21:17 | |
| 38 min: McCarty is back on after treatment. He’s a tough cookie, and he’ll be OK. Lopez has a go, but it’s mishit, and Robles gathers easily. | |
| Here’s Scott Bassett: “Sorry, but a baseball stadium is exactly what those fans deserve. Where have they been for the last 20 years? Watching baseball, not the local soccer team back when they were MetroStars.” | |
| 9.16pm BST | |
| 21:16 | |
| 37 min: Well, it’s a yellow card for Tommy McNamara. He went in late on McCarty, and got the Red Bulls player right on the shin. Then everybody piled in and we had a giant melee, but McNamara is the only one to receive a card, which is probably about right. It was a week late, the challenge, but let’s say clumsy rather than malicious. McCarty looks in pain, though. | |
| 9.14pm BST | |
| 21:14 | |
| 36 min: Oh boy. McCarty is down, and we have what we might call a “flashpoint”. Lots of bodies, finger jabbing and jostling in midfield. | |
| 9.13pm BST | |
| 21:13 | |
| 35 min: The Red Bulls look dangerous in attack. Kljestan advances down the left side, but can’t quite get past Allen, and NYC smash it clear. | |
| 9.11pm BST | |
| 21:11 | |
| 34 min: Kljestan’s kick, and Collin wins another header! But he can’t quite get the power, and it’s easy for Saunders. | |
| 9.11pm BST | |
| 21:11 | |
| 33 min: Wright-Phillips streaks clear on the right, and wins his side a corner. | |
| 9.09pm BST | |
| 21:09 | |
| 32 min: Bad giveaway from NYC, trying to play out from the back, and Sam is quickly on to it … into the penalty area, and goes past Hernandez, but his touch runs away from him and it’s out for a goal kick. Hernandez took a chance then by going to ground; if Sam had fallen, Chris Penso would have had a decision to make. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.09pm BST | |
| 9.07pm BST | |
| 21:07 | |
| 30 min: Alexi Lalas on commentary is lamenting the fact this game is being played in a baseball park. “These fans deserve better,” he says. Quite right. Now a yellow card for Bravo after some jostling in the six yard box. | |
| 9.06pm BST | |
| 21:06 | |
| 28 min: Pirlo’s second excellent long pass, and Shelton has a dip from range. It’s deflected, and Allen will throw it long. Headed clear by the Red Bulls, but every throw in the final third is going long. Imagine what mischief Rory Delap could cause on this tiny pitch. | |
| 9.04pm BST | |
| 21:04 | |
| 26 min: Wright-Phillips wanted a corner after tussling with Hernandez from a McCarty long ball, but he fouled the NYC defender, and it’s a free kick. Connor Lade is back on the field. | |
| 9.03pm BST | |
| 21:03 | |
| 25 min: Now Connor Lade has a problem. Did he get a smack in the ribs? There’s a stoppage in play, and we can take a breather. | |
| 9.01pm BST | |
| 21:01 | |
| 24 min: This is better from the hosts; they’ve managed to string a few passes together in the opposition half. | |
| 9.01pm BST | |
| 21:01 | |
| 23 min: Oh, Villa! He checked back inside when he should have shot, and allowed the defender to recover. Corner. Frederic Brillant wanted a penalty on that last set piece, by the way, and he might have got it; I think he was shoved by Collin. Pirlo’s ball in is cleared, and Allen smacks it back it, but it’s over the bar. | |
| 8.59pm BST | 8.59pm BST |
| 20:59 | 20:59 |
| 21 min: Pirlo takes it quickly, and it’s headed behind by Grella. Another corner. And everyone missed it! Was there some pulling in the area? | 21 min: Pirlo takes it quickly, and it’s headed behind by Grella. Another corner. And everyone missed it! Was there some pulling in the area? |
| 8.58pm BST | 8.58pm BST |
| 20:58 | 20:58 |
| 20 min: Great pass from Pirlo for Matarrita, but that’s good defending from Zizzo to head the corner away. Twenty minutes in and we’ve seen very little from NYC in attack. But then Villa has a dribble and shot, and it’s deflected by a corner. | 20 min: Great pass from Pirlo for Matarrita, but that’s good defending from Zizzo to head the corner away. Twenty minutes in and we’ve seen very little from NYC in attack. But then Villa has a dribble and shot, and it’s deflected by a corner. |
| 8.56pm BST | 8.56pm BST |
| 20:56 | 20:56 |
| 19 min: Pirlo is back on – and his first moment of action is to stick an elbow in Collin’s head. Collin didn’t make a meal of it, but that was bad from the Italian. No card. | 19 min: Pirlo is back on – and his first moment of action is to stick an elbow in Collin’s head. Collin didn’t make a meal of it, but that was bad from the Italian. No card. |
| 8.55pm BST | 8.55pm BST |
| 20:55 | 20:55 |
| 18 min: Sam wins the Red Bulls’ third corner. Collin wins it, but it loops up in the air, and Saunders claims. | 18 min: Sam wins the Red Bulls’ third corner. Collin wins it, but it loops up in the air, and Saunders claims. |
| 8.54pm BST | 8.54pm BST |
| 20:54 | 20:54 |
| 17 min: Mikey Lopez goes in hard on Connor Lade, and that’s a booking for the NYC man. He’ll now miss the Orlando game. It was late; it was deserved. | 17 min: Mikey Lopez goes in hard on Connor Lade, and that’s a booking for the NYC man. He’ll now miss the Orlando game. It was late; it was deserved. |
| Here’s Jonny Mac: “Hello Tim, I’m watching in USA! USA! USA! on Fox Sports and I’m sure the commentator described McCarty as ‘the player with the mutant gene’. Anyone else hear this or is it just me?” | Here’s Jonny Mac: “Hello Tim, I’m watching in USA! USA! USA! on Fox Sports and I’m sure the commentator described McCarty as ‘the player with the mutant gene’. Anyone else hear this or is it just me?” |
| 8.53pm BST | 8.53pm BST |
| 20:53 | 20:53 |
| 15 min: Ooh, that was a bit naughty from Lloyd Sam: his caught his studs right on top of Pirlo’s knee. No card, though. Pirlo hobbles off momentarily. Let’s hope he’s OK to continue. | 15 min: Ooh, that was a bit naughty from Lloyd Sam: his caught his studs right on top of Pirlo’s knee. No card, though. Pirlo hobbles off momentarily. Let’s hope he’s OK to continue. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.54pm BST | at 8.54pm BST |
| 8.52pm BST | 8.52pm BST |
| 20:52 | 20:52 |
| 14 min: Pirlo gets clattered by Sam, but Chris Penso says play on, as the hosts had the advantage. It comes to nothing. Pirlo, who turned 37 on Thursday, is still down. | 14 min: Pirlo gets clattered by Sam, but Chris Penso says play on, as the hosts had the advantage. It comes to nothing. Pirlo, who turned 37 on Thursday, is still down. |
| 8.51pm BST | 8.51pm BST |
| 20:51 | 20:51 |
| 13 min: Pirlo looks for Villa, who tried to dummy for McNamara, but Zizzo steps in to win it. Red Bulls looking confident, and that’s a super piece of skill from Grella to Allen. Throw in by the corner flag, and Aurelien Collin comes up from the back. Cleared by NYC, but the Red Bulls win it back. The hosts just can’t establish any sort of possession. | 13 min: Pirlo looks for Villa, who tried to dummy for McNamara, but Zizzo steps in to win it. Red Bulls looking confident, and that’s a super piece of skill from Grella to Allen. Throw in by the corner flag, and Aurelien Collin comes up from the back. Cleared by NYC, but the Red Bulls win it back. The hosts just can’t establish any sort of possession. |
| 8.47pm BST | 8.47pm BST |
| 20:47 | 20:47 |
| 10 min: Villa, who loves to run in behind, is whistled for another offside, and he’s not happy. NYC struggling to get it going in attack. | 10 min: Villa, who loves to run in behind, is whistled for another offside, and he’s not happy. NYC struggling to get it going in attack. |
| 8.46pm BST | 8.46pm BST |
| 20:46 | 20:46 |
| 8 min: Set piece for the Red Bulls, 45 yards from goal. Played in by Kljestan, and Collin gets up highest! Deflected, and another corner, but this time Saunders punches well, and the hosts shuffle it clear. | 8 min: Set piece for the Red Bulls, 45 yards from goal. Played in by Kljestan, and Collin gets up highest! Deflected, and another corner, but this time Saunders punches well, and the hosts shuffle it clear. |
| 8.45pm BST | 8.45pm BST |
| 20:45 | 20:45 |
| 7 min: That’s now seven assists this season for Kljestan – two more than Gio dos Santos and Mauro Diaz. Great ‘tache, too. | 7 min: That’s now seven assists this season for Kljestan – two more than Gio dos Santos and Mauro Diaz. Great ‘tache, too. |
| 8.44pm BST | 8.44pm BST |
| 20:44 | 20:44 |
| 5 min: We should credit Kljestan for a great ball in from the corner. But the marking was poor – I think it was Matarrita lost McCarty. Now Sam has a go from distance from Wright-Phillips’ lay-off, but it’s wide. Red Bulls on top here. | 5 min: We should credit Kljestan for a great ball in from the corner. But the marking was poor – I think it was Matarrita lost McCarty. Now Sam has a go from distance from Wright-Phillips’ lay-off, but it’s wide. Red Bulls on top here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.45pm BST | at 8.45pm BST |
| 8.42pm BST | 8.42pm BST |
| 20:42 | 20:42 |
| 4 min: Connor Lade’s long throw caused confusion, and NYC put it behind for a corner. From the set piece, McCarty, who’s barely 5ft 8in, got up highest and planted a lovely header past Saunders. Super finish from the Red Bulls skipper, but the marking was dreadful. Game on! | 4 min: Connor Lade’s long throw caused confusion, and NYC put it behind for a corner. From the set piece, McCarty, who’s barely 5ft 8in, got up highest and planted a lovely header past Saunders. Super finish from the Red Bulls skipper, but the marking was dreadful. Game on! |
| 8.41pm BST | 8.41pm BST |
| 20:41 | 20:41 |
| GOAL! NYC FC 0-1 New York Red Bulls (McCarty 3) | GOAL! NYC FC 0-1 New York Red Bulls (McCarty 3) |
| What a start for the visitors! | What a start for the visitors! |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.42pm BST | at 8.42pm BST |
| 8.39pm BST | 8.39pm BST |
| 20:39 | 20:39 |
| 2 min: Early touch for Luis Robles, who makes his 119th consecutive start in MLS. It’s the most in history, breaking Chris Klein’s record. And a first look for David Villa through the middle, and he workes Robles – but the flag is up for offside. | 2 min: Early touch for Luis Robles, who makes his 119th consecutive start in MLS. It’s the most in history, breaking Chris Klein’s record. And a first look for David Villa through the middle, and he workes Robles – but the flag is up for offside. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.39pm BST | at 8.39pm BST |
| 8.38pm BST | 8.38pm BST |
| 20:38 | 20:38 |
| And we're off! | And we're off! |
| 1 min: NYC in their traditional sky blue; the Red Bulls in classic red and white. About 40,000 in attendance in the Bronx. It’s lit. Sort of. | 1 min: NYC in their traditional sky blue; the Red Bulls in classic red and white. About 40,000 in attendance in the Bronx. It’s lit. Sort of. |
| 8.35pm BST | 8.35pm BST |
| 20:35 | 20:35 |
| The teams are out on the pitch. We’re close. New York fell back to second in the East last night after Philadelphia Union beat DC United 1-0. But they left it late: Richie Marquez slid in in the 91st minute to notch his first MLS goal. | The teams are out on the pitch. We’re close. New York fell back to second in the East last night after Philadelphia Union beat DC United 1-0. But they left it late: Richie Marquez slid in in the 91st minute to notch his first MLS goal. |
| 8.33pm BST | 8.33pm BST |
| 20:33 | 20:33 |
| OK, come on, MLS – enough faffing around. Let’s play soccer! | OK, come on, MLS – enough faffing around. Let’s play soccer! |
| 8.20pm BST | 8.20pm BST |
| 20:20 | 20:20 |
| So we’ll get going here in about 20 minutes or so. What can we expect from today? Well, let’s just hope today’s game isn’t hampered by the tiny Yankee Stadium pitch: the narrowness of the field means we could see a logjam in central midfield. NYC haven’t enjoyed home advantage so far this season – they’ve won just one game out of six at home. The Red Bulls have picked it up after a horror start to the season, and they’ve found some form in front of goal: Mike Grella got the game-winner against Chicago in midweek, and Bradley Wright-Phillips has begun to fire after a slow start. NYC maybe start as slight favorites, but the sides look evenly matched. | So we’ll get going here in about 20 minutes or so. What can we expect from today? Well, let’s just hope today’s game isn’t hampered by the tiny Yankee Stadium pitch: the narrowness of the field means we could see a logjam in central midfield. NYC haven’t enjoyed home advantage so far this season – they’ve won just one game out of six at home. The Red Bulls have picked it up after a horror start to the season, and they’ve found some form in front of goal: Mike Grella got the game-winner against Chicago in midweek, and Bradley Wright-Phillips has begun to fire after a slow start. NYC maybe start as slight favorites, but the sides look evenly matched. |
| 8.09pm BST | 8.09pm BST |
| 20:09 | 20:09 |
| Man United have won something! And it was thanks to Jesse Lingard’s thunderbolt. Poor old Palace. | Man United have won something! And it was thanks to Jesse Lingard’s thunderbolt. Poor old Palace. |
| Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! | Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! |
| 7.57pm BST | 7.57pm BST |
| 19:57 | 19:57 |
| I mean, it’s hardly Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles, but it’s a start: | I mean, it’s hardly Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles, but it’s a start: |
| 5 - @NYCFC is unbeaten in a franchise-record 5-straight @MLS matches (3W 2D). Production. | 5 - @NYCFC is unbeaten in a franchise-record 5-straight @MLS matches (3W 2D). Production. |
| 7.44pm BST | 7.44pm BST |
| 19:44 | 19:44 |
| We’re into extra-time in the FA Cup final. It’s like 1990 all over again. Alan Smith has the latest: | We’re into extra-time in the FA Cup final. It’s like 1990 all over again. Alan Smith has the latest: |
| Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! | Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! |
| 7.42pm BST | 7.42pm BST |
| 19:42 | 19:42 |
| Also, it’s worth pointing out that Jürgen Klinsmann will be naming his 23-man Copa Centenario squad at half-time in this game. He’s got 17 names to trim from his preliminary squad of 40. Who should make the cut? | Also, it’s worth pointing out that Jürgen Klinsmann will be naming his 23-man Copa Centenario squad at half-time in this game. He’s got 17 names to trim from his preliminary squad of 40. Who should make the cut? |
| 7.39pm BST | 7.39pm BST |
| 19:39 | 19:39 |
| So we’ve got about an hour to kill before kick-off. (Actually, the 3.35pm start time probably doesn’t make too much difference; we we would have kicked off at about 3.20pm anyway. Televised MLS games are always late kicking off.) | So we’ve got about an hour to kill before kick-off. (Actually, the 3.35pm start time probably doesn’t make too much difference; we we would have kicked off at about 3.20pm anyway. Televised MLS games are always late kicking off.) |
| Anyone got any thoughts? | Anyone got any thoughts? |
| 7.35pm BST | 7.35pm BST |
| 19:35 | 19:35 |
| Some news: | Some news: |
| PROGRAM ALERT: The #FACupFinal is going into extra time! @NYCFC vs @NewYorkRedBulls will now kick off at 3:35pm ET on @FOXTV. #RivalryWeek | PROGRAM ALERT: The #FACupFinal is going into extra time! @NYCFC vs @NewYorkRedBulls will now kick off at 3:35pm ET on @FOXTV. #RivalryWeek |
| 7.25pm BST | 7.25pm BST |
| 19:25 | 19:25 |
| Confirmation of today’s teams: | Confirmation of today’s teams: |
| NYC FC: Saunders, Allen, Brillant, Hernandez, Matarrita, Mikey Lopez, Bravo, Pirlo, Shelton, Villa, McNamara. Subs: Johansen, Iraola, White, Lampard, Diskerud, Harrison, Mendoza. | NYC FC: Saunders, Allen, Brillant, Hernandez, Matarrita, Mikey Lopez, Bravo, Pirlo, Shelton, Villa, McNamara. Subs: Johansen, Iraola, White, Lampard, Diskerud, Harrison, Mendoza. |
| Red Bulls: Robles, Zizzo, Duvall, Collin, Lade, Felipe, McCarty, Sam, Kljestan, Grella, B Wright-Phillips. Subs: Reynish, Baah, Lawrence, S Wright-Phillips, Davis, Veron, Muyl. | Red Bulls: Robles, Zizzo, Duvall, Collin, Lade, Felipe, McCarty, Sam, Kljestan, Grella, B Wright-Phillips. Subs: Reynish, Baah, Lawrence, S Wright-Phillips, Davis, Veron, Muyl. |
| Referee: Chris Penso | Referee: Chris Penso |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.45pm BST | at 7.45pm BST |
| 7.17pm BST | 7.17pm BST |
| 19:17 | 19:17 |
| The FA Cup final has come alive in the past 10 minutes. Follow it here with Alan Smith: | The FA Cup final has come alive in the past 10 minutes. Follow it here with Alan Smith: |
| Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! | Related: Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Cup final – live! |
| 7.16pm BST | 7.16pm BST |
| 19:16 | 19:16 |
| So Frank Lampard is named on the bench, as does Mix Diserkud, but no Kwadwo Poku in the NYC FC 18. Bradley Wright-Phillips begins up front for the Red Bulls, and his brother Shaun starts as a substitute. | So Frank Lampard is named on the bench, as does Mix Diserkud, but no Kwadwo Poku in the NYC FC 18. Bradley Wright-Phillips begins up front for the Red Bulls, and his brother Shaun starts as a substitute. |
| 7.14pm BST | 7.14pm BST |
| 19:14 | 19:14 |
| Today's lineups | Today's lineups |
| Today's #NYCFC Starting XI vs. Red Bulls presented by @Wix pic.twitter.com/dgl17FRPFS | Today's #NYCFC Starting XI vs. Red Bulls presented by @Wix pic.twitter.com/dgl17FRPFS |
| Your #NYDerby Starting XI.#NYisRED #RivalryWeek#NYCvNY pic.twitter.com/8wF26XJ8vJ | Your #NYDerby Starting XI.#NYisRED #RivalryWeek#NYCvNY pic.twitter.com/8wF26XJ8vJ |
| 7.12pm BST | 7.12pm BST |
| 19:12 | 19:12 |
| Hello and welcome | Hello and welcome |
| It’s MLS Rivalry Week, and this is the best game this weekend: Patrick Vieira’s NYC FC take on Jesse Marsch’s Red Bulls in their first derby of the season, and we’ve got something special to look forward to: Frank Lampard might play! The former Chelsea star hasn’t featured this season, but word is he could make his debut today, at least from the bench. | It’s MLS Rivalry Week, and this is the best game this weekend: Patrick Vieira’s NYC FC take on Jesse Marsch’s Red Bulls in their first derby of the season, and we’ve got something special to look forward to: Frank Lampard might play! The former Chelsea star hasn’t featured this season, but word is he could make his debut today, at least from the bench. |
| NYC FC are second in the Eastern Conference after a decent recent run, and can leapfrog Philly with victory; the Red Bulls started this season in rotten fashion, but have picked up recently, and have not lost to their city rivals in three games. Pirlo, David Villa, Kljestan and Felipe are all scheduled to feature, and Yankee Stadium is expecting a big crowd. This game has been featured heavily in New York; let’s hope it lives up to the hype. Kick off is 3pm ET. Join us! | NYC FC are second in the Eastern Conference after a decent recent run, and can leapfrog Philly with victory; the Red Bulls started this season in rotten fashion, but have picked up recently, and have not lost to their city rivals in three games. Pirlo, David Villa, Kljestan and Felipe are all scheduled to feature, and Yankee Stadium is expecting a big crowd. This game has been featured heavily in New York; let’s hope it lives up to the hype. Kick off is 3pm ET. Join us! |
| 5.55pm BST | 5.55pm BST |
| 17:55 | 17:55 |
| Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read all about a burgeoning New York rivalry: | Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read all about a burgeoning New York rivalry: |
| While tension might end with supporters verbally sparring at a subway stop – or in a scuffle outside a New Jersey bar – one glaring caveat is the derby’s absence of history. After all, City have only just embarked upon their second season, after a disappointing inaugural campaign left the club short of the playoffs. So far, the Red Bulls have coasted to victory in all three derbies, but their fans still feel overshadowed by the presence of a new team that have encroached upon their territory. | While tension might end with supporters verbally sparring at a subway stop – or in a scuffle outside a New Jersey bar – one glaring caveat is the derby’s absence of history. After all, City have only just embarked upon their second season, after a disappointing inaugural campaign left the club short of the playoffs. So far, the Red Bulls have coasted to victory in all three derbies, but their fans still feel overshadowed by the presence of a new team that have encroached upon their territory. |
| For Red Bulls fans, many of whom followed the team as the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars in the 1990s, the club owed its roots to the very first awakening of American soccer fervor. At a time when the modest MLS was overshadowed by towering American sports figures like Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter and Emmitt Smith, the Empire Supporters Club gathered at Giants Stadium to support a team that existed in obscurity. | For Red Bulls fans, many of whom followed the team as the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars in the 1990s, the club owed its roots to the very first awakening of American soccer fervor. At a time when the modest MLS was overshadowed by towering American sports figures like Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter and Emmitt Smith, the Empire Supporters Club gathered at Giants Stadium to support a team that existed in obscurity. |
| The ESC was established in 1995 by young socialists and political radicals, many of whom fought to keep a developing tide of far right-wing extremism out of American soccer leagues. The ESC not only claims to be the oldest MLS supporters group, but the rightful heirs of New York City’s developing soccer kingdom. | The ESC was established in 1995 by young socialists and political radicals, many of whom fought to keep a developing tide of far right-wing extremism out of American soccer leagues. The ESC not only claims to be the oldest MLS supporters group, but the rightful heirs of New York City’s developing soccer kingdom. |
| Steve Ferrezza, a board member of the ESC, recalls the early days, when seats at Giants Stadium were largely empty but hearts were full, as the seeds of early fandom were planted. “I remember the days at Giants Stadium when there were only 2,000 people in the stadium. I would have to take the subway to Jersey Transit to a shuttle bus, and then run across the parking lot to get to the tailgate in time to pick up my ticket,” he says. | Steve Ferrezza, a board member of the ESC, recalls the early days, when seats at Giants Stadium were largely empty but hearts were full, as the seeds of early fandom were planted. “I remember the days at Giants Stadium when there were only 2,000 people in the stadium. I would have to take the subway to Jersey Transit to a shuttle bus, and then run across the parking lot to get to the tailgate in time to pick up my ticket,” he says. |
| While things have changed, and notably for the better – the Red Bulls no longer play at the since-demolished Giants Stadium, but at their own arena in Harrison, New Jersey – Ferrezza likens the emergence of City to a privileged neighbor stealing whatever limelight the Red Bulls battled for decades to attain. | While things have changed, and notably for the better – the Red Bulls no longer play at the since-demolished Giants Stadium, but at their own arena in Harrison, New Jersey – Ferrezza likens the emergence of City to a privileged neighbor stealing whatever limelight the Red Bulls battled for decades to attain. |
| “No pun intended, but [City supporters] were basically born on third base. They didn’t have to fight for anything,” says Ferrezza. | “No pun intended, but [City supporters] were basically born on third base. They didn’t have to fight for anything,” says Ferrezza. |
| Related: New York City FC host the Red Bulls in a rivalry fuelled by increasing disdain | Related: New York City FC host the Red Bulls in a rivalry fuelled by increasing disdain |