NY Red Bulls 2-0 NYCFC (Nov 23, 2024) Match Analysis

Dante Vanzeir scored his second goal of the playoffs and added an assist to help the visitors New York Red Bulls for a 2-0 win over New York City FC in Saturday’s Eastern Conference semifinal.

Felipe Carballo added his second goal of the postseason on an early long-range strike that helped the seventh-seeded Red Bulls reach their first conference final since 2018.

They will face the winner of Sunday’s other East semifinal between Orlando and Atlanta, and they will host that game if Atlanta advances.

Carlos Coronel made six saves to keep the shutout and earn RBNY’s first win over their city rivals this season in the first-ever Hudson River Derby postseason showdown.

The best of those stops thwarted NYCFC’s leading scorer Alonso Martinez, one just two minutes after Vanzeir doubled RBNY’s lead in the first half and one just three minutes into the second half.

Thiago Martins also hit the woodwork late for the sixth-seeded Cityzens, who were in pursuit of a second MLS Cup title in three seasons.

Carballo put the Red Bulls in front in the 16th minute.

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Coronel drove the ball from his own penalty area against NYCFC’s, prompting an initial attempt with a header. Vanzeir won the second header and the ball dropped to the feet of Carballo, who took a touch to control it before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that beat the diving Matt Freese into the top left corner.

Nine minutes later, it was Vanzeir in the right place after an aerial challenge, finding the ball at his feet following a corner and sending it almost off the inside of the right post.

The only blemish of the evening for the visitors came in the second half, then Sean Nealis departed in the 62nd minute after a collision with City’s Justin Haak.

Replays appeared to show that Nealis lost consciousness from the initial impact, although he walked off the pitch under his own power.

The Red Bulls swept the defending champion and second-seeded Columbus Crew to advance — winning 1-0 on the road and in a shootout at home after a 2-2 draw in regulation.

NYCFC advanced by sweeping third-seeded FC Cincinnati with a 3-1 win at Citi Field and a 6-5 shootout win after a scoreless away game.

The Red Bulls have qualified for 14 consecutive postseasons but have never won the MLS Cup.

Information from Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.