History of NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls - Hudson River Derby

By Braden Chalker

NYCFC and New York Red Bulls will do battle once more this weekend in the Hudson River Derby and turn the page on their fascinating and entertaining rivalry.

Red Bull have enjoyed their fair share of victories in the Eastern Conference rivalry, but that also doesn't mean NYCFC haven't tasted success in their short history against Thierry Henry's former club.

The rivalry between the two sides dates back to nearly a decade when the Boys in Blue journeyed through their inaugural Major League Soccer season. The playing field is a lot more equal now as both clubs are very much in the playoff conversation with just under half of the season completed.

Here's everything you need to know about the heated rivalry between the two New York based clubs.

When did NYCFC and New York Red Bulls first play each other?

NYCFC were founded way back in 2013 and made their MLS debut against Orlando City on Mar. 8, 2015, a 1-1 draw that took place at then-Camping World Stadium (now Inter&Co Stadium).

A couple of months later, NYCFC and Red Bulls clashed for the first-time ever at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. For context, former USMNT player Mix Diskerud featured in the NYC starting XI while current Atlanta United midfielder Dax McCarty was suiting up for Red Bulls.

Both clubs had iconic strikers starting up top, with Red Bulls relying on Bradley Wright-Phillips while the Blues remained confident with former Spain international David Villa. However, Red Bulls would end up having the last laugh in the first meeting thanks to a double from Wright-Phillips that was enough to see out a 2-1 victory despite Patrick Mullins' 76th-minute strike.

Where did the Hudson River Derby get its name from?

NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls was dubbed the Hudson River Derby due to the close proximity of the clubs. The two sides' home grounds are less than an hour away from each other on the opposite sides of the Hudson River that separates New York and New Jersey.

Red Bulls play their home matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, that seats approximately 25,000 spectators.

On the other hand, NYCFC have played their home matches at Yankee Stadium for the most part, and when that ground isn't available due to scheduling conflicts with MLB's New York Yankees, the Blues will then play at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. NYCFC have been approved for a football-specific stadium, though, that's expected to open sometime in 2027 and hold 25,000 fans.

NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls H2H record (27 matches played)

Who is the all-time top scorer of the Hudson River Derby?

Sitting atop the scoring charts for the Hudson River Derby is none other than Wright-Phillips. The iconic striker -- who bagged over 120 goals for Red Bulls and is also the son of former Premier League legend Ian Wright -- managed 12 goals against NYCFC during his time as a New York player.

Hudson River Derby all-time top scorers

What is MLS Rivalry Week?

MLS Rivalry Week sees teams from the same cities, state or region go head-to-head to claim bragging rights and potentially climb above their rival in their respective table.

Last week, we saw FC Cincinnati edge out a narrow 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew in the latest Hell is Real Derby. Rivalry Week tends to bring out the best of either side and makes entertaining and thrilling contests, no matter where the teams sit in their conference.

Here are some upcoming rivalry week matches to look forward to:

This article was originally published on 90min.com as History of NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls - Hudson River Derby.