On June 22, one of the most anticipated matches of the season in the New York metropolitan area will take place in Harrison, New Jersey: The New York Red Bulls v. New York City FC – in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals.
And the latest chapter of the so-called Hudson River Derby couldn't come soon enough.
"I’ll be super excited," Red Bulls defender Dylan Nealis said. "I’m used to watching them, watching my brother [Sean] play in them. I can feel the intensity just from watching it on TV. So to be a part of one, I can’t wait."
That’s ditto for NYCFC midfielder Justin Haak.
"These are very special games and now it’s the Quarterfinals," he said. "It adds a little bit more to it. We just have to try to go there and play our game…stay focused on how we want to play.”
While the two clubs tussle twice a season in MLS, Open Cup confrontations between rivals in and around the Big Apple don't come along as often.
Over the past quarter century, metro area teams have met six times in the competition. Join usopencup.com for a short history of those encounters:
The Grapple for the Apple - Part II (August 26, 1997)
Part I came in a July 30 friendly between the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) and the upstart Long Island Rough Riders, who were champions of the U.S. Interregional Soccer League in 1995.
In front of a capacity crowd of 11,658 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, the Rough Riders had their way with the MLS side en route to a 2-1 victory. Utilizing their regulars, the hosts were paced by Saul Martinez and Flavio Ferri, who scored against goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Shaun Bartlett tallied late for the MetroStars, who used mostly reserve players.
Not wanting to duplicate history in the Open Cup Quarterfinals, the MetroStars vetoed several playing sites on Long Island before both clubs agreed to play on a grassy field at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York and a rare 4:30 p.m. Tuesday kickoff.
