Taty Castellanos goal gives NYCFC 1-0 win in Hudson River Derby

Courtesy: NYCFC

By Chris Tsakonas

Taty Castellanos’ 69th minute goal got New York City FC the three points in a 1-0 Hudson River Derby win over the Red Bulls at a sold-out Red Bull Arena this afternoon.

The match started with the Red Bulls controlling the possession for the opening 10 minutes, but it was NYCFC who got the first look at goal in the 11th minute when Talles Magno found Santi Rodriguez for a shot at the edge of the area that was stopped by Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel.

New York City almost conceded in the 19th minute off a turnover. Alexander Callens was dispossessed in the final third, and Cristian Casseres Jr got off a shot in space that was stopped by New York City keeper Sean Johnson.

In the 29th minute, Casseres nearly set up another goal when he gathered the ball on the right edge of the area and found John Tolkin with plenty of space on the other side of the box  - but his shot missed the near left post.

NYCFC had a look on the other end seconds later, as Rodriguez found Magno at the top of the box, but Magno pulled the shot wide.

The chances kept coming for New York City in the second half. In the 64th minute, Maxi Moralez crossed a ball to Castellanos on the far side of the area, with the shot missing just high and wide. Two minutes later, Castellanos got on the end of a Magno cross with a well hit bicycle kick across the face of goal, and Coronel dove to his left to make the stop.

In the 69th minute, the breakthrough came. Santi Rodriguez saw Castellanos making a run into the box, delivering a through ball that Castellanos finished with a sliding shot.

In the 89th minute, New York City were awarded a dangerous free kick about 22 yards from goal. Callens and Moralez both stepped up to take it, and Moralez’s initial shot was saved before his follow up missed the goal.

Moralez nearly made up for it in the 89th minute, firing a header off a cross from Rodriguez that was stopped at point blank range by Coronel. Justin Haak tried to catch Coronel off his line in the 94th minute, but his 40 yard effort was deflected off the line and Heber’s follow missed high.With the win, NYCFC find themselves one point back of the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Union with 38 points and a game in hand in the standings. New York City return to the Bronx next Saturday to host an Inter Miami side that comes off a 3-2 comeback win over Charlotte FC.