The first New York derby of 2019 started out as the intense, back-and-forth affair we've come to expect when the New York Red Bulls and New York City FCsquare off, but it wasn't someone in red or blue who ultimately turned the tide of Sunday's derby clash.
It was, instead, the men in yellow, who combined to make a head-scratching decision that left one team fuming and another team celebrating on their way to a controversial derby day victory.
The New York Red Bulls overcame an early New York City FC goal with an equalizer just before halftime, but it was their go-ahead goal that left NYCFC fuming. After a ball went out for what assistant referee Corey Rockwell clearly signaled as a corner kick, the Red Bulls proceeded to execute a throw-in that eventually led to a Daniel Royer header goal in the 60th minute, a goal that wound up standing as the game-winner in a 2-1 victory after referee Alan Kelly determined that the goal would stand, ignoring angry and lengthy protests from NYCFC players.
"I said 'You made a mistake, and you know that'," said NYCFC coach Dome Torrent, who had to be restrained by his own players on two separate occasions after trying to confront Kelly after the match. "He decided the game. I said to him 'You decided the game and you know that. You decided the game. You are not brave, you decided the game.'
"What is the reason why? Maybe he made a mistake, and it's not a corner. I accept that. But when you say corner, two, three seconds and tell my player it's a corner, it's a mistake."
A review of replays of the incident appear to show Rockwell clearly signal for a corner kick, and also inform NYCFC defender Alex Callens that the play is a corner kick, but nowhere on replays does Kelly make any visible signal for a throw-in. The Red Bulls worked quickly to throw the ball-in and serve a cross in to Royer for the winning header, with Callens caught out of position as he jogged back, unaware a throw-in had taken place.
"Today, I'm so sorry for the soccer because it's not fair what happened in this game," Torrent said. "I don't like to talk about the referees, but it's impossible not to talk about the referees tonight. Everybody knows what happened. If you have a doubt, you can watch the TV. It's clear.
"What happened after that maybe is our mistake, but it's not easy when they say corner because you are ready for the corner and not the throw-in."
Responding to written questions from the media after the match, Kelly stated that he overruled the initial call for a corner kick, and claimed to verbally announce that a throw-in was awarded. Kelly also noted that throw-ins and corner kick decisions are not reviewable by VAR.
Though NYCFC still had 30 minutes to try and find an equalizer — along with a full nine minutes of stoppage time — the visitors were unable to recapture the momentum they enjoyed in the first half, when they scored just seven minutes into the match on a finish by Heber, and put the Red Bulls under pressure with several more quality scoring chances, though they were unable to find a second goal, which wound up costing them.
The Red Bulls had already begun to swing the momentum in their favor well before the botched corner kick/throw-in call, beginning with a goal just before halftime on a penalty kick. The second half saw the Red Bulls show more energy as NYCFC began to tire, which shouldn't have come as a surprise considering the Red Bulls were coming off a full week of rest while NYCFC was coming off having played a midweek U.S. Open Cup match against Orlando City that also included some travel difficulties that made the trip even more taxing.
The Red Bulls weren't about to feel sorry for NYCFC, and ultimately capitalized on the botched corner kick/throw-in fiasco, outplaying a clearly distracted and tiring NYCFC side that didn't have anywhere near the same energy and attacking threat it showed in the first half.
NYCFC will have to until August 24 to exact some revenge. The Red Bulls will travel to Yankee Stadium on that day for the second derby battle of the year.
Other news - News
Other news
- 13:35 One absent for New York City FC for the trip to Charlotte
- 13:29 New York City FC 2024 team numbers confirmed
- 16:52 Three Keys of NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls
- 16:23 NYCFC 0-0 Red Bulls, Cushing: "Incredible atmosphere at Yankee Stadium"
- 01:20 The Knicks can sacrifice Immanuel Quickley for a star
- 00:01 Maxi Moralez: "I can't wait to be reunited with the fans"
- 23:00 Maxi Moralez back to NYCFC: "I couldn’t be more excited"
- 22:03 David Lee: "Maxi will bring leadership and experience to our group"
- 22:00 OFFICIAL - Maxi Moralez Returns to New York City Football Club
- 13:00 David Lee: "We're excited to integrate Fernandez into the team"
- 07:20 NYCFC Signs Argentinian Forward Julián Fernández
- 15:30 Bernardeschi can leave Toronto: there is interest from an Italian club
- 14:30 Los Angeles Galaxy crazy offer to Hriving Lozano
- 13:42 CR7: "Saudi Pro League is much better than the MLS"
- 18:44 NYCFC, failing season. The trend needs to be reversed
- 17:27 Birk Risa: "I'm happy to be here, I can't wait to get started"
- 15:39 OFFICIAL - NYCFC Signs Norwegian Defender Birk Risa
- 13:44 Taty Castellanos moves to Lazio
- 13:40 Inter Miami, Alba también se sumará al proyecto
- 23:36 OFFICIAL - Inter Miami, Gerardo Martino named new coach
- 22:58 Timothy Weah has landed in Turin, he will be a Juventus player
- 22:56 OFFICIAL - Kai Havertz is a new Arsenal player
- 15:30 Bayern Munich on Kane, there is an agreement on the contract but not the one with Tottenham
- 14:30 West Ham reject Arsenal's third offer for Rice. Manchester City are considering withdrawing from the auction
- 13:24 Mbappé at Real, the striker's mother-agent is the key: she will be the one to deal with PSG
- 19:15 OFFICIAL - "Welcome to Finnesota". Center forward Pukki restarts from MLS
- 19:13 OFFICIAL - Mateo Kovacic leaves Chelsea and signs with Man City
- 18:30 AC Milan wants Pulisic. Berhalter advises the US midfielder
- 18:00 West Ham: 100 million not enough for Declan Rice, rejected offers from Arsenal and Man City
- 17:30 Timothy Weah moves to Italy
- 17:00 NYCFC may pursue former Vancouver Whitecaps player
- 16:30 Antoine Griezmann wants to play in MLS and rejects the offer from Saudi Arabia
- 15:59 Keaton Parks: "I'm happy to be able to do goal and assist"
- 15:32 Bayern Munich, formal offer for Harry Kane
- 15:23 Andrea Pirlo returns to Italy, signs with Sampdoria
- 13:28 Manchester City's Champions League win could impact NYCFC's future
- 12:00 James Sands Selected To Represent The USMNT At The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup
- 08:30 Lionel Messi lands in the MLS: pros and cons
- 23:48 Real Salt Lake vs NYCFC: one player unavailable for Cushing
- 23:46 NYCFC, Cushing: “We’re Desperate For The First Road Win"
- 22:34 MLS statement on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF
- 21:54 OFFICIAL - Messi is a new player of Inter Miami FC
- 19:09 Messi's signing with Inter Miami FC