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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
Carli Lloyd, co-captain of the United States Women's National Soccer Team and member of the Manchester City Women's Football Club, speaks with reporters in the press box before a Major League Soccer game inside of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer lies on the ground after injuring his knee during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Felipe (l.) gets tangled up with NYCFC midfielder Alexander Ring during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips attempts a shot on goal - which went in the net - during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips puts his finger to his lips in a gesture towards the fans after scoring his first goal of the game in the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa (c.) gets tangled up with New York Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson claims possession of the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Alex Muyl goes airborne after a challenge for the ball by NYCFC midfielder Alexander Ring (far right) during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC midfielder Alexander Ring (c.) is challenged by New York Red Bulls midfielder Alex Muyl (r.) for possession of the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer walks towards the team bench area after being injured during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC midfielder Jack Harrison (11) heads towards the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward Jonathan Lewis (r.) fights for the ball with New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams during the second half of a Major League Soccer game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Felipe attempts a shot during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams chases the ball during the first half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (top, in white) leaps into the air to win a header over NYCFC midfielder Alexander Ring during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC defender Frederic Brillant (l.) heads the ball away from the direction of New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips during the first half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC defender Ben Sweat reacts after going wide with a shot during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa (l.) gets around New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long during the second half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa (c.) celebrates scoring a goal in front of New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan (r.) and goalkeeper Luis Robles (on ground) during the second half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa (c.) reacts after being kicked in the face by New York Red Bulls defender Sal Zizzo (r.) during the second half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls defender Sal Zizzo (c., in white) talks with referee Baldomero Toledo after a penalty was awarded to NYCFC after a Zizzo foul during the second half of a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa attempts a penalty kick during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa follows through on a penalty kick during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa blows kisses skyward after scoring on a penalty kick during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch has a word with referee Baldomero Toledo during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles sends a ball forward during the second half of a Major League Soccer game against NYCFC inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
New York Red Bulls defender Michael Murillo has a moment of quiet reflection at the end of the match against NYCFC inside of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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MLS: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls (08.06.17)
NYCFC forward David Villa and the rest of his teammates wave to the fans after the team defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-2 in a Major League Soccer game inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by Robert Cole)
– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
NEW YORK — As much as this following thought might come from the hyperbole department, one could easily have imagined what it was like to be at Yankee Stadium on the night Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series by watching the performance of New York City Football Club striker David Villa in today’s game against its biggest rival.
Villa matched Jackson’s three clouts into the Yankee Stadium bleachers with three strikes into the back of the net for his first career Major League Soccer hat trick, with his 73rd minute penalty being the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls in an entertaining, end-to-end thriller in the latest edition of the Hudson River Derby.
Not only did this mark the second consecutive victory for NYCFC against the Red Bulls (a first in the head-to-head series for New York City), it ended a four-game winning streak for the Red Bulls, one of the most in-form teams in the league coming into this week. At the end of the contest, Villa was substituted for in the 90th minute, leaving to a standing ovation, something similar to Jackson’s curtain call after his third home run deep into the black seats in the bleachers of the previous version of Yankee Stadium.
Since 2015, Villa and Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips have scored more goals than any other players in the league, and the build-up of this game being a matchup of two clinical strikers more than lived up to that hype, with both players accounting for all of the goals in the contest. Villa took advantage of a sloppy turnover in the middle of the field by Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle, the pass being redirected by NYCFC midfielder Alexander Ring and onto the streaking Villa. All alone with only goalkeeper Luis Robles to beat, Villa lost Robles with a stutter step before finishing with his left foot to give NYCFC the lead in the 28th minute.
If anyone was going to get the Red Bulls back into the game, especially against their rivals, it was going to be Wright-Phillips, and he converted a through ball by Alex Muyl and slid past Sean Johnson in goal to tie the score at one in the 41st minute. That goal was Wright-Phillips’ ninth goal in eight matches against NYCFC.
It took 23 more minutes of playing time to take Wright-Phillips’ tally to 10, as he was able to convert a Tyler Adams cross and steered it past Johnson to give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead. Adams was able to keep possession of the balll despite a sliding challenge by defender Alexander Callens, keeping his feet and the ball before delivering that low cross to Wright-Phillips.
Any thoughts of the Red Bulls continuing their dominance after Wright-Phillips’ go-ahead goal lasted only eight minutes, as Villa made a zig-zagging run, turning around Red Bulls midfielder Aaron Long like a top before finding the back of the net from the top of the box with a right-footed screamer past Robles low to his near post.
Villa capped off the comeback by drawing a penalty in the 72nd minute, as defender Sal Zizzo got his right foot up high near Villa’s face in the box, with referee Baldomero Toledo calling for the spot kick – and Zizzo receiving a yellow card after a lengthy discussion with Toledo and the assistant referee. Villa sent Robles the wrong way with the spot kick, sending NYCFC back into the lead.
The Red Bulls ended the game with 10 men after Zizzo picked up his second yellow card in the 90th minute.
New York City Football Club, despite coming into the game winning only one of its last four games, has still yet to lose consecutive league matches this season, as they bounced back from its 4-0 humbling at the hands of Toronto FC to pick up its third-ever league victory against the Red Bulls.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from tonight’s game, with all photos taken by our senior photographer, Robert Cole. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 28 pictures in total.
