The New York Red Bulls slipped to 8th place in the Eastern Conference after losing to NYCFC Sunday night, 5-2, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. They are now tied with Nashville on points but are below in the goal differential column. ValentÃn Castellanos recorded his first MLS hat trick as NYCFC scored three unanswered goals in the second half.
It was Castellanos who scored first in the 12th minute, executing a brilliant header on the end of a Maximiliano Moralez cross. Less than seven minutes later, red hot Brian White leveled up the score. His right footed effort just beating NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson.
The Red Bulls took a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute. Cristian Cásseras Jr. pounced on a loose ball just outside the blues box and smashed a right foot through, beating a diving Johnson yet again.
The scored was leveled yet again in the 42nd minute. NYCFC’s Gary Mackay-Steven received a deft pass, which caught the Scottish national in his stride and he slammed home goal from 6 yards out.
The next blow would come 6 minutes into the second half. NYCFC captain Alexander Ring curled a left footed beauty in the 51st minute. Off a Jesus Medina throw-in, Ring curled a shot just over the head of keeper Ryan Meara. The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and found the back of the net.
The insurance goals were provided by Castellanos later in the second half. His second of the game came in the 76th minute. After getting a pass from 5 yards courtesy of Jesus Medina, Castellanos curled a right footer beyond the outstretched hands of Meara. The dagger came in 84th minute after he was barreled over in the box by defender Tim Parker. He converted the penalty easily, sealed the hat trick and the three points in a high scoring Hudson Derby.
The Red Bulls will need to regroup quickly, with an important home fixture Sunday night scheduled with Toronto FC.
Edited by Nick Sbordone