The game in 100 words (or less): The only thing standing in the way of New York City FC avenging their infamous 7-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls with a lopsided demolition job of their own, on Saturday, was an otherworldly goalkeeping performance from Luis Robles. It was the Red Bulls shot-stopper, with his four saves on the afternoon (three of them coming in spectacular fashion), who kept Jesse Marsch’s side within touching distance for more than an hour. Jack Harrison was denied early on by Robles, but got the better of him not long later for the game’s opening goal. Heroics from Robles kept the score at 1-0 for another 32 minutes, before Ben Sweat’s (accidental?) header made it 2-0 in the 65th minute. The Red Bulls, on the other hand, managed their first shot on target in the 80th minute. That’s three wins in a row for NYCFC, who go seven points clear of their Hudson River rivals and keep Toronto FC in sight at the top of the league table, five points ahead.
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Three moments that mattered
18' — Robles goes full-stretch to deny Harrison — David Villa’s vision and Rodney Wallace’s hold-play created the chance for Harrison, but Luis Robles’ acrobatics denied the 20-year-old Englishman in spectacular fashion.
33' — Harrison not to be denied this time — Sweat delivered the ball to Harrison near the top of the box, and the second-year man did everything right with what’s a really, really difficult chance to take — facing away from goal, first-time, ball traveling across the goalkeeper, upper-90 to the far post.
#NYCFC strikes first!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 24, 2017
Beautiful buildup play ends in a sweet strike by @Harrison_Jack11. #NYDerby https://t.co/7uvdphyfMm
65' — Sweat loops a header past Robles for 2-0 — Sweat probably didn’t mean it, but the ball hit the back of the net, and that’s all that matters. Not a bad time to score your first MLS goal, either.
.@22BenSweat has his first MLS goal and it is a BEAUT.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 24, 2017
The visitors go up 2-0. #NYDerby // Heineken #RivalryWeek https://t.co/IgtUo8w1b1
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Man of the match: Luis Robles
Goalscorers: Harrison (33'), Sweat (65')
