New York City FC: Open Cup match vs Red Bulls is about redemption and pride

New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls are set to meet again Wednesday night in the fourth round of the US Open Cup. For the Citizens, it is about redemption and pride.

The New York Red Bulls and NYCFC are both taking the MLS by storm this season. Both clubs find themselves sitting in the top 5 of the Eastern Conference. Both clubs are great but this upcoming match goes well beyond that.

On Wednesday night, in Red Bull Arena, it is not just about advancing in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It is a story. It is a story about pride, redemption, and New York supremacy.

Perhaps the latter means the least to these clubs at the moment but there is still a battle for which soccer team should be considered “New York’s.”

Neither of these teams has ever won the MLS Cup. And both teams must beat each other if they were ever to do so. However, right now, the Red Bulls have NYCFC’s number.

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Earlier this season, on the very same pitch they will play on tonight, New York’s red club dropped a shocker on the Citizens, handing them their worst loss in all competitions this year.

So, on Wednesday, NYCFC needs to focus on redemption. They need to focus on not only gaining one back at their cross-river foes but need to focus on proving why they will reign supreme in New York one day.

The US Open Cup is still a prize all American soccer clubs strive to win. But if NYCFC can escape Red Bull Arena on top, that means more than anything. Just besting them on any stage is something they need to shoot for right now.

Despite the fact that NYCFC sits higher in the league standings over the Red Bulls, the Red Bulls always win the head-to-head matchups, which means more.

This match will is not only going to be chippy, aggressive, and dramatic, but it is all about pride. Pride to represent the city and pride to represent America’s largest soccer league, the MLS, going forward in the tournament.

This is going to become one of New York’s fiercest rivalries one day. Mark my words. Soccer might not be the highest prominence in the market right now, but with constant matches like this inevitable to happen yearly, it will become well-known.

This is the same thing as when the Devils and Rangers are good at the same time. When the Jets play the Giants. Yankees play the Mets. Knicks play the Nets with something on the line.

There is no difference. This is a narrative I continue to push.

But, as far as the actual match, NYCFC needs to rebound. They are playing too well to continue losing to the Red Bulls in any match, on any stage they or playing on. Yankee Stadium is supposed to be hosting champions, NYCFC needs to start catching up.

The rivalry is way too lopsided. The US Open Cup is one of many places these two will have to square up to win a trophy. But this is another integral part of building the next great New York rivalry.

The Red Bulls are a really great team coming off a bad loss, they will be just as hungry and ready to represent New York and New Jersey.

Next: What NYCFC means to the Big Apple

But as far as the big picture stuff, New York City FC needs to win. For pride, for redemption, for City.

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