It was the first time in 16 games dating back to last season since NYCFC forward Munsef Bakral last scored a goal.
However, Bakral chose the biggest moment of the young NYCFC season, finally breaking his scoring drought, in the 64th minute of a drawn match against the club’s biggest rivals, the New York Red Bulls.
The goal on Saturday night at Citi Field gave NYCFC a 2-1 victory and tied it with the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings.
The opening goal developed from some excellent passing by NYCFC as Hannes Wolff swung past defenders and transferred the ball to Tyvon Gray.
Gray dribbled the ball along the edge of the box before finding Bakral, who quickly slotted the ball past Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel.
The moment of joy was evident on Bakral’s face.
He celebrated by running up to NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing and jumping into his arms before the rest of the team’s coaching staff and teammates joined in the celebration.
With this victory, NYCFC has won three in a row, ending the winning streak of the Red Bulls, who entered the game in third place in the Eastern Conference, at two, and capping off a great week with a three-point lead over the Big Leagues. Apple’s rival.
Saturday’s victory for NYCFC marked the first time in more than a year that the Red Bulls were able to defeat the Red Bulls in a Hudson River Derby showdown, and the first time both teams met at Citi Field.
NYCFC took the lead three minutes into the game when Wolf deceived a Red Bulls defender and fired a laser shot past Coronel.
The goal was the second goal of the game for the Austrian soccer player, who scored the winning goal against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
The clever goal began with NYCFC attacker Malachi Jones stepping up to the far side of the field and sending a cross to Wolfe, who was standing in the center of the box under pressure.
Wolff forced Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman to take a fake shot and fire the ball past the diving keeper.
However, the dominant development in the first half crumbled towards the end.
The Red Bulls tied the game in stoppage time thanks to a defensive error by NYCFC and Cameron Harper’s shot from outside the penalty area.
Harper took a few steps to dribble the ball and fired a shot, which sailed just out of the reach of NYCFC goalie Matt Freese, hit the crossbar and into the goal, tying the game.
Saturday night’s game certainly lived up to the title of rivalry, with fans from both clubs traveling to Queens to create a lively atmosphere at Citi Field.
A march by a group of NYCFC supporters along Seaver Way, chanting, banging drums and making lots of noise, attracted the attention of veteran soccer fans and curious onlookers.
Red Bulls fans packed several sections of Citi Field and cheered as the club left the field at the final whistle.
