The New York Red Bulls perhaps saved their season on a penalty kick by Patryk Klimala deep into second-half stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw with New York City FC Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena in the first of two matches between the rivals in four nights.
Klimala's 102nd-minute equalizer, the latest ever in an MLS regular season match, came after referee Ismail Elfath decided, following a lengthy Video Review, that Maxime Chanot handled a Klimala shot in the box. Chanot was sent off for his second bookable offense, leaving NYCFC to finish the match with nine men.
Keaton Parks was sent off on a straight red card for a tackle from behind on Dru Yearwood in the 73rd minute. The RBNY midfielder left through injury a few minutes later.
Taty Castellanos continued to torment the Red Bulls, scoring the lone goal of the first half just past the half-hour mark. Castellanos, who struck for a hat trick in his last appearance against the Red Bulls, took an angled feed from Maxi Moralez and clinically finished low inside the far post for his 13th goal of the season.
The goal came two minutes after Carlos Coronel kicked away a shot from an open Anton Tinnerholm. And 10 minutes after Castellanos scored, NYCFC were unlucky not to tack on a second with Jesus Medina firing wide in the box.
The best scoring chance for the hosts in the opening 45 minutes came after 22 minutes when Wiki Carmona’s dipping shot was parried away well by Sean Johnson for a corner kick.
Castellanos thought he had a second goal, latching onto a Moralez free kick to put a deflected shot past Coronel in the 69th minute. But the goal was waved off because of a foul by Chanot on Kyle Duncan.
Chanot was at the center of the match's pivotal moment deep into stoppage time with Klimala's PK making history and earning a much-needed point for the Red Bulls, setting the stage for Saturday night's rematch in the Bronx.
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It’s bound to be a juicy rematch at Yankee Stadium Saturday night after a dramatic draw in the first Hudson River Derby showdown of the season. NYCFC were the better team for much of the match, squandered a chance to secure a second goal and were punished with a controversial PK late. The Red Bulls bounced back from a poor first half to secure a draw, but are still seven points below the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs line heading into Saturday night’s showdown in the Bronx.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Was this a penalty or not? Did Chanot handle Klimala’s shot or did it hit his chest first? Elfath called it a PK after a lengthy Video Review.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Castellanos was again the most dangerous player on the pitch, burying a goal in the first half and creating havoc throughout his shift.
Next Up
- RBNY: Saturday, Sept. 25 at New York City FC (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+) | MLS regular season
- NYC: Saturday, Sept. 25 vs. New York Red Bulls (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+) | MLS regular season
