QUEENS, N.Y. – Red Bull New York II (RBNY II) faced NYCFC II in the first Hudson River Derby of the MLS NEXT Pro season on Sunday and fell 1-1 (4-5) in a penalty shootout. RBNY II came into this matchup with their rivals, topping the Eastern Conference with six points, while NYCFC II came into today’s derby tied for last in the conference with zero points.
However, it looked like the shoe, or cleat, was on the other foot to start the match when NYCFC II’s top scorer from last season, Seymour Reid, scored a right-footed shot in the fifth minute past RBNY II goalkeeper and Morristown native Tobias Szewczyk.
The first half carried on at a fast pace for the next 16 minutes until Rafael Mosquera, who led RBNY II with 10 assists in 2025, leveled the match at one with a curler from the edge of the 18-yard box that reminded this writer of former Bayern Munich and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben. The goal was assisted by 20-year-old Costa Rican Andy Rojas.
Towards the end of the first half, RBNY homegrown forward and Montclair native Roald Mitchell volleyed the ball just past the woodwork and a diving NYCFC II goalkeeper and Cherry Hill native Tomas Romero.
In the second half, Red Bull New York II kept the pressure on. In the 65th minute, Mosquera dribbled into the 18-yard box from the right wing and ripped a blistering right-footed strike that was ticketed for the upper ninety but had to be knocked aside by a diving Romero.
In the 87th minute, Reid broke free with the ball at his feet in Red Bull New York territory. He then came in on Szewczyk one-on-one, and the Red Bull Academy product rushed out, slid at Reid, and saved his shot attempt. It was a huge save, but NYCFC II definitely were on the front foot at the end of the 90 minutes.
In the penalty shootout, RBNY II went first, and Mijahir Jimenez scored.
Reid answered for City by smashing his penalty into the left zone.
Then Mosquera took the second RBNY kick and just got his attempt past Romero, who dove the right way.
On City’s second penalty kick, Juan Poncé tried a ‘Panenka’, or chip, on City’s second penalty shot, but he didn’t fool Szewczyk, who caught the ball at waist-height.
Dennis Nelich scored the third attempt for RBNY II. Maximo Carrizo stepped up and ripped a left-footed shot into the back of the net for City’s third attempt.
On the fourth attempt, Nate Worth was the first RBNY player to miss, as Romero dove to his right and kept out Worth’s waist-high shot.
Then, NYCFC II’s Drew Baiera took his penalty, and despite Szewczyk diving the right way, the ball deflected off his hand and into the back of the net.
On the fifth attempt for either team, RBNY’s Juan Mina scored, and NYCFC II’s Peter Molinari held serve.
Then, Dominik Wohlert called upon his youngest player, 16-year-old Paul Sokoloff, to take Red Bull New York II’s sixth attempt. Sokoloff had some pep in his step on his run up and kicked it towards the bottom right corner of the net, but Romero saved it with an incredible dive.
For the next, potentially decisive penalty kick, NYCFC II manager Matt Pilkington chose one of the match’s oldest participants, 24-year-old Nico Cavallo. Cavallo stood across from Szewczyk, a 17-year-old, as he prepared to take his kick.
Cavallo side-footed the ball into the left zone, which ended the first MLS NEXT Pro Hudson River Derby of the 2026 season.
The result went down as a tie for RBNY II and the first win of 2026 for NYCFC II.
It was a pretty even match, although NYCFC II didn’t really threaten RBNY II’s goal much throughout the 90 minutes, as they generated just one shot on goal. On the other hand, RBNY II produced four shots on goal, including three from Mosquera, who led the club in that department and also with three key passes.
While today’s derby shootout loss snapped a seven-match unbeaten streak for RBNY II, the positives are that Szewczyk, despite not having much to do for most of the match, came up big when his team needed him most, stopping NYCFC II’s most dangerous attacking player on a one-on-one.
The Baby Bulls will learn from this draw and take a 2-0-1-0 record into their first home game at their stomping ground, MSU Soccer Park, next Sunday against the Philadelphia Union II.
