Omir Fernandez scored in the 76th minute as the host New York Red Bulls beat the New York City Football Club 1-0 Saturday night to halt a seven-game winless skid in the MLS coaching debut of Troy Lesesne.
Fernandez scored by getting outside of the box after a New York throw-in. After the Blues’ Gabriel Pereira and Tayvon Gray stumbled in clearing the ball, Fernandez gained possession and sent a right-footed shot into the top left corner just over the leaping try of NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza.
The Red Bulls (2-4-6, 12 points) earned their first win since beating the Columbus Crew on March 18. New York entered the latest installment of the “Hudson River Derby” 0-3-4 during its skid and were blanked three times, leading to Gerhard Struber being replaced by Lesesne.
Fernandez’s goal capped a night when the Red Bulls only maintained possession for 31.6 percent of the contest and saw four players (Andres Reyes, Sean Nealis, Cristian Casseres Jr. and John Tolkin) draw yellow cards.
Carlos Coronel made one save and his defense helped him withstand nine minutes of stoppage time. Coronel recorded his second shutout of the season and 24th of his career.
NYCFC (4-5-3 15 points) continued to be held back by road results. NYCFC had three of their six shots blocked, dropped to 0-5-2 in road games this season and took their fourth road shutout.
Barraza made three saves for the Blues.
NYCFC nearly went ahead in the 31st minute but Pereira’s left-footed try from well outside the box clanged off the right post. In the 39th, Talles Magno had a clear path to the net when he sped down the right side, but his soft shot was stopped by Coronel.
In the 52nd, Maxime Chanot missed the net on a header but also was checked for a concussion after colliding with Red Bulls’ Sean Nealis in the box.
Barraza then made consecutive diving saves on Wikleman Carmona and Casseres shortly before Fernandez struck.
–Field Level Media
