Alonso Martínez Stars As Hudson River Derby Goes The Way Of New York City | OneFootball

New York City FC’s first goal since May 4 came from a predictable source, and it propelled them to a victory in the first Hudson River derby of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.

If something is going to happen for New York City, it will usually involve Alonso Martínez. That was the case once again at Citi Field in a 2-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls, as the Costa Rican registered a goal and an assist.

At New York City FC’s other home, Yankee Stadium, the New York Mets had just defeated the Yankees to level MLB's latest Subway Series at 1-1.

Back at the home of the Mets, the soccer team that frequents the baseball fields of New York City secured local bragging rights, at least for now.

Martínez had netted a couple of goals from outside the area among the 17 he scored in 2024.

Though this was his first notable goal from distance in 2025, he had scored from a narrow angle against the Philadelphia Union, which was technically from outside the area.

The perception of Martínez, though, is that of a close-range goal poacher.

The guy who started getting the goals for New York City back when none of the would-be stars or designated players were stepping up.

On hand to stick the ball in the net, and that's all. And that's enough.

Now, he appears more rounded, making different kinds of runs into channels and in behind, offering a threat on the counter-attack as well as in the thick of things, and finding himself in positions to make assists.

He had another, better chance shortly after his goal, but struck against the outstretched leg of Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel when played through on the break by Julián Fernández.

Martínez was also involved in another good opportunity, but his attempted square pass to the far post to Fernández was intercepted by Coronel. It would have been a tap-in for Fernández had his teammate found him.

City had been pressing high, sometimes man-to-man, for spells throughout the game, and that paid off at the beginning of the second half.

At times, you could see the players checking to see if there was someone available to pass the player they were marking on to as they moved upfield to pressure someone else.

Justin Haak started off a a central defender, but roamed over the field, man-marking in defence and sometimes finding himself more advanced with the ball. In fact, it was he who gets the assist for the opener.

This pressing meant Martínez was in the vicinity to capitalize on a mistake by Coronel when the Red Bulls keeper appeared to kick the turf before the ball when making a pass out from the back.

Martínez intercepted before setting up Maxi Moralez, who showed great composure to eventually slot home past a couple of covering defenders, unrushed and unruffled as he made it 2-0.

City mostly went over the top of the Red Bulls press, and in the second half Haak was slightly more reserved, maybe as much to do with game state, and New York City dropping more into a team shape in their own half as Red Bulls tried to come back into the game, more the man to man press of the first half when the team was higher up the field.

It was a good game for New York City head coach Pascal Jansen, whose game plan worked and was executed well by the players.

As a result of this, and some timely subs for fresh legs, New York City held on to the win with relative ease.

There were encouraging performances throughout the team, and the defensive effort meant there were no opposition shots of note for goalkeeper Matt Freese to deal with.

While there is another game to come in the latest Subway Series, to be played in the Bronx tomorrow, and another series as soon as July, the next installment of the Hudson River Derby isn’t until September.

New York City FC has several months to savor this win, but both teams, sitting in mid-table as they do, will be hoping to improve against a variety of opponents as this 2025 MLS regular season continues.