The buildup to Sunday's match between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC was among the most interesting yet confusing in the history of Major League Soccer.

The league and New York media billed the match as a huge rivalry, a meeting of clubs with fanbases that simply did not like each other. Hatred between fans may well exist, but the question remained: Would the two teams, essentially strangers, play the match like it was a rivalry?

Thankfully for the league, media and neutral observers, the game had a rivalry feel from the opening whistle. Fans of both teams were loud throughout the match, an early goal set the pace for a frantic match and a first-half red card to Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga served to both give the match a level of controversy and grit, as well as level the playing field for an overmatched NYCFC side. 

The first half closed with the Red Bulls up 1-0 but down to 10 men. NYCFC held the ball for most of the second half, but a second goal from Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 52nd minute was all the Red Bulls would need to get the victory.

A Patrick Mullins goal with 10 minutes to play made the end of the match more interesting, but New York City never really threatened again. NYCFC boss Jason Kreis and his team were forced to leave Harrison with no points, despite playing nearly an hour up a man.

Though the match was huge for both clubs and sets of fans because of the nature of this blossoming rivalry, there were also plenty of long-term lessons to be taken away from the first Hudson River Derby. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is mostly good news for the Red Bulls, which have 16 points in nine games and sit in third in the Eastern Conference, while it is mostly bad news for New York City, which has only six points through 10 matches.  

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