New York City FC 0–7 New York Red Bulls

Background

New York City FC entered the match on a franchise-record five-match unbeaten streak, which included a club-record three-match winning streak. This included away victories at the defending MLS Cup champions, Portland Timbers, defending Canadian Championship winners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC as well as recent CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalists, D.C. United. The club had not lost a match since their 2–0 road loss to Philadelphia Union, who were atop the Eastern Conference at the time. The Red Bulls started the 2016 campaign as the defending Supporters' Shield winners, but suffered a 1–6–0 record to begin the season. However, the Red Bulls were entering the game in good form, coming off 1–0 home victory over Chicago Fire, and having only one loss in their last five matches.

Ahead of the game itself, City had a +1 goal difference, and the Red Bulls had a −6 goal difference. The Red Bulls were 15th overall, and sixth in the East, while City FC were 7th overall and 2nd in the East.

Match

Kickoff was originally scheduled for 3:00 pm local, but was delayed to 3:35 pm local time due to the FOX Sports broadcast of the 2016 FA Cup Final going into extra time. Chris Penso was the referee and his assistants were Chris Strickland and Eric Weisbrod. The fourth official was Mark Kadlecik. The weather was cloudy with a temperature of 63 °F (17 °C).

First half

Red Bulls coach Marsch made a few adjustments from the team's midweek fixture at Chicago. Connor Lade started at left back over Kemar Lawrence, and Lade's vacated right back position was filled by Sal Zizzo. The remaining nine players in the lineup played in the Wednesday match. The Red Bulls stuck to their same 4–2–3–1 formation. Kemar Lawrence was an unused sub during the match. City FC also played a midweek fixture, at Toronto, and had a handful of changes to their lineup. At left back, Rónald Matarrita started in the place of Diego Martínez. R. J. Allen replaced Ethan White to start at right back. Khiry Shelton started over Stiven Mendoza, and Tommy McNamara started over Mehdi Ballouchy, who was given the day off after playing on Wednesday. Patrick Vieira employed his usual 4–3–3 formation.

The first five minutes were overwhelmingly possessed by the Red Bulls, which led to the first goal of the match, three minutes in. A Sacha Kljestan corner connected with captain, Dax McCarty who, left unmarked, headed the ball in the middle right net, leaving little time for City FC keeper, Josh Saunders to react. The majority of the first half saw spells of possession for both sides, with City FC having more of the ball than the Red Bulls. In the 42nd minute, Mike Grella dribbled down the left flank and was able to successfully fend off Federico Bravo and R. J. Allen, creating a cross that lead to a Bradley Wright-Phillips header. Wright-Phillips would shortly add a second goal to his personal tally just four minutes later, this time, off a bicycle kick into the bottom right corner, dipping beneath a diving Saunders. Grella, again on the left wing, played a cross into the box that was redirected by Aurélien Collin to Wright-Phillips.

Second half

Neither coach made any half time adjustments. A little over five minutes after the start of the second half the Red Bulls were awarded a corner, which Sacha Kljestan took once again – and found Dax McCarty for an identical header goal to make the score 4–0. With a comfortable lead, Jesse Marsch subbed off Mike Grella and brought on rookie forward Alex Muyl. Within two minutes of coming onto the field, Bradley Wright-Phillips centered the ball right to Muyl, who scored his first goal for the Red Bulls to make the score 5–0. In the 66th minute Wright-Phillips was subbed off and replaced with Gonzalo Veron. In the 75th minute, Frank Lampard made his first appearance for City FC since the 2015 season and was jeered by his own fans while coming on for Andrea Pirlo. In the 80th minute Marsch used his last substitute, taking off Sacha Kljestan and bringing on center-back Gideon Baah in an effort to preserve the clean sheet. Several minutes later, Veron scored his first goal of the season with a header off a free kick from Felipe to make the score 6–0. A few minutes later, Gideon Baah scored his first MLS goal to secure the 7–0 final score.

Post-match

The final 7–0 scoreline tied the Major League Soccer record for largest margin of victory, set in 1998 by the LA Galaxy with a 8–1 win and tied in 2001 by the Chicago Fire with a 7–0 win. It set a new club record for the Red Bulls and made the team the fourth in MLS history to score seven goals in a match.

The game was broadcast on over-the-air television by FOX, the network's first under a new contract, following the FA Cup Final. The FOX broadcast was viewed by an estimated 595,000 people, making it the most-watched regular season MLS match since October 2014.

Reactions

At a post-match press conference, New York City FC head coach Patrick Vieira lamented the club's home form and said that it is "always good to lose one game 7–0 than seven games 1–0." When asked about whether or not the Red Bulls went out of their way to run up the score, Vieira said that they were showing proper respect and sportsmanship by not holding back.

Instances of fan violence between supporters of the two clubs preceding and following the game was noted by the news media, with RT commenting that the showing of hooliganism proves that America had embraced the sport, and The Huffington Post calling the fans "posers" who were "adopting the worst of soccer culture."

After the game, New York Red Bulls supporters with the Empire Supporters Club sent Vieira a copy of the 1995 film Seven; Marsch, on the other hand, was sent an NFL football representing the "touchdown" the Red Bulls had scored by winning 7–0 (though touchdowns are only worth 6 points with an opportunity for an additional point or two). The previous year, the group had sent red brooms to the club and front office in reference to the Red Bulls' 3–0–0 record against NYCFC.