Martínez scores two to help New York City FC beat Red Bulls in Hudson River Derby

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Maxi Moralez opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Alonso Martínez added two first-half goals and New York City FC beat the New York Red Bulls 5-1 Saturday night in the Hudson River Derby to snap a nine-game winless streak.

New York City (12-11-8) won for the first time since a 2-0 victory over CF Montreal on July 3.

Moralez stole a pass from goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and scored from near the penalty spot and Martínez outraced Andres Reyes to the ball and beat Coronel for a goal to make it 2-0 in the seventh minute.

Dante Vanzeir scored a goal in his second consecutive game to cut the Red Bulls' deficit to 2-1 in the 28th, but Andrés Perea headed home a perfectly-placed cross played by Tayvon Gray in the 33rd minute and Martínez scored from the center of the area in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time to make it 4-1.

NYCFC is the first team in the history of the Hudson River Derby to score four goals in a half.

Gray scored his first MLS goal to make it 5-1 in the 68th minute. Moralez played a back-pass from near the penalty spot to a charging Gray for a one-touch finish from just outside the area.

Moralez scored his first goal since the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs

The Red Bulls (10-7-14), who are winless in six games since returning the Leagues Cup break, had 54% possession and outshot NYCFC 14-10.

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AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer