The New York Red Bulls continued their dominance of MLS rival New York City FC on Saturday.
The New York Red Bulls swept the three meetings last season with New York City FC, then in its first season as an expansion team. The Red Bulls won those three 2015 meetings by a combined 7-2 margin.
NYCFC’s first meeting with the Red Bulls as sophomores went even worse. The Red Bulls scored all seven of the game’s goals on Saturday, including two in the final five minutes of the first half.
The Red Bulls then opened the second half with two goals in a five-minute span (51′ and 56′).
Prior to the start of the game at Yankee Stadium, fans from both sides had to be separated by police. That was clearly just a sign of the carnage to come, and Twitter reacted accordingly.
First, let’s take a look at that pregame scuffle, shall we?
Here's another video from the earlier clashes with NYCFC and NYRB fans outside Yankee Stadium... pic.twitter.com/NTfWPuyiWt
— Garry Hayes (@garryhayes) May 21, 2016
Looks like some pushing and shoving, with a healthy dose of name-calling, but nothing overly malicious.
Things started to get ugly just before halftime, when Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips scored on a nifty bicycle kick to put his squad ahead 3-0.
WATCH: @TheRealBWP makes it three with a bicycle-kick goal.#NYisRED #RivalryWeek#NYDerby pic.twitter.com/BWzGVekT5k
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 21, 2016
After the halftime break, Dax Mccarty added his second goal of the game at the 51′ mark. Alex Muyl followed at the 56′ mark with his goal in a Red Bulls uniform.
It's a goal fest in New York City. Alex Muyl makes it 5-0 for #RBNY. Heineken #RivalryWeek https://t.co/cjvkYxHSRG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 21, 2016
By this point, Twitter had taken notice. Here’s a sampling of some of the best reactions.
Seriously Red Bulls, stop it! There are kids watching! This is daytime television!
— Big D Soccer (@BigDSoccer) May 21, 2016
the red bulls are beating a dead Muyl right now
— the summer of dan rangers numbers (@Danno2430) May 21, 2016
I think the Red Bulls are playing with 17 men on the field. Correct me if I'm wrong.#NYisBlue
— Josh Sippie (Bring Lock and Doc to life!) (@sippenator101) May 21, 2016
By the time the Red Bulls scored again in the 89th minute, NYCFC fans were overwhelmed.
6-0 Red Bulls pic.twitter.com/Nj6xzZPPZw
— Jeffrey Stephan (@jeff_stephan) May 21, 2016