When Andrea Pirlo and David Villa moved to Major League Soccer, they didn’t expect nights like this.
After a dismal first season, New York City FC and their big names had shown some signs of improvement under new head coach Patrick Vieira.
But then Bradley Wright-Phillips and the New York Red Bulls came to town.
Wright-Phillips struck twice in the first half as the Red Bulls won 7-0 on enemy territory – the demolition at Yankee Stadium equalled the biggest ever MLS winning margin, home or away.
Get on your 🚲, @TheRealBWP! the #RBNY forward gives the @NewYorkRedBulls a 3-0 lead. Heineken #RivalryWeek https://t.co/SNUKujRhNP
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 21, 2016
Dax McCarty also scored twice for the visitors, who were 5-0 up by the time Pirlo was hauled off for Frank Lampard.
Alex Muyi, Gonzalo Veron and Gideon Baah completed the rout, which brings the Red Bulls within a point of their fiercest rivals.
The goals continue. Here's a look at the sixth for #RBNY from Gonzalo Veron. #NYDerby https://t.co/DAcck2RdzU
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 21, 2016
The game marked Lampard’s first appearance of 2016, but he could not have done much, having arrived with Vieira’s team already 5-0 down.
Incredibly, the visitors scored their seven goals from just nine shots on target, marking a miserable afternoon for NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
FULLTIME: Red Bulls rout @NYCFC in the Bronx, 7-0.#NYisRED#RivalryWeek #NYDerby pic.twitter.com/rtMiU8TsBt
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 21, 2016