I get that there are things about MLS Inc. that people don’t like (e.g. Heineken® Rivalry Week), but to me, both have been
real. The tension has been palpable at matches with both teams. There are multiple, memorable matches that I attended:
- 5/21/16 the RB wedding, where I also had the 'reward' of seeing the players and Vieira at the meet-and-greet after; needless to say, they looked absolutely shell shocked, and so was I; but then my sister and brother-in-law were visiting for July 4, and they came with me to our first derby win the day before;
- 8/22/18, the 1-1 tie that felt like a win; Eloi Amagat (remember him?) got sent off for a studs up challenge in the first half, and we stuck it out a man down; Villa answered early in the second half; this was when we still had 3 games against some opponents, and we won one and lost one also; a 4th match (US open cup) we lost at RBA 4-0, as we have yet to get it together for a cup run;
- 7/12/15 my first time seeing Giovinco in person, and he scores a hat trick in a 4-4 tie; another game spoiled by a stoppage time goal;
- 10/30/16 our first playoff appearance, against TFC; I flew to Toronto for a whirlwind trip, basically there for 36 hours; BMO Field is effing cold in October; not only do we lose 2-0, we give up the second goal in stoppage time; a week later, we give up 5 goals at home and score none; "Toronto’s Onslaught of Goals Finishes N.Y.C.F.C.’s Season" said the NYT;
- 10/23/19 playoff capping arguably our best chance at the cup; we didn't go out 7-0 on aggregate, instead we found an even crueler ways to lose;
