New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls Prediction, 9/18/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Tony Sink - 9/15/2026

Game: New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Location: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY

TV: Apple TV

NYCFC (8-6-11) will try to defeat the Red Bulls (8-8-9) at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY on Friday. NYCFC is priced at -145 and the Red Bulls are at +125. The total comes in at 3. The goalies expected to start will be Matt Freese for New York City and Ethan Horvath for New York.

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New York City FC has accumulated 88 saves and hold a save% of 73.0% for the season. The team's differential on goals is currently at 6 with the help of 39 goals put in the net and 33 goals surrendered. On the campaign, the squad has put together an average of 1.28 pts per match (32 pts) and also are 19th in Major League Soccer with 25 assists. The Pigeons have a rank of 6th in relation to expected goals with 22.3, and the squad's expected goals against are 18.7. New York City is sitting with 44 yellow cards over the course of the season and 1 red card. NYCFC has given up 33 goals while giving up 1.32 goals per 90, and the opposition have a total of 122 SoT against them. They have accumulated 5 clean sheets, which puts them at a rate of 20.0% for the season.

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The New York Red Bulls have compiled 31 goals and their expected goals for the season is at 21.0. The team's goals against per 90 minutes is currently at 1.92 in addition to 85 saves, and they have 3 shut outs. So far this season, New York has a save % of 63.9% (133 SoTA), and also sit at 18th in MLS with 30 pts. RB New York ranks 26th when it comes to goals conceded having 48, and the team's goal differential is at -17. New York has accounted for a clean sheet % of 12.0% on the campaign and also 52 yellow card cautions. The Red Bulls are sitting with an average of 1.2 points per contest while sitting with 24 assists and 2 red cards.

The man protecting the net for New York City will be Matt Freese. Freese has defended the goal for a total of 12,255 minutes and has 422 stops so far in his pro soccer career. His GA/90 is 1.40 (190 total goals allowed) and his save % is 70.1%. The goalkeeper born in the United States has seen 602 shots attempted at him in 138 career starting assignments. Freese (51-36-51 mark during his career) has earned 32 shutouts, which gives him a 23.5%% clean sheet percentage.

Ethan Horvath will be looking after the goal for New York. During his pro soccer career, Horvath has allowed 302 goals while earning 638 saves in 236 starting assignments. He is the owner of a save % of 70.0% and his clean sheet rate is 29.1%%. He has surrendered 1.28 goals per 90 minutes and he has earned a mark of 102-60-76. Horvath has tallied 69 clean sheets while he has seen 912 shots tried against him in 21,313 career mins.

Agustin Ojeda is one player who has a chance to score for New York City. The forward born in Argentina has tallied 12 goals in 5,776 professional minutes played. Ojeda has been a starter in 64 games during his soccer career and he scores 0.19 G/90. He has totaled 16 assists while tallying 40 points in his pro soccer career.

New York is being led onto the pitch by Julian Hall, who should keep defenses up at night. He scores 0.34 goals per 90 minutes and has been given a starting assignment in 34 games in his career. The forward from the United States has played 3,413 minutes and he has scored 13 goals. He has accumulated 30 points so far in his pro soccer career and has assisted on a goal 4 times.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take New York City FC (+125)

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Pick:	San Jose +0.5 (-155)
Start:	September 19, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. MLS Soccer Take San Jose +0.5 (-155) over LAFC (7:30 p.m. EST, Saturday September 19) San Jose hadn’t won a match since the World Cup up until recently but lo and behold they have now won two straight and look like a completely different side. They manhandled a good San Diego side on the road in a 3-2 win that was more dominant than the final score might indicate. And last week they gutted out a 1-0 win here at home vs. a Houston side that is one of the top teams in the Western Conference. We were on San Jose in that one and mentioned in our writeup that one of the main problems with the Earthquakes since the World Cup break is that they were lacking confidence and now they seem to have it back in spades and their play has been exceptionally strong. They are now unbeaten in four straight matches, and they are back in a Top 4 spot in the West with a chance to move higher with three points here. We only need a draw however, to cash this ticket, and we think they can do enough to get at least a point. LAFC is coming off a 3-1 road loss at Kansas City, one of MLS’s worst sides. LAFC are behind the Earthquakes in the standings despite all the struggles San Jose has faced since the World Cup break. They have only one win in their last eight MLS matches, and this side is just not playing championship-caliber futbol right now. San Jose always raises their level of play when LAFC comes to town and have won five of the last six meetings here. Read More Read Less

New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls Prediction, 9/18/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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