The first ever match between New York’s two area MLS franchises had all the intensity, heat, noise and excitement this city’s soccer fans were long hoping for.

NYCFC joined the MLS this year as an expansion franchise. On the field, the new squad is off to a bad start (just one win in 10 tries). But the boys in powder blue have won a significant share of fan support from a metropolitan area with deep, yet-to-be-fully-tapped ties to the beautiful game. NYCFC appears on solid footing going forward no matter where they end up in the standings the first couple years.

Sunday night’s clash at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ was the first of three regular season meetings between the two sides. Despite playing a man short for more than half the match, the Red Bulls won 2-1 and were clearly the better, more cohesive team.

NYCFC’s big star David Villa (pictured above) was not a factor from the striker position. He did a lot of pouting and complaining but did not dazzle with possession. He seemed to show disapproval with teammates who failed to place the ball in spots he was expecting it in. He was yanked from the game as NYCFC tried to mount a rally in the final ten minutes.

Mix Diskerud was also replaced down the stretch by NYCFC coach Jason Kreis. Ineffectiveness also likely played a role in that substitution which I would think would be a concern to USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsman who according to the Post’s Brian Lewis took in this match in person.

The Bulls got both its goals from elusive, speedy forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (pictured above) who has a remarkable scoring touch. Wright-Phillips gets a lot of goals the easy way. Tap-ins and short shots are more common than big blasts. He’s constantly beating his man without going offsides. Wright-Phillips netted 27 scores last season, tying the MLS single-season scoring record.

The building was full. Attendance was announced at 25,217. I was expecting more NYCFC fans but they only fully occupied a couple sections reserved for visiting squads plus sat scattered elsewhere in the building. This was a loud, Red Bull-dominant crowd that scooped up tickets in much larger numbers than their new archrivals. As it should be on home turf.

What was off-putting to me however was the hostility directed at NYCFC fans by some of the Red Bull supporters. Banners unfurled at the start mocked NYCFC. “20 years late and a stadium short” is fair game but there were hostile chants and gestures that pushed boundaries of good taste.

At the great downtown Newark soccer bar Bello’s before the match, Red Bull fans in the upstairs bar sang a song with a chorus that threatened fans of the team across the river. It was unnecessarily mean. Fans of both squads should be comfortable attending games at both venues without concern. Unfortunately, it seems like there’s an element of the Red Bull fandom that veers into hooligan wanna-be territory – or perhaps is insecure about the level of attention and support NYCFC is garnering.

What this really is for Red Bull fans is the makings of a real fun and spirited rivalry. It’s not like playing DC United or the Revs or the Union – nearby teams with histories. This is something special. Two professional soccer teams with fans that draw on the same territory.

We can ride the train together. Sing our songs. And yes – we should be able to share the same tavern and talk about the game like Mets and Yankees fans have learned to do over the course of their head-to-heads.

I write this from suburban Chicago on Monday afternoon. After a short night, I took an early flight Monday morning. I’m here for all four games of the Mets/Cubs series at Wrigley.

Tonight, they reopen the left field bleachers. DeGrom vs. Lester. See you there.