This was a Thierry Henry Spectacular, just when the Red Bulls needed one most.
This 4-1 victory over MLS-worst Toronto is why the Red Bulls brought him in, not just to fill their Red Bull Arena, which they did Saturday night. Even at 35, his skills may still be the best in this league, and his highlight goal and three assists halted the Red Bulls’ skid that threatened their playoff hopes.
“A privilege,” said Kenny Cooper, whose pair of gimmes from Henry raised his team-top goal total to 16, before assisting on Henry’s curtain-dropper, his 14th.
“My game hasn’t changed. But if I see a guy, most of the time, in better position than I am, I’ll try to pass,” Henry said, disputing he is now the delivery man.
The triumph gave the third-place Red Bulls a five-point lead over Columbus. The Crew is trying for the East’s fifth and final playoff berth.
Henry is the only player in MLS among the top five in both goals and assists (12). Someone had to do it, especially after the winless-in-two Bulls trailed the winless-in-10 cellar-dwellers on Ryan Johnson’s 35-yarder six minutes in. He was suspended for the Red Bulls’ previous game, having been charged with a head hit in their lone home loss this season, Sept. 19 against Kansas City. Cooper also sat out their last game, when the Red Bulls were tied in stoppage time, costing them two points.
Henry and Cooper each denied they had extra motive from their absences, but they played as on a mission.
Bulls defender Markus Holgarsson headed home Henry’s corner to erase that deficit in the 13th, and Henry drew the keeper on a dash down the right slot to give Cooper his first open net in the 27th.
Insurance didn’t come until Henry played toe keep-away in the box before giving Cooper another open net in the 88th minute. Then, as Toronto awaited a whistle, Cooper launched Henry down the left side for a 20-yard lob over Toronto’s Freddy Hall.
“I’m not thinking about myself. What I’m thinking about is how we defend. We know we can score goals,” Henry said.