On a blisteringly-hot summer afternoon, the Red Bulls were sweating out a scoreless tie, battling the Fire and a skid that had seen them win just once since mid-May. That is, until captain Thierry Henry turned their fortunes around with a moment of individual brilliance.
Henry put an acute-angle, left-footed blast off the right post and into the net in the 71st minute to give the Red Bulls the only score they needed, and the defense held on for a 1-0 victory over Chicago yesterday at Red Bull Arena. It was just the Red Bulls’ second win in their last eight MLS games and a hard-earned one with temperatures approaching 100 degrees.
“It’s wasn’t easy, as you can imagine,’’ Henry said. “Somehow we had to find a way to win the game, especially when you play a conference game. Chicago [was] a point behind us. [Now] it’s four points. It wasn’t the best game ever, but it’s one you go back home and be happy.’’
Though there were 15,814 tickets sold for the 1 p.m. kickoff, many couldn’t brave the heat. They missed a great play by the Red Bulls’ new French Connection, a goal by Henry off a sublime pass by newly acquired Sebastien Le Toux.
“I was like a kid,” Le Toux said. “The ball goes into the net and it’s the winning goal, so it feels great. I was just very happy for him. He scored a great goal. He just came back from injury, so it’s great for the team and great for him.’’
Le Toux got the start up front and played a perfect diagonal ball across the field to a streaking Henry, who chested it down, and as Jalil Anibaba tried to close out, put a 12-yard left-footed shot across the goalmouth, off the right bar and in.
“I went for the goal, and the ball went in the back of the net,” said Henry, who hadn’t scored since hurting his right leg in an April 28 win over New England. “Sometimes they go in. Sometimes they don’t, but I’m never scared to try anything. That’s me.
“I needed to do something. I was pretty useless because of injuries, obviously not delivering. So I’m happy to do something.’’
The defense held its shape well, and left goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, also acquired Friday, and standing in for injured Ryan Meara, with little to do for his first shutout. Chicago’s best chance came in the 83rd minute, but Brandon Barklage’s goal-line clearance robbed Rafael Robayo and preserved the full three points.
“It’s an absolutely phenomenal strike, and one of the few guys that can do those type of goals,’’ coach Hans Backe said. “Difficult conditions. Overall after 90 minutes, it was well-deserved to win the game. The first time in a while we got a clean sheet, and that’s what we wanted.’’
The Red Bulls (10-5-5) moved into second place in the East, and kept Chicago in fourth. They next play host to rival Philadelphia Union on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.