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Henry leads Red Bulls in rout of Impact

ThierryHenryCelebration1-RedBullsImpactMontreal (USATodaySports)

By DAN KARELL

HARRISON, N.J.– Back in the friendly confines of Red Bull Arena, the New York Red Bulls looked like a completely different side from the one that played nine days ago in Colorado.

Aided by two goals in the first 16 minutes and a one-goal, two-assist performance from forward Thierry Henry, the Red Bulls defeated the slumping Montreal Impact, 4-0, on Saturday night.

The result leaves both the Impact and Red Bulls atop the Eastern Conference standings with 31 points each.

“We wanted to be the dominant side today and then to get the first goal and second goal and have (Montreal) playing catch up, it was a good feeling,” Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke said after the match.

The match served as the latest example of Montreal’s recent defensive collapses. A team that started the year playing solid defense, and allowing 16 goals in its first 14 matches, the Impact have now allowed 12 goals in their past four matches.

“It’s not good enough and we know that,” Impact midfielder Davy Arnaud said. “That was a really big game for us and to come out and lose 4-0 is not good. There’s not a whole lot of positives to take out of it.”

Alexander was the first to take advantage of Montreal’s defensive problems early on, running past three Impact defenders inside the box before finishing calmly with his left foot in the 10th minute. Henry added the team’s second in the 16th minute, taking a great feed from Fabian Espindola and sending a first-touch shot past Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

I don’t really remember too much,” Alexander said. “I just remember getting a final touch on the inside and I was able to slide it home.”

Fatigue from the heat and heavy humidity took hold midway through the match, and the Impact looked close to cutting the deficit just after the start of the second half. Marco Di Vaio had a goal disallowed for being offside, and seconds later, an inadvertent Red Bulls handball in the box was not called by referee.

Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill effectively put the game away in the 63rd minute, placing a diving header off an Henry corner kick past Perkins to put the hosts up 3-0. The goal is the fifth of the year for the Australian star.

“I found a bit of space and got good contact,” Cahill said. “I have to wait for opportunities, it’s not a game where I need to score goals. Overall I’m just buzzing for the boys.”

Substitute Peguy Luyindula added the icing on the cake for the Red Bulls, scoring his first goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 88th minute after Lloyd Sam was taken down in the box. When the final whistle blew, the Red Bulls earned a standing ovation from the 17,235 fans in attendance.

“I’m very happy playing with a smile on my face and so are a lot of the other lads, and I suppose it’s a good day for the Red Bulls,” Cahill said.

Montreal will look to regroup next week when they take on FC Dallas, while the Red Bulls will look to take sole possession of first place when they head up north to take on Toronto FC.

Here are the match highlights:

What did you think of the match? Impressed with the Red Bulls? Starting to wonder if the Impact can turn things around?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. After Zidane, Thierry Henry is the another legendery player. At his 35 Thierry Henry still sparkling with his talent and efficiency. This striker passed his golden period at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal. In MLS Thierry Henry still playing in New york Red Bulls with his effort. He is till now good at not only scoring but also in assisting.

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    • The attendance at THE ARENA is always about half of what they announce. This team is doomed once the new, true NYCity team arrives.

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      • You mean the new, true NYCity team that will play in Yankee Stadium as a Man City satellite team and charge $8 for hot dog and $12 for a Miller Lite? Get real. I’d be surprised if the bleachers are half full. Enjoy your new team.

  2. Petke said in the postgame interview on MSG that he thought it was their best performance to date in the season, and I probably would agree with that. Luyindula scored which was great, Alexander had his best game with the team, and we looked solid defensively, and played really good attacking stuff at times. There was nothing to complain about as a fan, other than I kept wondering if he’d take out Cahill sooner or Henry considering the humidity, and they will probably play some part in the midweek friendly.

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  3. Montreal has been exposed, these losers that think Di Vaio has game are morons. They beat us on one of his offside plays in the first match and if that was called we would have been unbeaten versus these guys this year.

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  4. Can’t believe that was the same team that played so poorly in Colorado. The difference between their home and away performances is enormous.

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    • Its all in the mid. When alexander, mccarty and cahill look to advance the ball instead of playing it back safe, they are a much better team.

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  5. M so glad the good redbull team showed up this week., lets hope theymbuild on this. The eastern conference is so close knit simply because there is not one great team in the conference at this point in the season. Should be an interesting last couple of months.

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