The New York Red Bulls responded to their mid-week blowout loss to the Colorado Rapids with a strong start to Saturday night's match against FC Dallas, but another blown lead in the second half left the struggling Red Bulls scrambling before Thierry Henry played the role of hero yet again.
Marvin Chavez scored two second-half goals to give FC Dallas a 2-1 lead, and a Dane Richards red card looked like it might seal New York's fate, but Henry created a moment of magic, hitting a left-footed shot in the 85th minute to help the Red Bulls salvage a 2-2 draw at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night.
Down a man and a goal the Red Bulls watched the Frenchman salvage a point when he took a Dax McCarty pass and put a move on Zach Loyd before firing a left-footed shot past Kevin Hartman for league-leading eleventh goal of the season.
The draw marked New York's 12th of the season, and the dropped points, coupled with Columbus' 1-0 win vs. Portland, dropped the Red Bulls into third place in the Eastern Conference.
For FC Dallas, the draw pushed them to 4-1-2 in their past seven, and maintained their hold on third place in the Western Conference.
The Red Bulls outplayed FC Dallas through the first 45 minute, and took the lead when a deflected Juan Agudelo shot beat Kevin Hartman in the 39th minute.
The tide turned in the second half as FC Dallas began to find a better rhythm, and found the equalizer when Ricardo Villar found Marvin Chavez with a pass in the penalty area that Chavez converted to tie the score.
The Honduran striker made it 2-1 when George John re-directed a long free kick through the penalty area to a wide-open Chavez, who's hard shot left Frank Rost beaten.
The Red Bulls looked shaken after the second Dallas goal, and with Hans Backe hesitant to make a substitution and Dane Richards second off for a second yellow card, New York looked destined to lose. Henry changed that with one of his trademark clutch goals.
The match marked Rafa Marquez's return to action after being sidelined since the Gold Cup Final with a hamstring injury. Red Bulls starters Luke Rodgers and Teemu Tainio missed the match with injuries.
The match also saw a protest from Red Bulls Supporters Groups, who sat silently for the entire first half in protest of the club's handling of the U.S. Open Cup.
What did you think of the match? Impressed with Chavez? Starting to wonder if the Red Bulls can start putting things together, or think the team just isn't built to win?
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