HARRISON, NJ. \u2013 A bit of brilliance from Thierry Henry was all the New York Red Bulls needed on Saturday to grab a 1-0 home victory over the New England Revolution in front of 18,152 at Red Bull Arena.<\/p>\n
The French striker and former World Cup winner took advantage of a slow start by the Revs (2-5-0, 6 points) to put the home side on top in just the seventh minute and the Red Bulls (4-3-1, 13 points) usually shaky defense took over from there to shut out the visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started poorly,\u201d said Revs head coach Jay Heaps. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t good enough in certain situations. Unfortunately we attacked, but we didn\u2019t put a final ball in. We had a lot of chances, but we felt like we were a little flat to start which was disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
New England came into the match after a bye week, but rather than looking refreshed, the Revs looked rusty from the extra rest. \u00a0The Revs, who made just one change from the line-up that lost 2-1 to D.C. United on April 14th \u2013 Shalrie Joseph\u2019s return from suspension in place of the injured Ryan Guy \u2013 struggled to keep possession and were run over by New York in the early going.<\/p>\n
Henry broke into the Revs box just a minute into the match off a pass from Dane Richards. Reis made the save, but spilled it wide for a corner kick.<\/p>\n
A minute later, it was Kenny Cooper causing the Revs defense issues, outpacing Chris Tierney before sending in a shot that was deflected just wide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and realize that it\u2019s important that we start off hard especially being on the road and against a team like New York that has so much firepower and attacking weapons,\u201d said Revs captain Shalrie Joseph. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be able to start off with that intensity and start off right. We didn\u2019t do that tonight, but as the game progressed you could tell we were the better team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry scored the game\u2019s lone goal in seventh minute. Conor Lade played a long ball to Henry, sending the experienced French striker towards goal in a battle with Stephen McCarthy. The current MLS scoring leader caught Reis off his line and chipped it over the Revs keeper for his ninth goal of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHenry\u2019s obviously a legend,\u201d said McCarthy. \u201cI looked up to him growing up. You have to be mentally strong [defending him], but it just takes one second for him, just like it did today. I feel like we should\u2019ve probably gotten something out of the game, but he can change it like that and Kenny Cooper\u2019s the same exact way.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York came close to adding a second goal in the 12th minute later with Dax McCarty coming close. The center midfielder got a shot off an Henry corner kick that was only denied by the post.<\/p>\n
About a quarter of an hour into the match the Revs began to gain some control. Colombia striker Jose Moreno nearly broke free of the Red Bull defense in the 18th minute, but was dragged down by Tyler Ruthven. Despite being the last defender back, Ruthven managed to escape with just a yellow card.<\/p>\n
Saer Sene missed a great chance for the Revs in the 20th minute after an impressive build-up. Nguyen played Sene into the box on a give-and-go, but Sene, behind the defense, sent his shot right at rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara.<\/p>\n
The game turned further in the Revs favor the 25th minute when Thierry Henry was forced to leave the match with a hamstring strain. MLS\u2019s current goals leader was replaced by Victor Palsson, leaving the home side without their star striker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the first ten minutes they were all over us,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cThey could\u2019ve scored two or three goals. When [Henry] went out you could see the ball immediately because they\u2019ve got nobody who can really stretch the defense and run at people. Thierry\u2019s just a world class player, so when he goes out it\u2019s just a huge loss for them. We tried to take advantage of it tonight, but we weren\u2019t able to score a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sene wasted another golden opportunity for the Revs seven minutes before the halftime break. The former Bayern Munich Reserves forward got the ball from Lee Nguyen and dribbled through three Red Bulls defenders and in on goal. Sene placed a shot on frame, but it was again right at Meara, who easily pushed the ball off the post.<\/p>\n
Looking for a spark, the Revs brought on Benny Feilhaber for Kelyn Rowe at half time and pinned the Red Bulls back early in the second half. Sene was the early aggressor, once getting into the box before seeing his shot blocked and later, about 15 minutes into the half, going down in the box after a tangle with Brandon Barklage, but getting no call from referee Jair Marrufo.<\/p>\n
With New York content to sit back on defense, Feilhaber had perhaps the best chance of the night in the 77th minute after a great build-up by the Revs down the left flank. Nguyen found Shalrie Joseph outside the box and the Revs captain sent a cross in towards the far post. A wide open Feilhaber weakly headed a shot on frame that was right at Meara.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the second half we made a couple of positional changes,\u201d said Heaps. \u201cIt certainly went our way in terms of possession and in terms of the game, but I thought Ryan Meara made a couple of nice saves\u2026 he stood up big as a rookie.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Revs threatened once more through Feilhaber again in the 88th minute. This time Feilhaber played a short corner to Nguyen who quickly played it back to Feilhaber. The U.S. International cut towards the top of the box before powering a shot on frame that was right at Meara.<\/p>\n
\u201c[That shot] obviously I can do better,\u201d said Feilhaber. \u201cI heard the goalie say \u2018keep\u2019 and he tricked me. I thought he was definitely coming out. I didn\u2019t have a look and I just tried to hit it past him. He stayed in his goal. I could\u2019ve brought it down \u2013 I probably had five yards around in every direction \u2013 so I definitely should\u2019ve done better. I\u2019ll probably have nightmares about that tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the dying minutes of stoppage time the Revs had one last chance when Nguyen came close after some nice moves at the top of the. The 25 year old midfielder sent in a shot towards frame that was pushed out by Meara and the rebound fell just out of reach of several Revs attackers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no excuse to start [the way we did],\u201d said McCarthy. \u201cWe showed what we can do in the second half and we just have to do that the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Revs return to action on Wednesday with a home match against the Colorado Rapids at 8 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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