Henry's first MLS goal helps N.Y. beat San Jose

Soccer Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thierry Henry scored his first goal in Major League Soccer and Dane Richards had a goal and an assist, leading Red Bull New York to a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.

Richards scored the opener in first-half stoppage time, then assisted as Henry scored his first goal since joining New York in July. Henry had two assists in his MLS debut on July 31, but failed to score in his first five matches.

After missing a few chances throughout the game, including hitting the post in the first half, Henry finally ended his scoring drought when he settled a pass from Richards and fired into the right side of the net from eight yards out.

New York (11-7-4) improved to 3-1-2 since Henry joined the club, and closed to within four points of Columbus for first place in Eastern Conference. The Crew tied FC Dallas, 0-0, on Saturday.

San Jose (8-7-5), which shut out the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 last week, had its two-game winning streak snapped.

San Jose had a chance to take control of the match early when top scorer Chris Wondolowski ran onto a rebound, but N.Y. goalie Bouna Coundoul pushed the 12- yard shot off target.

Henry had a similar chance in the 12th when a rebound fell to him in the area, but San Jose defender Tim Ward cleared the 10-yard shot off the line.

Henry turned provider a few minutes later when he put Juan Pablo Angel through on the left side of the area, but the Red Bulls' leading scorer failed to find the net from a tight angle as S.J. goalie Jon Busch made the stop.

Angel returned the favor in the 21st, holding the ball on the left side of the area before finding Henry at the top of the area. Henry curled his shot around Busch, but it hit the right post as he again failed to net his first MLS goal.

Cornell Glen had San Jose's only other good first-half chance in the 25th off a pass from Wondolowski, but fired wide right off an open look from the left.

Marquez forced a save from Busch from the corner of the area late in the half, but New York got the opener minutes later in stoppage time from Richards.

Joel Lindpere played the ball down just outside the area to Richards, who took the ball through traffic, got a lucky deflection off San Jose's Bobby Burling, cut around Busch and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Henry just missed his first goal minutes into the second half when he flicked a ball on target with his back to the goal, but Busch dove to knock the chance down. Angel should have converted the rebound, but somehow hit the right post from just a few yards with the net open.

Henry created a scoring chance for himself four minutes later in the 53rd, as he lifted the ball off the ground to set up a turning shot that Busch touched over the bar.

Marquez unleashed a blast that bounced just wide of the left post as New York continued to pile on the pressure, but San Jose responded with two quick shots that could have easily tied the match.

Arturo Alvarez fired just over the bar in the 60th, and Glen missed wide left seconds later.

New York finally found its second goal a few minutes later, as Henry settled a cross from Richards and hammered in his first MLS goal. Richards hit a one-hop cross from the right that Henry settled near the penalty spot, then fired low past Busch to leave the Earthquakes goalie no chance.

Glen just missed trimming the deficit in half in the 66th, as he lifted a shot over the bar from close range. San Jose failed to put New York under pressure over the final 25 minutes, as Coundoul finished with two saves for his eighth shutout.

New York visits Real Salt Lake on Sept. 4 for its next MLS match, and San Jose visits the Houston Dynamo on Sept. 5.