The New York Red Bulls still have quite a bit of work to do if they want to get into the playoffs, but they've made huge strides towards achieving that goal with a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Less than a week after a loss caused an outburst from Rafael Marquez that resulted in a suspension for the Mexican international, the RBNY defense looked much improved, even without their Designated Player.
New York Red Bulls Vs. Portland Timbers, 2011 MLS: Full Time, RBNY Prevail 2-0
Dane Richards scored the opening goal in the 21st minute, and it was a fantastic one. In an unexpected move, Richards ended up on the left side and played a couple of passes with Joel Lindpere before dribbling into the box. He blew by one man with his pace and played himself into a shooting position with some great dribbling skill before finishing at a narrow angle, giving his team the lead.
New York almost doubled their lead in the 60th minute, but Thierry Henry was denied by a fantastic save by Troy Perkins. Hilariously, Henry started celebrating after he shot, apparently not considering the possibility that Perkins might make a save.
Henry would get his goal just three minutes later, though, as New York clinched three points. The Frenchman had a shot blocked by a Khalif Alhassan handball, and the Timbers winger was sent off for denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. Henry stepped up and buried the penalty, giving his team a 2-0 win.
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