Impact fall 4-2 to the Red Bulls, Henry scores 2 goals and is a magician

MThree games in over 7 days would have seemed to be too much for the Montreal Impact as the Canadian club tried to win back to back games in MLS. It was the story of a tired team facing a rested team at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. It was the story of Thierry Henry being a magician yet again and taking care of business in NJ.

For a tired team, the Impact was the most energetic at the beginning of the first half and was rewarded by a goal by Dilly Duka. But the Red Bulls had the most dangerous chances at the 7th and 8th minute when both Ferrari and Bush made spectacular saves to keep the score at 0-0.

Wright-Phillips was denied early in the game but would get his revenge later.

Duka's goal was the product of what the Impact do best: the counter-attack. Mallace plays a gorgeous through ball to Duka who beats Robles with his left foot after getting too much space and time from the NY defense.

An organised and effective impact squad was able to stave off Henry and co. form the rest of the half. But at the 53rd minute, Alexander cross finds Henry who scores off a diving header. His second of game comes 10 minutes later when he curls in a low ball past Bush, a strike the goalkeeper wished he could get back.

Henry transformed himself from scorer into passer when be played a ball to Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 74^th minute. Romero cut the lead to 1 goal only 5 minutes later. The midfielder is having the season of his life and continues being clutch and uses his left foot to score a nice goal.

But the league's leading scorer, Wright-Phillips, scores his second of the game in extra time putting his MLS goal tally to 20 goals on.

It was yet another defeat for the bleu-Blanc-noir who was hoping to get a win on Saturday night to keep the hope alive to eventually be in a playoff race. Both teams will face each other in CONCACAF Champions League on September 17 at Stade Saputo and on October 22 at Red Bull Arena. The CCL is the only tangible objective the club has and will aim at winning at least one of those 2 games. 

Montreal's next game is at home, next Saturday, against the Columbus Crew.

Lineups

MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Hassoun Camara, Wandrille Lefèvre, Matteo Ferrari, Krzysztof Krol (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 81’); M-Calum Mallace, Felipe, Andrés Romero, Dilly Duka, Ignacio Piatti (Maxim Tissot 69’); F-Jack McInerney (Marco Di Vaio 62’)

Subs Not used: GK-Troy Perkins; D-Karl W. Ouimette; M-Patrice Bernier, Maxim Tissot, Issey Nakajima-Farran

NY – GK-Luis Robles; D-Ibrahim Sekagaya, Roy Miller, Jamison Olave, Chris Duvall; M-Lloyd Sam, Dax McCarty, Eric Alexander (Ambroise Oyongo 60’), Tim Cahill (Peguy Luyindula 67’); F-Bradley Wright-Phillips, Thierry Henry (Saer Sene 83’)

Subs not used: GK-Ryan Meara; D-Richard Eckersley, Damiel Perrinelle; M-Eric Stevenson

Goals
MTL – Duka (Mallace) 37’
NY – Henry (Alexander) 53’
NY – Henry (McCarty) 67’

NY – Wright-Phillips (Henry) 75’
MTL – Romero (Lefèvre) 79’

NY – Wright-Phillips (Luyindula) 90’