MLS Preview: Henry makes league debut for Red Bulls

Posted Jul 31, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 31, 2010 at 12:36 PM

Thierry Henry makes his Major League Soccer debut for New York as the Red Bulls travel to face Houston as part of Saturday’s schedule.

NEW ENGLAND (4-9-2) AT PHILADELPHIA (4-8-2): The Union will try to build on their stoppage-time victory against Toronto two weeks ago as they face the Revolution at PPL Park. Philadelphia has made its new stadium a tough place to play, going 3-1-1 this season at home with the only loss coming in a game against San Jose it dominated only to be caught by the Earthquakes on a late counter-attack.

New England has won just once on the road this season, going 1-6-0 away from Gillett Stadium. But the Revolution earned a surprise 2-0 victory against Los Angeles in its last outing on July 10 and despite being in the middle of a down season can’t be taken lightly.

Sebastien Le Toux has been key for the Union this season, but rookie forward Danny Mwanga has begun to come into his own of late, scoring five goals in the last eight MLS games.

DALLAS (6-2-8) AT COLORADO (6-5-5): Dallas is undefeated in seven games, its last defeat coming in May, which has allowed it to move up to third place in the Western Conference, usurping Colorado in the process.

Part of that run included a 2-0 victory against Real Salt Lake, Brek Shea scoring and adding an assist, which signaled the progress the side has made this season under the guidance of Schellas Hyndman.

Colorado could draw even with Dallas with a win tonight, but the Rapids are without a victory in their last six games after a 2-1 defeat in Seattle last Sunday. Despite having Connor Casey and Omar Cummings leading the way, the Rapids have struggled in front of goal this season scoring just 18 goals in 16 games.

NEW YORK (8-6-2) AT HOUSTON (5-8-4): New York sits second in the Eastern Conference, but after a 2-0 defeat to Columbus in its last outing is ready for new signing Thierry Henry to begin his partnership with Juan Pablo Angel in the Red Bulls attack.

Henry shone in his first appearance for the Red Bulls, scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays’ Soccer Challenge, and the Red Bulls also earned a victory against Manchester City in last weekend’s event. Dane Richards scored twice against the Citizens, and the Red Bulls will be hoping he can replicate that kind of form in MLS, where he has yet to score this season.

Houston is struggling for form, and will be without center back Bobby Boswell tonight after his red card in the Dynamo’s 3-0 defeat to Columbus last weekend. In the unfamiliar position of sitting seventh in the Western Conference, the Dynamo need to put in a strong run of form if they are to try and make it back to the playoffs.

TORONTO (6-5-5) AT KANSAS CITY (4-4-8): Coming off a 1-0 win against Motagua in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round match-up, Toronto could have one eye on Tuesday’s return leg in Honduras as it travels to face the Wizards.

The Reds were denied all three points when they hosted Dallas a week ago, but despite having a six-point lead over Chicago for third place in the Eastern Conference, they need to keep winning due to pressure from clubs like Seattle, who while sixth in the Western Conference trail Toronto by just a point in the race for the playoffs.

Kansas City might have turned a corner in their season, although it’s likely too late to make a playoff run of their own. The Wizards have taken four points from their last two games, including a 1-0 win against Columbus. If Toronto is looking ahead, a tight Wizards defense and speedy attack might make them pay.

D.C. UNITED (3-11-3) AT REAL SALT LAKE (9-4-4): Salt Lake will want to get back to winning ways against lowly United after taking just a point from its last two league games and failing to close the gap on Western Conference leader Los Angeles.

RSL took the lead against Chivas USA a week ago on a brilliant strike by Ned Grabavoy, but quickly gave their advantage back as the Goats left Rio Tinto Stadium with a point. RSL is still undefeated in 19 straight regular season games at home, but will want to be sure of victory against D.C., which has gone 1-5-2 on the road this season.

United had shown some signs of a turnaround with a spell where it went 2-1-3, but consecutive losses to Seattle and Los Angeles, both at home, have seen the side slip back to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

SEATTLE (6-8-4) AT SAN JOSE (6-4-5): Seattle has seen a boost in its form pull it into the playoff race, but should be tested tonight by the Earthquakes, who are 3-1-3 at home this season.

The Sounders earned a solid 2-1 win at home against Colorado last Sunday, and backed that up with a 1-0 victory against Isidro Metapan in the first CONCACAF Champions League game in club history. After moving Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg this week as well, while adding Alvaro Fernandez and Blaise Nkufo, Seattle seems to be more settled than earlier in the season.

San Jose has been one of the pleasant surprises in MLS this year and the Earthquakes almost stole all three points against Los Angeles in their last outing. A win tonight would be a big boost to the Earthquakes playoff hopes, pushing them further up the table, while handing a rival a blow to their chances.

COLUMBUS (10-3-4) AT CHIVAS USA (4-9-3): Top of the East faces bottom of the West, but the Crew will still have to work if they are to take all three points back to Columbus. While the Crew haven’t fared badly on the road this season, going 2-1-4 overall, they haven’t won in the western time zone this season, going 0-1-2.

Chivas has played better of late, defeating Kansas City 2-0 and drawing with Real Salt Lake 1-1 in its last two outings. At the center of that has been Justin Braun, who has six goals in 12 games this season. Buoyed by the additions of Giancarlo Maldonado and Paulo Nagamura, the Goats could give the Crew a tough game tonight.