The New York Red Bulls won their 2012 MLS home opener, 4-1, over the Colorado Rapids on Sunday at Red Bull Arena.
New York struck early in the match. Thierry Henry scored just three minutes in when he intercepted a lazy back pass and caught the Rapids' last defender Drew Moor out of position. Henry then beat Colorado keeper Matt Pickens. Just three minutes later, Henry set up Kenny Cooper for a goal. Cooper first beat a sliding Moor before his bad angle shot got by Pickens.
The Red Bulls needed a little more time to score in the second half than they did in the first half, but it was Henry again in the 53rd minute. Wilman Conde sent Henry by the defense and he didn't make a mistake when he struck the ball past Pickens again.
Omar Cummings scored Colorado's only goal after Rafa Marquez turned the ball over at midfield. The Jamaican international took a long shot from outside the area that curled in past Ryan Meara in the 77th minute. The Red Bulls back line lost their shape a bit after the Cummings goal but did not concede any more goals as a result. Meara played a solid game overall and finished with four saves for New York.
In the dying minutes of the game, New York was still pushing forward and got themselves a fourth goal. Kenny Cooper scored his second goal of the match right in front of Perkins in the area after fighting off the defenders to put his foot to Roy Miller's pass.
The win was the first of the season for New York after starting off their 2012 campaign with two losses.
The Red Bulls next match is on March 31 at Red Bulla Arena against expansion side Montreal Impact.
For more on the Red Bulls 2012 season, stay tuned to our StoryStream. See SB Nation's Once A Metro for more discussion of the Red Bulls.