HOUSTON, TX (July 31, 2010) – Forward Juan Pablo Angel scored twice, while new strike partner Thierry Henry, who made his MLS debut, was the creator of both goals as the New York Red Bulls drew with the Houston Dynamo, 2-2, at Robertson Stadium Saturday night. Angel, who is second in goals scored in MLS with 11, tallied on either side of halftime and Henry recorded his first two league assists. With the tie, the Red Bulls improved to 27 points off an 8-6-3 record and are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Dynamo had the first scoring opportunities of the match in the ninth minute. Midfielder Brad Davis swung a corner kick into the box that fell to Lovel Palmer, whose one-time effort towards the back post was parried away by goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. The rebound fell to Adrian Serioux and he blasted it over the bar.
Angel, Henry and the Red Bulls would make the Dynamo pay for those misses a minute later when they took the lead. Henry gathered the ball near the left corner flag and cut the ball towards the endline before putting it into the six-yard box. Angel controlled it and knocked it past goalkeeper Tally Hall for his 10th goal of the season.
Houston tied the game in the 24th minute. Red Bulls defender Roy Miller was tackled in the midfield, but play continued, as the Dynamo re-gained possession and drove into New York territory. After Red Bulls defender Chris Albright blocked a shot in the box, Carlos Mendes slid in on Joseph Ngwenya and referee Paul Ward pointed to the penalty spot. Davis stepped up and converted the kick, tucking the ball in the low, right-hand corner of the goal.
Henry nearly helped the Red Bulls snatch the lead back in the 30th minute. Macoumba Kandji fired a low cross into the penalty box that Henry re-directed towards the left post. Hall went down to push it away, but Angel gained possession and again found the French forward, who could not put his second attempt on frame.
In a wide open first half, the Dynamo earned its second penalty kick of the interval when Tim Ream clipped Houston forward Brian Ching in the box. Davis stepped up again, but this time rifled it over the crossbar.
On the other end, Henry had a golden opportunity to open his account, running in on goal off an Angel flick-on from a Seth Stammler pass and sliding his shot just past the right post. In the 44th minute, the Red Bulls went a man up as Palmer earned a red card when he came in late on Mendes.
Both teams threatened to score immediately after the break, with Houston’s Danny Cruz hitting it past the right post and Henry later inducing Hall to fist away his strike on goal.
Angel would give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute and again, Henry was the provider. Henry had the ball in Houston’s half and found Angel making a diagonal run into the 18-yard box. The Colombian took a touch and hit a rocket into the back of the net, recording his club-record 12th multi-goal game.
Houston was able to steal a point in the 90th minute, as Brian Mullan leaped over his defender and headed home an Andrew Hainault cross to tie the game.
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