HARRISON, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls improved to 31 points, a 9-6-4 record and maintained their second place standing in the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in front of 19,035 spectators Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena. Joel Lindpere scored the lone goal for New York off assists from Seth Stammler and Thierry Henry, who made his Red Bulls MLS home debut.
Toronto FC had an opportunity to take the lead in the eighth minute. Dwayne De Rosario slipped a ball behind the New York defense for Jacob Peterson, who looked through on goal, but Red Bulls defender Danleigh Borman caught up to Peterson and was able to block his attempt on net.
The Red Bulls took the lead in the 22nd minute. Henry did well to keep the ball away from the Toronto defense and slipped a pass at the top of the box to Stammler. Stammler took a turn and chipped it behind the defense, where Lindpere one-timed the ball past a sliding Stefan Frei into the far side netting. It was Lindpere’s second goal of the season.
New York could have doubled its lead in the 40th minute, but Stammler’s delivery across the six yard box for Henry was a bit too heavy and sailed across the goalmouth. The Red Bulls defense again denied a Toronto chance, when De Rosario’s shot from inside the box was blocked by a sliding Carlos Mendes.
New York again nearly increased their lead in the 75th minute. Chris Albright sent a cross from the right side of midfield to the far post and Juan Pablo Angel headed the ball just wide of Frei’s net. Toronto almost equalized six minutes from time, as Mista set up O’Brian White, whose shot from inside the box sailed over the net.
The Red Bulls are back in action on Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Galax at 6 p.m. (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, FSE; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM). The match is sold out.
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