:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35535212/20140712_ads_sn3_185.JPG.0.jpg)
Scoring Mania
The New York Red Bulls did two things they haven't done much of this year. First off, they scored the first goal, which is a rare occurrence for this team. Bradley Wright-Phillips continued his amazing year with his 15th goal of the year in the 17th minute, putting away an absolute gimme after a cross from Thierry Henry. Second, they scored more than 2 goals in a game, which they had only done twice before this year. The first time was a 4-0 victory at home to the Houston Dynamo on April 23rd, and the second was in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Fire at home on May 10th.
Thierry Henry
90 minutes, 1 goal, 3 assists. That's Henry's stat line from tonight. Henry has had a good year, but mostly as a play maker feeding Wright-Phillips. The goal was his first goal since the April 23 4-0 win over Houston, and is his forth of the year. His two assists bring him to 8 on the year, and put him first on the Red Bulls' all time assist lead with 37 in 107 matches since he joined the Red Bulls after the 2010 World Cup. He was involved in every single goal this game, and it's something you want out of one of your designated players.
Defensive Miscues
The scoreline might read 4-1, but the game was much closer than that because of the defensive performance. The Red Bulls' back line gave the ball away numerous times in the first half, with the worst example of that being youngster Matt Miazga, who couldn't control the ball in the 39th minute, allowing Ethan Finlay to flick the ball onto Adam Bedell, who put the ball away past Luis Robles, who was left out to dry. The goal was Bedell's first in MLS. Petke's halftime talk with MSG's Tina Cervasio indicated how disappointed he was in the defense's performance, promising changes quickly in the second half if things didn't get better. The Red Bulls defense did come out better in the second half, staving off a substitution, and protecting Robles better. However, the defense has yet to put in a solid 90 minute performance all year, that has to change soon.