Red Bulls stunned by MLS exit

9 November 2012 17:14

New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry has spoken of his frustration after his side bowed out of the MLS Cup at the hands of DC United.

Hans Backe's men were beaten 1-0 in the second leg of their MLS Eastern Conference play-off semi-final on Thursday, which saw United advance 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the opening leg on Saturday.

New York had the bulk of possession and had a re-taken penalty saved in a controversial game that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

But a late goal from DC forward Nicholas DeLeon saw the away side progress through to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004.

"It's weird because we had a good game today, and losing the way we did was cruel," Henry said.

"Again we have to give DC credit, we didn't play so that we missed a lot of opportunities and not win and I think they played well to."

The Frenchman lamented the team's failure to make the most of their chances at Red Bull Park.

"Passing the ball around well, creating chances and not putting the ball in the back of the net," Henry said.

"When you play a game like that sometimes you are going to be exposed for the rest of the game, and they scored right before the end of the game."

Teammate Rafael Marquez echoed Henry's comments, highlighting New York's inability in front of goal.

"It's very bad, I feel sad about that because for myself I don't think I had a good season," he said. "So tonight I think we did a good performance, and we had a lot of chances.

"I think we were better than DC tonight, but you need to score to do your best and tonight we were unlucky."

Australian international Tim Cahill, who joined the Red Bulls earlier in the season, was lost for words following the heartbreaking defeat.

"I'm gobsmacked. Football throws up some difficult emotions, and today there are a lot of emotional players, and it can only make some of us stronger," the former Everton man said.

"We have to just look back over the game, we obviously could have won and we know it, that's probably why it hurts so much."

MLS wrap: DC, Seattle into Conference finals

9 November 2012 06:54

DC United and Seattle Sounders both recorded 1-0 victories on Thursday night to advance to the MLS Conference finals.

Nick DeLeon scored in the 88th minute to lead United to a plucky 1-0 victory over New York Red Bulls, giving them a 2-1 aggregate win in the two-leg semi-final series.

A dominant but wasteful New York enjoyed the majority of possession for most of the tense clash at Red Bull Arena.

And the odds were further stacked against DC United when their starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid was sent off in the 69th minute after bringing down Kenny Cooper in the penalty area.

Backup goalkeeper Joe Willis was brought into the action, and Cooper stepped up to take the penalty.

He converted the shot but the goal was called off for encroachment after team-mate Thierry Henry entered the box before Cooper took the shot.

Cooper took the penalty a second time only to have Willis pull off a brilliant save.

Sensing their luck had changed for the better, United lifted.

In the 88th minute, late inclusion Robbie Russell set up DeLeon on the right side of the penalty area and the youngster swiftly put the ball past stunned Red Bulls shot-stopper Luis Robles.

The win puts DC into the Eastern Conference final, where they will play Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Mario Martinez scored with nine minutes remaining as Seattle Sounders beat Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium to win their Western Conference semi-final 1-0 on aggregate.

Sounders advanced to the conference final for the first time and will visit the defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday for the right to advance to MLS Cup 2012.

Henry: Make or break for Red Bulls

7 November 2012 20:40

French striker Thierry Henry says Wednesday's play-off second leg against DC United will make or break the New York Red Bulls' season.

The 35-year-old's side battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the sides' Eastern Conference semi-final but Henry said the Red Bulls would need to produce substantially better football to be any chance of taking home a maiden MLS Cup this season.

"For me, for everyone, when you enter a competition you want to win it. There's only one winner, one team satisfied at the end of the season," Henry said.

"We've been quite strong at home this season, but this is the play-offs.

"They (DC United) showed us that as we knew that they were a good team so we'll see what we can do to them tomorrow. We have to win, they have to win, so we'll what happens."

Two own goals drew the sides level in the second leg handing the incentive straight back to New York ahead of their rescheduled home leg due to Hurricane Sandy.

"Well it was a cup game, and I think we were quite lucky to go home with a 1-1 draw," he said.

"Having said that, we missed a penalty and who knows what would have happened if he'd scored.

"But we still came back with a draw. But I think to be fair DC played well and we're going to have to step it up."

Whoever wins will face either the Houston Dynamo or Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Championship Final.