A smoking start by the Red Bulls in their home opener against the Colorado Rapids as they scored two goals within the first five minutes! Thierry Henry took full advantage of a defensive lapse to finish impeccably and then set up Kenny Cooper’s goal with a perfect outlet. Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were in the house to see their former team mate rock n’ roll.
Henry added another beating the Rapids’s offside trap as he latched onto Wilman Conde’s lofted ball on the run and then turned his body around to curl the ball into an empty net with the inside of his right foot. The rout was complete as Cooper matched Henry’s tally guiding the ball into goal from a Roy Miller cutback on the touchline. In the waning last seconds Henry could have scored a hat trick but Matt Pickens just about saved his shot.
For the Red Bulls, Wilman Conde was back and his forceful presence bolstered the shaky defense which got caught out against FC Dallas and RSL on the road. Rafa Marquez made the one mistake getting stripped of the ball leading to the Rapids scoring a stunning consolation goal from Omar Cummings.
The Rapids are owned by Stan Kroenke, who is the majority owner of Arsenal, Thierry Henry’s former club. This match was a good one for celebrity sighting with Spike Lee, Steve Nash, Eric Cantona, Neymar, Tony Parker, Kate Upton, Lindsey Vonn, Reggie Bush, and many others attending.