Henry’s Magical Goal Takes Down the Crew

When you have seen a world class striker perform many times, either on television or in-person, you think you have seen that player do everything.  Then they score an amazing highlight reel goal that makes you scratch your head and you remember their greatness.  Thierry Henry is that player.

In the mid-week early afternoon game against the Chicago Fire on July 18th it was the kiss off the inside of the near post and in after a Sebastien LeToux cross that he settled off his chest. This time it would be inside second half stoppage time that got the 17,000 plus standing in amazement.

To be honest, it’s a little hard to describe it but it was a brilliant goal. In Latin American soccer it is referred to as gol Olimpico as an homage to the first time such a goal was scored.  Red Bulls earned a corner and the ball was placed at the far side. Matt Lampson - who had come in for an injured Andy Gruenebaum - was cheating off his line and Henry saw it. It was a hard turn and shot that floated towards the inside of the near post and softly banks it inside the net.

This is one of those amazing games when you can’t believe what you have just seen from a man who is never afraid to try anything and pulls off another miracle goal that finds a way to go in. And such creativity was needed as the Red Bulls went down early from a goal in the third minute from Milovan Mirosevic.  Rafa Marquez, making his return from the calf injury, sent a long ball from a few yards off the midfield stripe towards Henry in the ninth minute.  Henry stayed onside as he settled the ball and quickly scored past Andy Gruenebaum to level the score.

All match long both sides were trading blows and you had a feeling the next goal was going to come from someone during a set piece. The Red Bulls earned a corner at the near side of the field in the 79th minute and the home team’s captain delivered a solid cross to the Columbus area.

Dax McCarty got into a good position within the scrum and found a way to head the ball softly inside the far post and high enough to avoid Gruenebaum’s gloves to get the go-ahead goal. The Red Bulls would take the full three points once again, but there was some concern for the starting Crew keeper.

Just as Grunenbaum made a dive and stretching attempt for the save, sadly he hits his head inside the far post and was down for a good while. On the monitor Gruenebaum looked to have been cut along the left side of his face near his forehead and was subbed out by backup keeper Lampson in the 85th minute. Thankfully for Gruenebaum he was able to walk off with some help from the medical trainer.

What we saw was a well fought match as both sides gave their all on the field. For the Red Bulls they are now two points behind the Eastern Conference top dogs in Sporting Kansas City, who conveniently will make their appearance this Wednesday night at Red Bull arena.