We are at halftime here at RFK Stadium, and so far D.C. United have simply been unable to cope with Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls. The star French striker has scored the only two goals of the first half as the Red Bulls have a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes.
Henry's first goal came in the 12th minute, as he somehow managed to ghost into the United penalty area and earn himself a free header, which he duly converted off an excellent cross from Jan Gunnar Solli. United coach Ben Olsen will no doubt ask questions, however, as to exactly how Marc Burch allowed the defenseman Solli to have so much space down the right side.
Just when it appeared that D.C. United would be able to get to halftime down just 1-0, Henry took advantage of a disastrous mix-up in the home defense to put New York 2-0 up in the 38th minute. Dane Richards dropped a ball into the penalty area for Solli, who simply outmuscled the unfortunate Burch for the ball and nudged it toward Bill Hamid's net. Ever the poacher, Henry screamed into the area and banged the loose ball into the net to double United's trouble.