Thierry Henry Lights Up New York in MLS Debut

• July
• 23

1:18 pm MLS, Soccer

From very early on in the international friendly Thursday night between the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and Tottenham of the English Premier League, one player clearly stood out. You would think that the player would be sporting a Spurs kit considering Tottenham play in one of the best world football leagues in the world, and the Red Bulls are a average team in America’s 14-year-old professional league. However, it was the Red Bulls’ newest signing, Thierry Henry, that looked to be the man of the match in the 45 minutes he played inside Red Bulls Arena. Henry showed a crowd of 20,000+ fans at Red Bull Arena why at one time he was considered the best striker in the world. The famous Frenchmen created a number of chances for himself in the first half of New York’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham, and scored his first professional goal in America. The five-time French player of the Year displayed his ability to anticipate the game faster than anyone on the field, culminating in a brilliant flick-on goal off a Joe Lindpere cross in the 22nd minute. Henry in the end may turn out to be a bigger success story for MLS  than one David Beckham. Beckham has spent the better part of his time in America either hurt or on loan in Europe, while Henry is healthy and unlikely to look for any loan deals in the off season. Henry’s debut in New York clearly indicated that the star still has a lot of gas in the tank, and could tear MLS opponents to pieces this season.