Pre-season 2010: New York Red Bulls 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur – Thierry Henry marks debut with a goal, but second-half strikes from Robbie Keane & Gareth Bale seal win for Spurs

Arsenal legend came back to haunt former rivals in opening half...

23 Jul 2010 08:43:00

By Richard Parry

More On :  New York Red Bulls, Tottenham
Thierry Henry clashes with Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone during NY Red Bulls' 2-1 friendly defeat (Getty Images)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey, USA
Kick-Off 01:36 BST

New York Red Bulls
 1-2
Tottenham Hotspur
Henry 26
Keane 63
Bale 71


Tottenham came from behind to beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the Red Bull Arena, after goals from Robbie Keane and Gareth Bale cancelled out Thierry Henry's debut strike.

Tottenham showed no signs of pre-season fatigue as they came flying out of the traps, with a low drive from Tom Huddlestone forcing a save from Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.

Harry Redknapp chose to deploy a 5-3-1-1 formation, with Alan Hutton and Gareth Bale operating as wing backs, whilst Luka Modric played off of Robbie Keane.

The White Hart Lane outfit looked dangerous on the break, with much of their attacking play focused down the left flank, marauding runs from Gareth Bale in particular causing problems for the hosts.

But it was the Red Bulls who should have taken the lead, with what would have been a fairytale debut for former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, the Frenchman dragged the ball back before attempting to slide it past Carlo Cudicini, but the Spurs ‘keeper made himself big to block the shot.

And as impressive going forward as Spurs were in the opening minutes, the New York side began playing as if they fuelled on Red Bull, with Seth Stammler spurning a golden opportunity.

Then, moments later, Jermaine Jenas wowed the crowd with a moment of magic. Collecting the ball 35 yards from goal, the midfielder caught it on the bounce before lifting it over his opponent, and had it not been for a foul by Tim Ream, who was subsequently cautioned, the Spurs man would have been through on goal.

But it was the home side took the lead on 26 minutes, and it had to be Henry. After some good wing-play on the right by Joel Lindpere, he played the ball low across the box for Henry to slot home in typically calm fashion, to the dismay of the travelling support.

After going behind, Spurs looked to quell New York’s assertiveness, with Modric and Jenas in particular slowling the play down with some intricate passes in the middle of the park.

The visitors continued to attack predominantly down the left, and despite Bale’s high-speed advances, their play became increasingly predictable.

HALF-TIME | New York Red Bulls 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur

At half-time, goalscorer Henry was replaced by the home side, whilst Spurs made two changes: Adel Taarabt on for Vedran Corluka, and Andros Townsend in place of Kyle Naughton, as they  adjusted their formation, with Bale and Huddlestone moving into defence.

And Spurs almost found their equaliser within five minutes of the restart. Good play down the right flank from Hutton, as the Scottish international whipped a cross into the box, where the unmarked Niko Kranjcar attempted a scissor kick, volleying the ball off the turf towards substitute Greg Sutton’s goal, but the ‘keeper was able to parry wide.

After missing an open goal from five yards in the first-half, Stammler hit a left-footed drive from 30 yards which drifted wide of Cudicini’s post; a much better effort.

But Keane should have levelled proceedings on the hour mark. Taarabt split the Red Bulls defence with a cleverly played pass, but with Sutton narrowing the angle, the Republic of Ireland captain hit a tame effort straight at the Canadian stopper.

Nevertheless, the Spurs skipper would get his revenge three minutes later. Townsend whipped in a corner from the right side, and despite jumping above everyone in the box, Sutton fumbled his attempted catch, and the ball fell to Keane to volley home at the back post; 1-1.

And Spurs had turned the match on its head eight minutes later. Capitalising on a tepid header by Jeremy Hall, Bale sped in between the defender and the onrushing Sutton to lift the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and give the visitors the lead.

Then the home side came close to levelling on two occasions with just over ten minutes to go. First of all, Jamaican winger Dane Richards went close, firing a curling drive just wide of the right post after deflecting off of Kyle Walker. And from the resulting corner, Conor Chinn struck Cudicini’s crossbar with a looping header.

But the score remained 2-1, as Spurs recorded their first win of the summer in the United States.

Highlights of New York Red Bulls 1-2 Tottenham

Tottenham: Cudicini; Hutton, Corluka (Taarabt 46), Walker, Naughton (Townsend 46); Kranjcar (Rose 70), Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale; Modric (Mason 75); Keane.
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