Union fall to Thierry Henry and Red Bulls, 2-1

HARRISON, N.J. - For just a few moments, it seemed that the Union had finally conquered Red Bull Arena, its perennial house of horrors. Conor Casey had scored his first goal for the team, and it seemed Philadelphia might finally get a result in a stadium where it had lost on every previous trip.

But the celebrations among the many Union fans who traveled north didn't last long. Thierry Henry lived up to his billing as the Red Bulls' biggest star, coming on as a substitute to score the decisive goal in a 2-1 Union loss.

"We didn't execute the way we're capable of at all, and that's a little frustrating," Union manager John Hackworth said. "We lacked that final pass, that final dribble, that final shot."

After a scoreless and lifeless first half, New York (1-2-2, 5 points) got the opening goal in the 55th minute.

Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath dived to punch out a corner kick, and the ball landed at the foot of New York midfielder Jonny Steele. He played a give-and-go with Juninho, then swung a cross into the 18-yard box. Dax McCarty emerged from a crowd to flick the ball past MacMath with the outside of his right foot.

Just eight minutes later, the Union (2-2-0, 6 points) tied the game with a textbook set piece goal. Sheanon Williams launched a long throw-in from the right sideline, and substitute Conor Casey leapt to slam the header home.

Casey was one of the Union's marquee offseason acquisitions. Injury issues limited him to just six minutes on the field before coming on as a substitute Saturday, and he looked the part of a target forward.

"It's good to get a couple of hits and knocks, and know that it's not an issue," he said.

Both teams pushed hard for a winning goal after that. New York almost got one in spectacular fashion in the 76th minute, when Henry sent a bicycle kick just wide of the net.

Henry got another good look at goal in the 81st minute, and this time he didn't miss. After fellow Frenchman Péguy Luyindula floated a pass in from the left wing, Henry turned past defender Amobi Okugo and deftly slotted the ball past MacMath.

"One slip-up, one mistake and [Henry] pounces – that's what he's known for," Okugo said.

The 22-year-old Okugo acknowledged that Henry "was one of my idols growing up." It's a common sentiment for young players in MLS who watched Henry star at Arsenal and Barcelona before moving to New York.

Henry has been limited recently by recovery from a sprained medial collateral ligament. But he showed plenty of skill in his time on the field Saturday, and played a big role in delivering New York's first win of the season.

The Union had a chance to tie the game again in second-half stoppage time. But a shot into the net by Antoine Hoppenot was waved off, as Casey had collided with Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles a moment earlier.