New York Red Bulls forward and captain Thierry Henry won an unprecedented third-straight MLS Player of the Week Award today, taking home the honors for Week 5 of the MLS season. Henry, the MLS Player of the Month for March, becomes the first player in League history to win three consecutive MLS Player of the Week awards. The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR).
With Henry’s help, New York is currently riding a three-game winning streak and is second in the Eastern Conference with nine points off a 3-2-0 record. The Red Bulls look to continue their run when they host the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday, April 14 at Red Bull Arena at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG, Radio: WLIB 1190 AM). Tickets are available now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
Henry’s most recent accolade comes off a two-goal, one-assist performance in New York’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Frenchman helped start the scoring in the third minute, assisting on the team’s opening goal when he lofted a pass into the penalty box that fellow strike partner Kenny Cooper turned and finished.
The MLS Golden Boot leader tallied his first goal of the match and New York’s third in the opening interval in the 40th minute, running onto a Roy Miller pass and slotting it past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and inside the right post. Henry recorded his seventh goal in three matches and capped a strong New York performance in the 90th minute, controlling and lashing home a Joel Lindpere cross into the back of the net with his right foot. The 4-1 final scoreline ensured that New York became the first team in League history to win three straight matches by a margin of three goals or more.
Henry leads the League with seven goals and is currently second behind Sporting Kansas City’s Graham Zusi in assists with four. The Frenchman and former World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner has had a hand in 11 of New York’s MLS-leading 14 goals scored this year. Last year, Henry led the club and finished third in MLS with 14 goals and was named to the MLS Best XI. Since joining the Red Bulls in July 2010, Henry has played in 42 matches, starting them all, while scoring 23 goals and recording 11 assists overall.
