The New York Red Bulls kept up their push for the MLS playoffs with a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference.
New York started the brighter and did not have to wait long for the lead as Bradley Wright-Phillips dispatched an 11th-minute penalty for his 21st goal of the season.
The hosts carried on in the same vein and should have doubled their advantage eight minutes later, with Thierry Henry finding Lloyd Sam, who fired narrowly wide.
Mike Petke's side were unrelenting in their bid to add a second, with Henry this time guilty of spurning a good opportunity.
The Frenchman latched on to Dax McCarty's ball over the top, but the former Arsenal forward rolled his effort just past Andy Gruenebaum's post.
In the second half, the Red Bulls did double their advantage when Henry collected Sam's pass and found space to fire a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Kansas City got themselves back into the game immediately as Seth Sinovic headed Graham Zusi's free kick into the path of Dominic Dwyer, who volleyed home from close range.
The home side almost regained their two-goal cushion in the 74th minute when Henry lifted a cross into the area and a Sinovic header almost found its way into the net, as he lobbed Gruenebaum but the ball went wide.
Sporting made one last push at the Red Bulls goal late in the game, but could not find the breakthrough as the home side managed to hold out for the three points.
Shane Callaghan
