MLS roundup: Henry scores to help Red Bulls paddle the Rapids

HARRISON, N.J. — Thierry Henry is starting to feel like his old self.

Henry scored his second MLS goal, starting the Red Bulls to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in a match tempered by an injury to New York's Rafa Marquez.

"For some reason today, I felt fresh, even before coming into the game," Henry said. "It was the first time I didn't feel tired before the game."

The French forward, who joined the Red Bulls from Barcelona in July, scored his first MLS goal against San Jose on Aug. 28. He put New York ahead in the 17th minute Saturday off an assist from Estonian national team player Joel Lindpere.

"We could definitely see that Thierry could do his runs and repeat them much more than before, so he's definitely getting fresher legs for every game," Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. "So that's a good sign."

Marquez, captain of Mexico's national team, left in the 72nd minute because of an ankle injury

"It's the same injury I think he got in the second international game for Mexico, against Colombia," Backe said. "I haven't talked to him or the trainers. I don't think it's too bad."

New York's lineup has been boosted by the summer acquisitions of Henry and Marquez.

"When you play with a guy like Rafa, it will calm you down," Henry said. "When he came out, we kind of suffered a bit. ... When he's around, it's easier for us to come up from the back."

New York, second to Columbus in the East at 12-8-4 with 40 points, is closing in on a playoff berth after missing the postseason last year. Colorado is fourth in the West at 9-7-7 with 34 points.

FC DALLAS 0, EARTHQUAKES 0: At Santa Clara, Calif.: Kevin Hartman recorded his ninth shutout of the season and FC Dallas extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games. FC Dallas (10-2-11), which hasn't lost since May 20, was never in much danger of falling to the Earthquakes (9-7-6), whose best scoring chance came when Hartman briefly mishandled a long back header from teammate Jair Benitez in the eighth minute.

UNION 1, FIRE 0: At Chester, Pa., Sebastien Le Toux scored his 11th league goal of the season in the 36th minute, helping Philadelphia extend Chicago's winless streak to five. The French-born Le Toux, a 26-year-old midfielder and forward, is third in MLS in goals, trailing Los Angeles' Edson Buddle (13) and New York's Juan Pablo Angel (12). Philadelphia (6-11-6) became the last MLS team with a shutout this year.

DC UNITED 1, TORONTO FC 0: At Toronto, Julius James scored in the 81st minute to help D.C. United deal a blow to his former team's dwindling playoff hopes. Toronto FC (7-10-7), winless in its past six MLS matches, needed a victory to jump back into the chase for a postseason berth. The opportunity was there against a struggling D.C. United team (5-16-3) that has been shut out 14 times this year. However, Toronto came out with an uninspired effort at home.