Ten Best: Thierry Henry games
December 3, 2014
So many games, so many goals, so many assists, so many memories. So hard to choose...
10) September 14, 2013: New York 2, Toronto 0
Why do we start with a game against a pathetic team, in which Henry did score, but on a simple tap-in? Because it gave us Henrying, perhaps the most Titi moment of them all.
9) April 7, 2012: Columbus 1, New York 4
The game was over soon after the opening whistle. By the 8th minute, Kenny Cooper scored twice, once set up by Henry. Titi then added another, but what we remember most is happened late. Pissed off that Metro lost a shutout, ticked-off Henry willed the ball into the net in the dying seconds.
8) July 12, 2014: New York 4, Columbus 1
A vintage Titi performance during his last season. One goal, three assists, to break the team's all-time league record with 37 (he would extend it to 42, 49 in all competitions). He second helper, to Lloyd Sam, happened after Henry nodded the ball to himself prior to the pass.
7) May 8, 2013: New York 2, Montreal 1
Oh, did Titi love playing against the French Canadians. We could have easily included the 2014 two-goal, assist triumph as well. Here, he also scored twice, but the latter, a marvelous game-winning bicycle kick, will go down as one of the most spectacular goals in team history.
6) April 21, 2011: DC United 0, New York 4
To beat the Scum is one thing. To beat the Scum 4:0 in their own house is another. Remember, Henry started out the season on a down note, and many (including us!) were questioning his commitment and value. After he scored in a home win in San Jose, came this match in DC, where Henry exploded with two goals and assist. Titi scored the first two, both from feeds by Jan Gunnar Solli.
5) September 29, 2012: New York 4, Toronto 1
Titi set up Metro's first free goals: the first to the head of S. Markus Holgersson, the second with a no-look pass to Cooper, the third once again to Cooper, this time after juggling it. He then capped the game with a sublime long curve from way outside the box.
4) September 15, 2012: New York 3, Columbus 1
Henry scored the first, set-up Dax McCarty off a corner for the second, but what we will remember most is the third. Titi scored an Olympic goal -- directly off a corner kick, magically curling the ball into the net past the helpless Crew keeper.
3) November 2, 2014: New York 2, DC United 0
No goals in this game, just two assists. Two brilliant assists: the first, perfectly placing the ball to Bradley Wright-Phillips, the second, lofting it to Peguy Luyindula. Most importantly, they came in the playoffs. A week later, Henry added another assist, once again to Luyindula, as Metro ended the Scum's season for the first time in team history.
2) March 31, 2012: New York 5, Montreal 2
Of course, there was the hat-trick, the only one of his Metro career. The first came on a header. On the second, Henry received the ball in the box, spun around, and scored. The historic tally came on a rebound from a long Cooper shot. And then there was an amazing backheel pass to Mehdi Ballouchy (Mehdi Ballouchy!) that ended in the goal.
1) October 27, 2013: New York 5, Chicago 2
Just a goal... but what a goal. Set up by Luyindula, a magnificent rocket from outside the box that tied the game at ones and set up a ferocious second half that gave Metro its first trophy, the Supporters Shield. "18 years! 18 years!" The best of those (now 19) years were the four and a half we spent with you, Thierry.
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