Red Bulls gored by injury bug
The New York Red Bulls will be without two of their star players when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
Rafa Marquez and world renowned striker Thierry Henry will miss Wednesday’s match against the surging Whitecaps at BC Place Stadium because of injury.
Henry, the French international who is not only a veteran of prominent soccer clubs Barcelona FC, Arsenal and Juventus, but France’s all- time leading scorer, is recovering from a calf injury he suffered while training during the MLS international break last month.
Henry and Marquez did not play for the Red Bulls in their 3- 1 loss Sunday against the Chicago Fire, but did travel with the team. Both players have Designated Player status, however both have spent considerable amount of time on the sidelines in 2012.
Henry missed four games earlier this season because of a hamstring injury, while Marquez has been put out of action with injuries and suspensions, including a three- game banishment for kicking a member of the San Jose Earthquakes on April 14.
This isn’t the first time Henry has been unavailable for action when the Red Bulls come to Vancouver. He missed last year’s highly anticipated May 28 match at Empire Field with a swollen right knee.
It may be disappointing for local fans who planned to see Henry, however the Whitecaps, winners of their last two games and now the third seed in the MLS Western Conference, probably don’t mind as much.
“I don’t know if it takes away … but it definitely gives us an advantage,” said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit after Saturday’s 1- 0 win over the Colorado Rapids. “Any time an opponent is missing one of their best guys, we have to take advantage of that.
“To have him not come here is a good thing for us in a way that we can exploit that and hopefully keep them working for their points and their goals.”
This latest development isn’t the first time a star attraction has been unavailable to play against the Whitecaps in Vancouver.
L. A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham received a one- game suspension last July after amassing eight yellow cards.
He served the ban on July 30, when the Galaxy defeated the Whitecaps 4- 0 at Empire Field.