MLS Cup Playoffs 2014: Bradley Wright-Phillips Helps Red Bulls Defeat The Champs 2-1 [VIDEO]

World Cup champion and French superstar, Thierry Henry, did not have to say goodbye to New York on this night. Led by the 37-year-old superstar and MLS leading goal scorer, Bradley Wright-Phillips, the New York Red Bulls scored two goals in the second half to defeat the defending MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Thursday night.

Wright-Phillips excelled under pressure as he scored two goals in the final 13 minutes of the match, giving the Red Bulls an improbable come from behind victory. With the win, the Red Bulls ended a longstanding home playoff winless streak and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals against D.C. United.

Sporting KC’s star, Dom Dwyer, got the scoring started in the second half when he received a beautiful pass by Benny Feilhaber after a Red Bulls turnover. Dwyer shot and scored right from the center of the box to give the holders a 1-0 lead. The Red Bulls answered with the equalizer in the 77^th minute, thanks to the ageless one, Henry. Henry took a pass from Peguy Luyindula down the left hand side and sent a spectacular pass through the defender’s legs and directly to BWP (Bradley Wright-Phillips) who shot off defender Matt Besler’s leg and inside the far post.

It was again BWP who won the game for New York in remarkable fashion in the final minute. Ambroise Oyongo sent a high-arcing lofty cross from the right corner of the pitch and towards the front of the net. The Sporting KC defenders were confused on where the ball was, even Kansas City keeper Eric Kronberg was confused on the play as he stayed in net instead of coming off his line to intercept the pass. Thankfully for New York, the ball landed right onto the head of BWP who sent it to the left post and passed Kronberg for the game winning goal.

Before the game, it was rumored that if New York had lost, than Henry would retire. Henry is arguably the best foreign player to suit up for the MLS since David Beckham, and is quite possibly the most decorated player in the league. Henry came to the MLS in 2010, and brought with him a World Cup championship, a European championship, and league titles in France, Spain and England. He was also runner up for the FIFA Balloon d’Or twice.

Henry is in the final year of his contract with the Red Bulls and most believe that this season will be his last playing professional soccer. Despite the rumors, Henry has yet to publicly address his retirement. Even New York’s manager, Mike Petke, seemed upset when asked if Henry would retire before the match.

“Do I have to get it tattooed on my head? I have no clue what Theirry Henry’s going to do,” he told the media before the match. “I said it enough already. Theirry, I think, could play two more years.”

If Henry does retire, it will be after he plays at least two more games with the Red Bulls as they play two games against D.C. United, one at home and one on the road to decide who is going on to the Eastern Conference finals.

“If it was up to me, I’d keep him playing until when I retire,” said his teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips. “Obviously, he’s our man. It will be up to him at the end of the day.”