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Red Bulls-Toronto FC Preview

Aug 20, 2010 - 8:44 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (9-7-4) at Toronto FC (7-7-5), 1:00 p.m. EDT

Getting Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez fit is becoming a priority for the struggling New York Red Bulls. Scoring might be a bigger concern.

The Red Bulls look for just their second win in eight MLS games when they face Toronto FC for the second time in less than two weeks Saturday.

Henry and Marquez are struggling to get game-ready for New York (9-7-4). The duo had a difficult time in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles last Saturday, as Marquez was substituted off in the second half, while Henry suffered strains in both calf muscles.

"That's the kind of thing you have if you don't have good preparation," Henry told the team's official website.

Coach Hans Backe feels Henry and Marquez are making progress, and expects the French forward to be fully fit against Toronto (7-7-5).

"Thierry is ready, perhaps, for 90 minutes again," Backe said. "I think Rafa is close to that."

Having a healthy and fit Henry should be a major boost to the Red Bulls, who have scored only four goals in a 1-2-4 stretch with one tally over the last three games.

"I think it is the most difficult thing to do in (soccer) is to score goals," Backe said. "I do think that, in a way, the balance of our team and our possession has looked rather good."

Henry is still searching for his first goal for New York, but he's collected three assists in four games. He set up Joel Lindpere's tally in a 1-0 win over TFC on Aug. 11.

The Red Bulls are second in the Eastern Conference, six points behind first-place Columbus and five in front of third-place Toronto.

TFC, which has been idle in MLS since last facing New York, will try to narrow the gap in the standings. They're coming off an impressive 2-1 win over Mexico's Cruz Azul in a CONCACAF Champions League match Tuesday.

"We expected a lot out of the game at Red Bull Arena because, had we won, we would've been a lot closer to the second spot," Spanish forward Mista told the team's official website. "I think we deserve to be in second, but we lost that game despite having played well and now we want to reverse the result."

Mista, who joined TFC last month from Deportivo La Coruna of Spain, scored his first goal for Toronto on Tuesday after coming up empty in a limited role in four league games. He started at New York earlier this month, but failed to manage a shot.

Some production from Dwayne De Rosario could also help. The midfielder leads TFC with eight goals, but is in a nine-game drought.