• Premier League

Henry scores but tastes rare defeat against Tottenham

Thierry Henry scored on debut for New York Red Bulls but Tottenham came from behind to secure a 2-1 win after the former Arsenal man was substituted in the friendly at Red Bull Arena on Thursday night.

Henry was a regular scourge of Tottenham defences during eight successful years in north London and needed just 25 minutes to make his mark in his highly-anticipated first match for the Major League Soccer team after switching from Barcelona.

Joel Lindpere created the opening for the new arrival with a teasing low cross from the left channel and Henry reacted smartly to steer the ball beyond Carlo Cudicini.

The Frenchman was removed at the interval and with it went the home side's impetus as Harry Redknapp's Spurs got a foothold in the match.

The equaliser arrived on 62 minutes as New York failed to clear their lines from a corner and Robbie Keane had a simple task to tap home at the far post. And 10 minutes later the fightback was complete as Gareth Bale latched onto a weak defensive header to slot the ball home.

Zoltan Gera scored twice but it was not enough as Fulham were held to a 2-2 draw by Swedish side Halmstad.

A strong Fulham side included eight of the 11 who started the Europa League final, and things started well when Gera headed home Simon Davies' cross in the eighth minute. But at the other end, goalkeeper David Stockdale could not handle a shot from Emil Salomonsson, and Joe Sise easily equalised in the 24th minute.

Moments later Sise struck again with a good finish to beat Stockdale and put the hosts ahead. Fulham levelled just before the hour mark when Damien Duff teed up Gera who fired home from 20 yards.

Stoke were held to a goalless draw by League One newcomers Notts County at Meadow Lane. James Beattie was one of the more impressive performers for the Potters in Nottingham, drawing a good save from the Magpies goalkeeper in the second half.

Meanwhile, a largely youthful Stoke line-up won 2-1 at non-league side Nantwich, with 18-year-old striker Louis Moult scoring both goals for the Potters in the first half, slotting in his first from 15 yards and the second a delicate finish from close range from a Ben Marshall cross. The game ended on a high for Nantwich at the Weaver Stadium as Jake Sedgemore curled in a 35-yard free-kick.

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