[MLS] New York set the stage for its showdown against the Galaxy by beating Toronto FC, 1-0, with a Joel Linpere goal midway through the first half Wednesday at Red Bull Arena.

Thierry Henry started the scoring sequence in the 22nd minute by freezing a few defenders and playing a ball Seth Stammler relayed to Lindpere, who got control under a challenge and fired a shot past TFC keeper Stefan Frei.

Lindpere hadn’t scored since netting on his MLS debut March 27 in the season opener against Chicago.

Red Bulls keeper Greg Sutton blanked his former team in his first start of the season.

The victory ended a five-game winless streak for the Red Bulls and raised their record to 9-6-4, good for 31 points and second in the Eastern Conference.

They were missing Rafael Marquez, Roy Miller, Dane Richards and Bouna Coundoul to international duty. TFC is in third place at 7-7-5 (26 points).

New York hosts the Galaxy, holder of the league’s best record at 12-3-4 (40 points), on Saturday at Red Bull Arena. The game sold out last week and will be the Red Bulls third game since Sunday, when they tied Chicago, 0-0.