Rodgers gets point for Red Bulls

Published May. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Luke Rodgers scored in the 34th minute to help the New York Red Bulls tie the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 on Saturday in front of a capacity crowd of 21,000.

The Red Bulls (4-2-6) earned the point despite missing key stars, including French striker Thierry Henry, who were injured or away with national teams. However, their winless skid stretched to five games.

Henry, MLS' second-leading scorer with six goals, has a knee injury, while defender Rafa Marquez (Mexico) and midfielder Dane Richards (Jamaica) have already joined their national sides for the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy couldn't leave the U.S. because of visa issues.

''We're missing a lot of players, the guys that definitely can make a difference,'' New York coach Hans Backe said. ''That's why we also have to be pretty satisfied to pick up points on the road. We could have lost it. We could have won it.''

Eric Hassli scored for Vancouver (1-5-6). The Whitecaps are winless in 11 games.

''We're very frustrated and angry now,'' Hassli said through a French interpreter.

Hassli scored on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, beating goalkeeper Greg Sutton with a low shot to the right corner. The goal was Hassli's fourth of the MLS season.

''I'm again quite disappointed, because I feel that we should have managed to take three points in the game,'' Whitecaps coach Thordarson said. ''I think we played a good first half, not as good in the second, but still not bad. I thought that we had control of the game all the way through.''

Rodgers tied it, putting home Jan Gunnar Solli's through ball from inside the 18-yard box. As four defenders failed to mark him, Rodgers ran onto the pass and one-timed it past helpless goalkeeper Jay Nolly.