MLS: DC United 0 New York Red Bulls 4

The New York Red Bulls leapt to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference after thrashing DC United 4-0 on Thursday.

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry scored a first-half double for the Red Bulls as they took control of the match in the early stages, before late goals to Joel Lindpere and Juan Agudelo completed the rout at the Robert F Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington.

The three points move New York ahead of Philadelphia at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, although they still trail overall leaders Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy by one point.

Henry opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a close-range header, and doubled New York’s advantage when he bundled his second goal home eight minutes before half time.

DC were not without chances of their own, with the Red Bulls thankful to goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and the woodwork for denying Branko Boskovic on several occasions.

But any thoughts of a comeback from DC United were dashed when Lindpere struck in the 76th minute, before teenager Agudelo put the icing on the cake with a spectacular effort in injury.

The Colombian-born striker received a low cross from Jan Gunnar Solli on the right, before chipping the ball up to himself and firing an acrobatic volley past DC goalkeeper Bill Hamid to send the visiting fans wild.