It was hot. It was painful. It was hard to watch.

The Red Bulls will take it.

Thanks to the heroics of Thierry Henry, the New York Red Bulls turned a mostly pedestrian encounter against the Chicago Fire into an exhilarating victory. The captain’s wonder strike put New York ahead late in the second half and earned the team an inviting three points in unenviable conditions.

For the most part, it was a listless affair with a few moments to keep things interesting. The unbearable heat, which topped 101 degrees at game time, forced both teams to slow to a snails pace for the majority of the match.

The game begged for a moment and it got one. A searching ball from Le Toux and a vintage Henry strike sealed it and the Red Bulls took home the points.

By the way … there was a LOT to learn this afternoon. Let’s give you five quick lessons to chew on …