MLS: New York 2 New England 1

The New York Red Bulls moved top of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference after a 2-1 win over New England on Friday.

The victory in front of their home crowd at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey ended a six-game winless run for New York and helped them move above Philadelphia Union in the standings.

For the fourth time in five games, New York conceded a penalty, but goalkeeper Greg Sutton saved Shalrie Joseph’s first-half spot kick.

The Red Bulls made their visitors pay for the miss by opening the scoring in the 37th minute, when Revolution defender Ryan Cochrane put the ball into his own net after a cross from Thierry Henry.

French forward Henry doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half as he fired a low shot past New England goalkeeper Matt Reis.

Zak Boggs pulled a goal back for the Revolution as he struck a first-time shot past Sutton, following a cross from Chris Tierney in the 54th minute.

The visitors should have equalised on 72 minutes when winger Sainey Nyassi swooped on a poor back bass from Jan Gunnar Solli, but he put his chance wide.

It was a fourth-straight loss for New England, who sit sixth in the conference.