Thierry Henry says New York Red Bulls' 3-3 draw with Portland Timbers on Sunday was caused by a poor preparation for the contest.
The Red Bulls were set to take a commercial flight to Portland on Friday but a mechanical fault, which had the team waiting for three hours, forced them to fly on Saturday which interrupted their training plans prior to meeting with the Timbers at JELD-WEN Field.
New York had a two-goal lead at half-time after Fabian Espindola scored twice in the first half but Portland dominated the second 45 minutes to force a draw in the 2013 MLS season opener which left Henry to rue what might have been.
"What is frustrating is the way we came here. We didn't prepare anything because we were at the airport on Friday, on Saturday, too, trying to come here," said Henry.
"We did eventually; but we didn't prepare the game how we should've prepared the game. And you could see the last 30 minutes: Everyone ran out of steam.
"Let's be honest. We scored on two mistakes from their part and they had the whole ball the whole second half and they were pushing and playing really well.
"We didn't prepare it the way - not our fault, obviously - the way you should prepare a game. But that's the way the league is, and you have to come here and perform. We did match Portland for an hour; but then in the last 30 minutes they took over, and we ran out of steam. They took control of the game and scored two."
