Sports in brief

SOCCER

Red Bulls tie Vancouver

Luke Rodgers scored in the 34th minute to help the visiting New York Red Bulls tie the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 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. Eric Hassli scored for Vancouver (1-5-6).

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.

AUTO RACING

Kenneth edges Edwards

Matt Kenseth passed Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards with two laps to go and hung on to win the Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kenseth and Edwards exchanged the lead with five laps left in the 300-mile race, but Edwards couldn't counter Kenseth's final pass on the inside. It was a rough Nationwide debut for former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished four laps down in 27th.

HOCKEY

Malhotra cleared to play

Vancouver Canucks center Manny Malhotra has been cleared to play in the Stanley Cup finals which begin Wednesday. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault Vigneault would not say if Malhotra will be in the lineup when the Canucks open the best-of-seven series at home against the Boston Bruins. Malhotra has been sidelined since March 16 when he was hit in the left eye by a puck. He's had several operations since. -- AP