CARSON, Calif. -- Kevin Goldthwaite would like to publicly thank the Columbus Crew for helping his New York Red Bulls into the playoffs. But don't expect any return charity from the New York Red Bulls come the MLS Cup Final on Sunday.
"They definitely played a big part by beating D.C. at their place to get us into the playoffs," the defender said. "Here we are getting through the West and seeing them in the final. Maybe we should tip our hat to Columbus for getting us in earlier, but now there's no friends, no favors in the playoffs."
The Red Bulls controlled their own destiny heading into their regular-season finale at Toyota Park on Oct. 23. But after a 5-2 drubbing by the Fire, New York needed help from the Crew on the final day of the regular season.
That came in dramatic fashion, with Columbus defeating D.C. United 1-0 three days later. Juan Pablo Angel, though, thinks too much is being made of their path to the postseason.
"The fact that we played on Thursday and the result was already on the table and they played three or four days later made everything huge," he said. "But if we would have played on the same day at the same time it wouldn't be much of a crazy story."
As far as thanking the Crew for the invite, Angel said he has a good idea.
"We would like to beat them," he said. "That would be the best way to thank them."
Rolling down the river: Angel also isn't making too much out of the individual matchup between himself and Guillermo Barros Schelotto of the Columbus Crew. Sure they met numerous times in the SuperClasico in Argentina -- Angel for River Plate and Schelotto for Boca Juniors -- but that was in a different time, in a different part of the world.
"Life put us in different paths," Angel said. "We have a number of games we played for River and Boca and everyone knows what it means in the football world. It is probably the biggest derby in the world and I was fortunate enough to play in a few of them. Guillermo was on the other side."
Richards back from Jamaica: Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards might not be able to get the jerk chicken he likes out in Los Angeles, but he does like the weather.
"I'm just coming from Jamaica and the weather is the same," Richards said. "I'm loving it."
Richards was back in his home country earlier this week and played in Jamaica's 3-0 win over Canada on Wednesday night. Jamaica missed out on a spot in CONCACAF's final qualifying hexagonal on goal differential despite Honduras' win against Mexico.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get any help from the Mexicans," Richards said. "Right now, we have to put that in the past. In Jamaica, they are getting ready for the Digicel Cup on Dec. 1 and the Gold Cup."
That match won't hurt Richards on Sunday after he came on as a late second-half substitute. After training on Friday, he declared himself fit and ready to go for Sunday's MLS Cup Final.
"It's easy to do," Richards said. "Fortunately, I didn't play a lot in Jamaica so I am fresh. I'm ready to play on Sunday."
Ready to prove doubters wrong: Few people expected the Red Bulls to make it to Carson after New York spent most of the season struggling and entered the postseason as heavy underdogs.
Richards kept the faith even when the skeptics poked fun at him when he said his side would make it to the game.
"I said I was coming to L.A. and they asked where was I gonna sit," Richards said.
Those doubters have faded away now that the Red Bulls have reached the final. Richards hopes he can continue to prove those doubters wrong by lifting the trophy on Sunday.
"I'm loving it right now," Richards said. "I'm going to play on that field. I'm going to go back and say you can see me in the middle of the field. Hopefully, I'll be there with the Cup."
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