By BRIAN LEWIS
CARSON, Ca. _ The numbers tell the tale of disarray and disappointment. Eleven coaches, 200-plus players, one rebranding and zero championships. Not one. But the Red Bulls are hoping that changes Sunday (3:30 p.m., ABC), when they face Supporter’s Shield-winning Columbus in the MLS Cup final.
With the Crew boasting MLS’ coach (Sigi Schmid) and player (Guillermo Barros Schelotto) of the year, it appears a mismatch. But after sneaking into the playoffs on the last day as the last wild-card, the Red Bulls are convinced their destiny _ and their defense _ can trump Columbus’ dominance.
“March Madness has Cinderellas right? MLS Cup has one, too,” said midfielder Dave van den Bergh, whose last title came with Ajax in 1996 _ the same year the Red Bulls were created as the since-rebranded MetroStars. “It’s been awhile. That’s the time this league got started. I’ve been dry just as long as this franchise has, so it’s about time. We’re due a title.”
Perhaps fortune agrees with van den Bergh. Archrival .C. United hitting the post four times in their regular season-ending 1-0 loss to Columbus squeezed New York into the playoffs, and Red Bull surviving three Real Salt Lake shots that hit the post in last weekend’s Western Conference final put them into Sunday’s MLS Cup.
Of course, they made their own luck with a suddenly-airtight defense. And it hasn’t just been the back four _ although Mexican Diego Jimenez has become a rock in the back, helping fullback Kevin Goldthwaite solidify the left side, and Chris Leitch has been solid at right fullback s well.
They’ve reached Sunday’s final _ their first ever _ by posting the first consecutive road shutouts in the playoffs since 1998. But beyond the offense-defense angle, this game is rife with subplots.
It’s the latest chapter in the rivalry between Schelotto (19 assists) and Red Bull Juan Pablo Angel (14 goals).
The rivalry dates back to Argentina when the former was at Boca Juniors and the latter at River Plate. Back pain limited Angel to just two goals through the first eight games; but after four games off, he scored 14 times in his last 18 games including the playoffs. He’ll play today despite hurting his arm and ribs while colliding with GK Danny Cepero today in practice.
“This is…probably the biggest game of this franchise in the last 13 years. I’m not going to miss it. I’m going to be there fighting with everyone,” said Angel, who’ll get service from wingers van den Bergh and Dane Richards, and try to outwit D Chad Marshall.
The Red Bulls may rely on rookie defensive midfielder Luke Sassano to harass Schelotto and Cepero to continue his red-hot play, and they can draw confidence from being the only league team to have a winning mark against the Supporter’s Shield winners this year, having taken two of three.
But perhaps most of all, they can take solace in luck being on their side.