In a choppy, hard-fought match that featured similar amount of yellow cards to saves, the New York Red Bulls secured their first Eastern Conference regular season title since 2000 by defeating the New England Revolution 2-0. The victory in Harrison, N.J. secures the Red Bulls’ home field advantage throughout the playoffs, as it is now mathematically impossible for the Columbus Crew to catch New York in the table.
Although the Red Bulls were not markedly better than their opponents, the two goals – scored by Dane Richards and Joel Lindpere – illustrated the distinct difference in quality between both sides. While the Revs may have generated more chances, the Red Bulls were clinical with their opportunities, converting the two best that materialized.
