Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid admits the performance of New York Red Bulls Juan Pablo Angel will decide the MLS Cup. "I think they have, in my opinion, one of the premier strikers in this league, if not the premier striker in Juan Pablo Angel," Schmid said of the former Aston Villa forward. "He's a classic center forward. Good in the air, can hold the ball. He's lethal with his finishing. He's certainly an important weapon to have.

". . . But [Angel] is also like a lot of good forwards. Sometimes, they disappear for a little, and that's often when they become the most dangerous."