CARSON, California (CMC)

Jamaican Dane Richards is lamenting New York's US Major League Soccer (MLS) defeat after his impressive showing failed to prevent them from losing to the Columbus Crew in Sunday's final.

Richards superbly set up an equalizing goal for the New York Red Bulls early in the second half but Columbus surged to a 3-1 win at The Home Depot Centre to cop the MLS Cup for the first time.

"Right now, I'm sad," Richards told reporters shortly after the game.

"I wish I was holding the Cup," added the 24-year-old, dejected after New York's performance slumped from a dazzling first half to a painful loss.

"Whenever you reach the furthest you can in the playoffs, it's always good (but) right now we are really upset. This just raised the bar for next year, and next year we are going to go all the way," he added.

It was his second major disappointment in five days, after Jamaica's Reggae Boyz failed to qualify for the last phase of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in spite of a 3-0 win over Canada at the National Stadium in Kingston last Wednesday, when he made a second-half appearance.

A striking move by Richards in the 51st minute drew New York level at 1-1. Darting inside with the ball from the right flank, Richards used pace and skill to adeptly slip past three defenders before delivering a clinical through pass into the box, perfectly weighted for John Wolyniec to poke a close-range shot past William Hesmer.

Richards had been voted MLS Cup Playoffs Player of the Week earlier in the month after he scored a goal, recorded an assist and set up the penalty kick that propelled the Red Bulls to an upset 3-0 win over two-time defending champions Houston Dynamo.

Standing only 5-feet-5-inches tall, Richards highlighted New York's rallying bid and his 63rd minute close-range shot was well-saved by Hesmer. Six minutes later, Richards drew a foul from Gino Padula that earned the Crew defender a yellow card.