There was a time when squaring off for a title was a semi-annual occurrence for New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel and Columbus Crew attacker Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
During the late 1990's and early part of this decade, the two players waged some epic battles while playing in Argentina -- Angel for River Plate and Schelotto for arch-rival Boca Juniors. Now, after an eight-year hiatus, the two are vying for a title once again when the Red Bulls and the Crew square off in this Sunday's MLS Cup Final.
That Angel and Schelotto should find themselves facing one another is as unexpected as it is intriguing, and not just because the upstart Red Bulls have crashed the championship party after an indifferent regular season. Prior to joining Columbus in 2007, Schelotto had spent his entire career playing in Argentina, spending 10 years with Boca. Angel's journey has been a bit more nomadic, having begun playing in his native Colombia with Nacional Medellin, before moving to River Plate, then Aston Villa in England and finally landing in New York last season.
"Life put us in different paths," said Angel of his long-time rival. "We had a number of games when we played for River and Boca. ... But right now, he's with Columbus and I'm with New York, and I'm sure he's looking to finish up the season the way he started."
The contrasts don't end there. While each player has become the attacking lynchpin of his side in MLS, they've done so in markedly different ways. Angel is the league's consummate finisher, and his 33 goals over the last two regular seasons are more than any other player in MLS. And the Colombian has been as efficient as he has been lethal.
"[Angel] scores in all ways and everywhere," said midfielder Dave van den Bergh, who has been one of Angel's prime suppliers. "I know that if I get three crosses in, he'll get on the end of two of them."
But while Angel has gotten the goals, Schelotto has helped his side by setting them up. His 30 assists during his two years in Columbus are also the most in MLS, with his delivery on set pieces especially telling, although his skill in the run of play is also a danger.
"[Schelotto] has a good set of tools to be effective in tight areas," said New York head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "He can turn, he can pass, he can play one-touch. He can control the ball very well."
Schelotto's ability to pop up in unexpected places adds an element of unpredictability to his game as well, although Osorio feels he has sussed out the Argentinean's tendencies.
"He has a preference," said Osorio about where Schelotto likes to drift. "We are aware of that."
History has shown that the success of foreign players in MLS is far from guaranteed, with some treating their time in the league like a vacation. But both Angel and Schelotto have shown the kind of work ethic that ensured they would be successful players in Major League Soccer. In the case of Schelotto, that included doing a bit of homework before he had so much as played a game in MLS.
"When [Schelotto] came to our team and the league, he already knew what was going on," said Columbus head coach Sigi Schmid. "He knew how the playoff system worked, he knew who the best teams were, who knew some of the players in the league. He studies the league. ... As a result, he respects it, and once you respect it, you'll approach it in a good manner."
While Sunday's match won't match the hyper-intensity of a River-Boca match, it will amount to a tiebreaker of sorts. It was during Angel's stint with River Plate from 1997-2000 that he and Schelotto crossed paths, and in that time the two teams claimed three league titles each.
In eight "SuperClásicos" between the clubs while the two were involved, Schelotto and Boca won three, Angel and River won two, and three were drawn.
Such is the pressure that comes with the rivalry that most games all run together, although for Schelotto, a few stand out.
"All the games are historic," said Schelotto through a translator. "I remember River won one game 2-0 and Angel scored, although I didn't play in that game. I also remember some that we won."
Schelotto will no doubt be hoping the latter scenario is the one that repeats itself on Sunday.
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
