EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (CMC):

Jamaican midfielder Dane Richards helped the New York Red Bulls beat the Chicago Fire 3-0 Thursday night at Giants Stadium to surge to the top of the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference standings.

Juan Pablo Angel struck a goal in each half as the Red Bulls claimed their fifth win of the season in a game they took control of after only a few minutes.

With the victory, New York climbed to 17 points from the five games to share the lead with the New England Revolution, who will tackle the Kansas City Wizards today.

New York shot into the lead after only 55 seconds, when the 17-year-old sensation Joz with Haitian roots, converted a fine goal. Angel evaded a challenge from CJ Brown and laid on a pass to John Wolyniec, who foun>The U.S. Under-20 national collected well and placed his shot past Chicago's goalkeeper Matt Pickens for his third goal of the year.

Richards, in his debut season in the MLS, featured in New York's second goal just two minutes later.

His cross inside found Brown, who touched the ball to set up Angel for his second MLS goal. Angel scored again in the 68th minute to make the game safe for New York.