THANKS to goals from Jamaican international Dane Richards, and Joel Lindpere, the New York Red Bulls clinched the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference title Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over New England Revolution at the Red Bull Arena.

Richards scored the first of two goals that ensured that the Red Bulls will play their Eastern Conference final at home.

Despite being without the services of striker Thierry Henry, who missed his second straight game due to a right knee injury, the Red Bulls improved to 15-9-6 record this season — up from a 5-19-6 record last year.

The Red Bulls’ 10-win improvement also equalled the all-time MLS record held by the Metro Stars (the team’s previous name) for the largest single season increase in victories.

The Red Bulls will face either Omar Cummings’ Colorado Rapids, San Jose or Seattle in next week’s play-off.

On Thursday, Red Bulls looked well set even withou Henry, as Richards weighed in with a spectacular effort after 17 minutes.

Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel released Richards with a well-judged pass down the right flank, where the Jamaican forward took a couple of touches before firing in his fifth goal of the season past Bobby Shuttleworth in the New England goal.

Richards was also involved in a move that almost saw the Red Bull double their tally on the half-hour mark when he set up Salou Ibrahim with a ball across the penalty area which the Ghanaian sent narrowly wide.

Richards’ goal looked like the winner until Estonian international Limpere beat the offside trap to score another in stoppage time.