CARSON, California — Argentina's Guillermo Barros Schelotto set up all three Columbus goals as the Crew downed the New York Red Bulls 3-1 to win the MLS Cup Final today.

Alejandro Moreno scored in the first half for Columbus and, after New York tied it 1-1 early in the second, Chad Marshall and Frankie Hejduk added goals for the Crew.

Both teams were original members of Major League Soccer when it began in 1996, and both were playing in the league championship game for the first time.

"It's a very emotional moment for me, winning this game here in L.A. in front of family and friends. And, to be quite honest, the town that I was fired in," said Columbus coach Sigi Schmid.

German-born Schmid won the MLS Cup in 2002 as coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy, which fired him in 2004.

The Crew opened the scoring in the 31st minute after Schelotto stole the ball from Dutch winger Dave van den Bergh tapped it up the right sideline to Moreno. The Venezuelan forward evaded Diego Jimenez and rolled the ball into the net just inside the left post.

"He (Schelotto) has such great instincts," Schmid said. "The ball that was going out of bounds there, he's got the presence to know to react to the play quickly. It's those decisive moments that turn games."

John Wolyniec's goal in the 51st minute gave the Red Bulls the equalizer, before the Crew immediately responded with a goal by Marshall to retake the lead.

Schelotto, who was named league player of the year, curled a corner into the box and Marshall leaped high to head the ball into the goal in the 53rd minute.

"The timing of the second goal was disappointing," Wolyniec said. "We were on a high from tying the game and it's tough to come back."

Hejduk sealed the win in the 82nd minute when he headed home Schelotto's lofted pass into the box.

New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio thought the Red Bulls outplayed the Crew in the first 45 minutes.

"We should have been one up instead of one down," he said.