Today, the Red Bulls responded to the biggest tilt of their year with one of the worst showings in their history. Suspended coach Juan Carlos Osorio _ who stoked this rivalry by quitting Chicago this offseason _ could only watch helplessly from a mezzanine suite as his old team emasculated his new one 5-1.

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“We conceded a very early goal, and I think it was too much of a game for some of our players,” Osorio said after the bloodletting. “We were a very easy team to play against today. I don’t recall ant physical contact with Cuauhtemoc (Blanco), Chad (Barrett), Justin (Mapp) and Chris Rolfe. We weren’t ready, and it seemed from the start we weren’t interested.”

Osorio’s departure vexed Fire owner Andrew Hauptman and sparked accusations of tampering. Then tug-of-wars over D Wilman Conde and Lider Marmol had the Fire front office seething for payback. Today it was Blanco _ arguably the most hated man in MLS _ that provided it.

The Mexican midfield maestro has always been adept at drawing fouls, but their zone defense gave him too much space, defenders blowing assignments so badly they weren’t even close enough to get called for a foul, much less rough him up. And they paid for it, as he had three assists and a PK goal.

Sounds like they’ll pay for it again. Chicago (6-2-1, 19 points) used them for a stepping stone as they climbed into a three-way tie for first with Columbus and New England. The Red Bulls (3-2-3, 12 points) stayed in fifth, having their five-game unbeaten streak snapped in such hideous fashion they cost themselves what was supposed to have been a day off today.

“I’m renowned for not having a go at my players, but they know exactly how I feel; and if there’s any doubts they will know (this) morning at 8 a.m.,” Osorio said after his club allowed the most goals they’d given up since a 6-2 loss at D.C. July 3, 2004, the most at home since a 5-2 defeat against Kansas City on June 5, 1999.

“It’s disappointing, feels like (crap). You don’t want a team to come in our place and beat us (friggin’) 5-1,” said defender Jeff Parke, who saw the midfield in front of him leak possession all afternoon, and the back line beside him get beat with longball after longball. They allowed five goals after permitting just six so far this season.

“They’re a rival. It’s his old team, we’d like to win for him; but we didn’t and that’s disappointing. It’s going to leave a sour taste in our mouth, because we got slapped. We’ll see what kind of character we have. He was (peeved) and rightfully so. We played like (crap) and they played good.”

Blanco set the tone, serving a 45-yard longball that deflected off defender Hunter Freeman. Barrett put it away in the 8th minute, and the Red Bulls collapsed with a four-goal second half. They let Blanco free down the right wing in the 48th, and Rolfe beat Parke far post for the header.

Blanco scored on a 54th minute PK, Barrett added a second score and fullback Gonzalo Segares _ who dominated right winger Dane Richards _ put in a rebound for a 5-0 lead in the 62nd. Jozy Alidore _ who didn’t start because of ingrown toenails _ came off the bench for New York’s lone goal.

“Heads went down and we didn’t snap out of it. Too many people fell asleep defending,” said Claudio Reyna, playing in the heart of a 4-2-3-1 that looked more like 4-4-1-1 with Richards and rookie Danleigh Borman utterly negated. “I couldn’t believe how much time (Blanco) had. Pace isn’t his thing and he was getting wide open.”

Osorio’s Fire replacement, Denis Hamlett, insisted it was business as usual for his players. Asked if his owner was a little more fired-up, he smiled “I’m sure he is.”