By BRIAN LEWIS

I actually covered the Mets’ doubleheader today _ they split against Atlanta _ but I wanted to touch on the Red Bulls’ 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.

It says a lot about this club that even when they’re not playing at their best _ and they were not at their best, with Jeff Parke struggling and Dane Richards having an off night _ that they can come from behind against playoff-quality teams and claw out victories.

They’re 4-1-3 in their last eight games, and leapfrogged D.C. United into fourth in the Eastern Conference. I actually think from a matchup point of view they’re better off being fifth, and getting the fourth seed out West, but I’ve said for some time now I thought they were going to pass United and might even climb to third.

Right now they’re three points points out of a SuperLiga spot people. I know you guys are all scarred from years of losing, all Chicken Little paranoid. But three points is not much the way this team is playing. And I’ve steadfastly said they’re not done adding.

Anyway, here are some quotes:

JUAN CARLOS OSORIO

On the overall play:

“I’m extremely pleased with the effort; it was a very tough game. I thought we started very well but we didn’t convert the chances we had, Mike Magee especially.”

On halftime adjustments:

“It was difficult to take but we had a little chat at halftime and the adjustments that we made paid off and I think through 90 minutes, it was well deserved and I’m very pleased with the effort and the result of the guys.’’

“I was concerned, but probably I will take the blame for that because I wanted to hold a very high line and although they have quick players upfront, I didn’t want it to be them stretching the middle. I wanted to take the game to them.’’

“I think the team believing in what we do; we said at halftime we would get our chances, we need to be patient, we need to pass the ball better _ and I think all the guys showed that we really are becoming a better team.’’

On Juan Pablo Angel not being called for a foul on his goal:

“I don’t think it was a foul, I respect all the players in this game but I know that player (Jamison Olave) very well and I know he takes his chances. We showed the video this week and we said he would give us a chance. Juan played very well; he gave him and chance and Juan finished it very well.’’

On Dave van den Bergh’s goal not being ruled offside:

“The second I’m not too sure because of the camera, where we are, the angle, we don’t see who is attacking on the left side. All we see is Dane (Richards) miss-hitting the ball and it landing on Dave van den Bergh’s foot. From what I see, it was a legitimate goal.’’

JUAN PABLO ANGEL

On the game:

“I would say it was a tale of two halves. In the first half, I think they got us under counterattack a lot of times and I would say they had two or three good chances. Still though, we managed to create them and I think it was Mike Magee who had a free header. But we thought that we were pretty much in the game. I thought in the second half, I think it was all about Red Bulls. I think we got that break in the first goal and then we created a number of chances and could’ve scored more goals. We’re delighted because there’s not many times (when) you get back in games like this when you are one-nil down and you end up winning the game.”

On his score:

“I went to one side and (Jamison Olave) lost me and I went to the other one. I got a touch on the ball and he was pretty much out of play and the goalkeeper was on his way out, so it was an easy finish for me.”

On the team’s form, 4-1-3 in their last eight:

“I think the last six, seven games have been great for us. We’ve been looking more compact and more organized, more dangerous and it’s right when we need it. This is the time that we needed to pick up points. Still, everything is very close there and we want to keep on winning games. Hopefully, we get into a safe playoff position sooner rather than later.”

DAVE VAN DEN BERGH

On his goal:

“I thought I was offsides to be honest with you. I haven’t seen the replay but I don’t know whether I was or not. I doubt it because they weren’t protesting it at all. I controlled the ball with my right (foot) and I was surprised with how much time I had – that’s why I thought I was offsides. But you know what – there’s no whistle, there’s no reason to stop so I had a wide open goal and Nick Rimando isn’t the biggest guy so it was good.”

On facing the Columbus Crew Thursday:

“They’re red-hot; but I think we’ve (proven) that we can beat them. It’s a different team that they have and that we have, but still, I think it’s very possible that we can get a result out there.”