The Red Bulls’ playoff opener — make that the Supporters’ Shield-winning Red Bulls’ playoff opener – has been set for Sunday afternoon. And coach Mike Petke said he expects keeper Luis Robles, who hurt his knee in Sunday’s regular-season finale, to be ready for the postseason.
Robles, who played every second of every game this season, took a knock on his left knee in the 5-2 win over Chicago. But Petke didn’t seem too worried about the injury.
“Luis should be fine to go,” Petke said Tuesday. “He had an MRI [Monday] and treatment [Sunday] and [Tuesday]. … All indications are it’s not serious. It’s something that has already improved over the last two days since the game. It’s going to continue, what they think, to get better. He should be ready to go.’’
Robles suffered the injury colliding with his own defender, but finished the game. Now the top-seeded Red Bulls get to rest while Montreal and Houston face off in Thursday’s play-in game. They travel to the winner to open the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on NBC, likely with Robles in goal. The top-seeded Red Bulls get their home leg on Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.
Robles led the league in minutes (3,060), wins (17) and penalty kicks saved (three), finished third in saves (103) and fourth in shutouts (11).
But if Robles doesn’t improve, or has a setback and can’t play Sunday, Petke would turn to Ryan Meara. The second-year pro from Fordham was a Rookie of the Year candidate last year before his injury prompted the Red Bulls to acquire Robles. Meara hasn’t gotten on the field in league play this season, but has been between the pipes in U.S. Open Cup.
“We have someone like Ryan Meara who’s champing at the bit behind him, who’s played phenomenally at practice and in reserve games and has not seen the field only because he’s behind right now one of the hottest goalkeepers in the league,’’ Petke said. “It’s a day-to-day (situation). We’re not concerned about it.’’
The only concern would be if Robles can’t take goal kicks, something he acknowledged did trouble him Sunday night after the injury.
“If he’s not comfortable taking goal kicks, that’s going to weigh heavily on our decision on if he’s able to go, because if he’s not able to take goal kicks, then obviously something wrong,’’ Petke said. “We have a few days ahead of us. We have some breathing room. Rest him, test him and see that he’s ready to go. This is a decision we’re not going to make right now, but it’ll be made in enough time to get prepared.’’