The Red Bulls open the postseason Sunday in Houston against a Dynamo team they’ve had their way with all regular season. They know it’s tough to fight a good team and the law of averages at the same time — but that’s what they’ll have to do if they plan on surviving the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Of course it is [tough]. Absolutely, 100 percent,’’ coach Mike Petke said. “But my guys are well aware the 34 games we played are in the rearview mirror, and now it’s what we hope will be five games left. We’ll take it one game at a time. We’re not thinking at all about the last game against Houston, we’re looking forward to the first game against Houston.’’
But after sweeping all three games from Houston by a combined 9-1 score, the Dynamo may well be thinking about getting some payback. The Red Bulls won their only home matchup, 2-0, on June 30, then rolled to a 4-1 laugher on Sept. 8 in Houston and another 3-0 beating on Oct. 20.
“Houston is always so mentally tough, especially in the playoffs,’’ Petke said of the Dynamo, who’ve won two MLS Cups and lost the last two finals. “I can guarantee you they’re not thinking about it negatively. … If anything, its motivation for them. Our guys have to step up a level.’’
It surely sounded that way.
“New York’s a team that’s come in here twice this year and beat us and beaten us handily. It’s something we haven’t forgotten about. You talk about how the playoffs are a new opportunity — well, here it is,’’ Houston’s Brad Davis said Friday. “You’ve got to be smart about it, but we definitely know what they’ve come in here and done to us, and that’s definitely in the back of our heads.”
The Red Bulls try to do it again Sunday (3:30 p.m., NBC) at BBVA Compass Stadium in the opener of a two-leg, aggregate goal series, with the home leg on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. And keeper Luis Robles — who has been cleared to play — vowed the Red Bulls won’t be looking past Sunday’s game to next week.
“I think it would be ignorant to say that the past doesn’t matter,’’ Robles said. “But looking at this season, the way we’ve played them, I feel like if we continue to play that way — where we put them under pressure, maintain possession and counter — I feel like it doesn’t matter who we play. As long as we do that effectively, we’re going to be pretty dangerous.’’
Robles, who is recovered from a minor MCL sprain suffered in last weekend’s regular-season finale, said the Red Bulls’ determination to stick to their own game plan and dictate the game rather than react to it has led to their eight-game unbeaten streak. Since a disappointing loss to Chivas USA — and Petke’s practice dust-up with Thierry Henry — they’ve gone unbeaten since.
“After that Chivas USA game, it was really a watershed moment. We had to reflect within ourselves and see what kind of team we wanted to be,’’ Robles said. “For us to come out strong the next week, that was just something we continued to build on. As we continued building we realized this is more of our identity. Let’s stick with this. We’ve had a lot of success and it’s just played out that way.’’
They should be near full strength Sunday, with leading scorer Tim Cahill back in practice Saturday after sitting out Friday with congestion. And Robles tested his knee by taking goal kicks, pronouncing himself fit for duty.
“I feel a lot better than yesterday. Coming off the injury, doing the treatment and wearing the brace, it felt a little lethargic, a little slow. So we decided to go without it and I feel fine,’’ Robles said. “Everything feels good. That was the whole purpose of today, to go really hard and intense and do everything. We saved kicking for the end and shots. Now we’re good to go.’’
If the Red Bulls advance, they’ll open the East finals on the road next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on NBC, and host the second leg Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on NBCSN.