WASHINGTON – Mike Petke admitted admitted it.
After saying early in the year that he had regretted a move he made during the New York Red Bulls’ 2013 playoff run but never disclosing what it was, Petke revealed Saturday that taking Peguy Luyindula out of the lineup for the second leg of their ill-fated Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. the Houston Dynamo was the tactical change he lamented.
Petke did not make that same mistake twice, as he started Luyindula in the decisive leg of the Red Bulls’ Eastern Conference semifinal series of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Presented by AT&T. New York lost the match, 2-1, but advanced to the conference final on a 3-2 aggregate score, and it was Luyindula who delivered the goal that ensured their passage.
The goal was Luyindula’s second in as many postseason games after he scored five times in 26 appearances during the regular postseason.
“He’s not doing anything different than he’s done throughout the two years here,” Petke said. “I think my biggest mistake last year in the second Houston game was not putting him in the lineup. He was one of our best players going into that game. This year, he’s doing well at the right time.
“It hasn’t been easy with Peguy all year,” he added. “He wasn’t always a starter and he wasn’t happy about that, which he shouldn’t [be], but now we’re all, including him, getting the rewards of what he’s doing.”
Indeed, Luyindula has been nothing short of clutch for the Red Bulls in the playoffs. The 35-year-old attacking midfielder has directly had a hand in four of his club’s five playoffs goals, and also played a part in the one he didn’t create or score.
He first came off the bench and provided a spark in the play-in game against Sporting Kansas City, delivering two secondary assists to help New York rally to a 2-1 win. Then, as a starter in last Sunday’s 2-0 opening leg victory over D.C. United, Luyindula astutely shielded away a defender to allow Bradley Wright-Phillips to score before netting a goal of his own in the second half.
On Saturday, he came up big again. With D.C. United a goal away from tying the series after Nick DeLeon scored on a 37th-minute header, Luyindula made a run into the box in the 57th minute to get on the end of a Thierry Henry cross. The ensuing finish was impressive, as he managed to flick a shot into the back of the net to give the Red Bulls some much-needed breathing room.
“I just had to go on the first post and try to hit it on the goal,” Luyindula said. “I was in that position because I knew Thierry was going to put the ball right here at that place. I just had to put myself in this position to score and it was fortunate for us to get that goal.”
Luyindula played similarly well during the stretch run of 2013, though without the goal-scoring. Petke began to use Luyindula in an attacking midfielder role instead of at forward then, and the Frenchman responded by shining with his ability to turn quickly with the ball at his feet, provide defense-splitting passes and maintain possession even under duress.
As a starter, Luyindula helped the Red Bulls pick up a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Houston Dynamo but was dropped from the lineup in the second leg. It was a move that came back to haunt New York, as they lost 2-1 in extra time and were bounced out of the postseason.
This year, he was in and out of the lineup in the regular season due to inconsistent performances before stepping up in a massive way by giving New York another dynamic attacking option in the playoffs.
His performances during this recent stretch have begged the question: Is this the best he’s ever played for the Red Bulls?
“I think we can say so,” said Luyindula.
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
