HARRISON, N.J. – A playoff berth was in sight for both the New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC as the top two teams in the USL Eastern Conference squared off at Red Bull Arena on Friday night, but securing that place wasn’t at the forefront of Red Bulls II Coach John Wolyniec’s mind prior to kickoff.

“Yeah, someone told me that if we won today, I think I read it in an article, that we would clinch a playoff spot,” Wolyniec said after the game. “That wasn’t our focus tonight. Our focus was to play against a good team, in a good game, and to come out with a good effort and a good performance.”

Behind Brandon Allen’s 11th goal of the season – converted from the penalty spot after referee Hilario Grajeda determined a foul had been committed on New York’s Junior Flemmings inside the penalty area using the Video Assistant Referee system – the Red Bulls II took a 1-0 victory, and sealed a second consecutive trip to the postseason.

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The win for the Red Bulls II not only clinched a playoff place, but also moved the side three points clear of Louisville and eight of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference with seven games to go in the season. With only three defeats all season, New York now has a clear path to both the USL regular season title, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

“I don’t know how things will end up, but obviously we’ve done a lot of good things this year and we continue to play very well against good teams in this league,” Wolyniec said. “Hopefully we can do enough to get some home games, and if we play them again it’s here, and hopefully we can put another good effort out.”

Friday night’s game had the feel of a playoff game, as the two leading attacking teams in the USL seemed a little more cautious that normal. Louisville created the better chances in the first half, but was denied the opening goal by an offside flag that saw Chandler Hoffman’s close range finish ruled out.

As the game entered the second half scoreless, however, things appeared to move in the direction of the hosts. The Red Bulls II should have taken the lead just past the hour-mark when Junior Flemmings beat his man beautifully on the right and cut a precise cross back toward the penalty spot for Florian Valot, only for the French midfielder to spoon his shot over the crossbar.

The game’s decisive moment came with 19 minutes to go when for the only time in the evening the VAR was called into use. Flemmings was brought down, and Grajeda determined using the replay system that he had been in the penalty area when the challenge occurred. Allen stepped up and sent Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh the wrong way with a good finish into the left corner of the net.

“For us, it was good, we got the benefit of a couple calls,” Wolyniec said of the VAR system. “I think it’s gone pretty well. Obviously there’s some kinks to work out, and some timing issues, and communication issues that they’ve got to deal with, but overall I think it’s a great thing. We’re excited to be a part of implementing it, we want to do everything we can to keep pushing the game forward.”

With his side having passed another test against Louisville, however, Wolyniec and his side’s focus now switches to a busy upcoming week that sees it visit Toronto FC II on Wednesday night before another key game against Cincinnati next Sunday at Red Bull Arena.

“We take it game by game,” Wolyniec said. “There’s still a lot to play off, and Louisville is a good team obviously, there’s no reason why they can’t win a bunch of games down the stretch. Cincinnati is a good team, we play them in a week’s time, I believe. There’s still a lot of good games out there for us to play, and, a lot of opportunities for guys to improve, and test themselves and get better, and that will be our focus the rest of the way.”