Duka hopes to bring Montville magic to Montreal

FLORHAM PARK After five-plus seasons in Major League Soccer, Dilly Duka isn't quite as charged up about boarding a late-season flight home to New Jersey. A midfielder from Montville, Duka was looking forward to seeing his family. But it wasn't quite as emotional, not quite as many anxious text messages up to Montreal.

Duka is expected to start on the wing when Montreal visits Red Bull New York tonight. He wasn't sure how big his personal cheering section would be, but his parents and siblings have been in attendance for all his trips back to New Jersey — regardless of which jersey he's worn.

Duka's name came up in several interviews at the Red Bulls' practice facility in Florham Park on Monday. With international striker Didier Drogba now firmly established up front for Montreal, Duka and the other midfielders have been playing an increased role in the offense. Physical and 6-foot-2, Drogba has seven goals in seven matches and is quite a presence for opposing defenders like Connor Lade.

Lade moved to left back and had an assist on the game-winning goal in the Red Bulls' defeat 2-1 of Columbus on Saturday, earning a spot on MLS' Team of the Week.  Lade and Duka never played each other during high school, though they met a few times when Lade was a starting defender for St. John's, and Duka a Rutgers midfielder.

"(Duka) is great on the dribble, so you know you're going to have to be ready for him cutting in and out," said Lade, a Morristown native and one of the Red Bulls' homegrown players who has been part of the team since 2012.

"He also can shoot well from distance. If you give him too much room, he can hurt you that way. We know it's going to be a tough challenge. If it's not him, it's going to be someone else."

Drogba called Duka the Impact's Man of the Match for the way he cleared space by moving off the ball in a 2-0 defeat of D.C. United on Sept. 26.  Duka, who gave up his No. 11 to Drogba, still seemed a bit in awe of his new teammate — who spent his career with Chelsea in the English Premier League — and thrilled for the recognition.

Drafted eighth overall by Columbus after two seasons at Rutgers, Duka made his MLS debut in August 2010 and broke through the next season. He was traded to Chicago and spent a full year there before moving on to Montreal in July 2014.

Duka particularly stood out in the CONCACAF Champions League during MLS' preseason, starting every match and scoring twice as the Impact played Pachuca to a 2-2 quarterfinal draw.

"I'm a big fan of his, actually," Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty said. "He's a guy who's kind of flown under the radar as far as how dangerous he is and how much he means to that team. He's a dangerous player, really shifty, really quick. He's a different dynamic we have to be aware of."

The Red Bulls have already clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot, and lead the race for the Supporters' Shield. Montreal, meanwhile, is in sixth in the East — just one point ahead of Orlando for the final postseason berth. The Red Bulls are 4-0 all-time against the Impact at home.

Montreal was scheduled to fly in on Tuesday afternoon, and Duka was looking forward to a team dinner at the hotel and some time to relax. He expected his parents to visit, but hadn't asked them to bring anything special.

Joked Duka, "When I land, I'll shoot them a text and see what's cooking."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/