Head coach Dome Torrent doesn't want to see New York City FC go down two players in a game again, but he wants to see the intensity he saw last time it happened.
The date was Aug. 22, and NYCFC were playing their NY Derby rivals the New York Red Bulls. Despite conceding first, a first-half red card to Eloi Amagat, and a subsequent second-half red card to Ebenezer Ofori, NYCFC fought back to draw the game, and ensure a share of the points, in a rousing performance at Yankee Stadium.
Since then, NYCFC have gone 1-4-2 and are trying to turn things around on Sunday as part of Decision Day presented by AT&T, when they host the Philadelphia Union (4:30 pm ET | TV & Streaming Info). And Torrent wants to see his side display the focus and intensity shown in that summer game against the Red Bulls.
"I can't accept [when] we don't control [play] away," Torrent explained at training this week. "Because they have capacity and they have passion when they want to play. I remember what happened when we played against Red Bulls. That is the best way to play, we played with two players down, and we were able to play well and react quickly. And that is the best way to play. After that it is not about tactics or quality of players, they have quality. They have to have confidence in themselves. And I'm very happy with them when they play that way."
NYCFC and the Union could both be battling for a home game in the Knockout Round. While NYCFC sit three points ahead of Philadelphia (and D.C. United), either or both mid-Atlantic teams could surge ahead of Torrent's side in the standings if they win.
Unsurprisingly, Torrent is looking to wrap up that home game in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, as they sit on a stellar 11-1-4 record this year at Yankee Stadium, by far the best home mark in the league.
"I expect my team, they play well with the last games at Yankee Stadium, but especially, we have to win, at least to draw. But we have to focus to win the next game because it's very important for us to play the first game in the playoffs at home, with our fans. When you play with your fans, you are stronger."
