Callens is sure: Game On

“Not only do I think this, but my teammates also think that if we score the first goal everything will change for the team,” Callens said. “We’ll be a lot calmer and the other team will have a lot of pressure. They’re obviously playing at home, in front of a lot of their fans, so if we are able to score first it will make us a lot calmer for the rest of the game.”

Knowing Atlanta already has the away goal in their back pocket, Torrent expects the likelihood of some stall tactics from the hosts the longer the Cityzens are unable to score.

If that’s the case, he has a message for Tata Martino.

“I say to my players, I want to say to Tata Martino, we will not throw the ball out because we have a referee,” Torrent said. “When it’s a foul and one player is diving, the player from Atlanta, New York City decides [not to] throw the ball outside. If not, you can waste 15 minutes and it’s a final.”