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Ferretti wasn’t just “calm” following TFC’s emphatic victory. His ear-to-ear grin reeked of confidence.

“I’m just going to say we faced a strong, more superior team in Canada,” Ferretti added, respectfully.

Yet, he expects things to be different back in Mexico. They usually are in this tournament.

“I’m confident we can make it to the next stage if we score one more goal,” Ferretti said. “But we’re not just going to go for one goal.”

History has shown that to be the case.

Liga MX sides have utterly dominated MLS teams that have ventured south of the U.S. border for two decades.

But second-half goals from Jozy Altidore and Jonathan Osorio on Wednesday night put the Reds in good position to advance next Tuesday in Monterrey.

“My thought is our group has an ability to adapt to different situations and to win games in different ways,” Vanney said with a much straighter face than his counterpart. “We can win in a game of transition and counter-attacks, we can win in a game of possession and obviously we have big players who can make big plays.

“I think that’s what gives us the best opportunity. Who knows when we get down there who’s going to win the game. But you set your team up for the best opportunity to try and get a result.”