Toronto FC - 2, New York City FC - 1
Q. How tough was it for you to push through? You had that close call early in the match with the penalty that ended up being overturned. How do you mentally have to push through a close call like that?
KOSI THOMPSON: I mean, that's the game of football, you take it with a grain of salt. It gets overturned, you can't own it too much. It will leach into your game.
After I saw it was overturned, I let it go, that's done, move forward. And that's what I did. And I thought that mentally I stayed positive and pushed forward, forgot about it, and played well for the rest of the game.
Q. You looked pretty shocked when the referee pointed to the penalty spot. In your view there was no contact?
KOSI THOMPSON: In my view, so basically as I saw Bones come collect it. There was no intention. I just slowed down. Bones already had the ball, and I was shocked when (indiscernible) went down. And just when the ref called it, obviously calling a penalty in the first five minutes you're definitely going to be shocked, no matter who you are on the pitch. And so I just waited. Thankfully went to VR, was able to correct his mistake. After that, there was no more shock.
Q. Just to be clear, there wasn't any contact or there was a slight accidental contact, what did you feel?
KOSI THOMPSON: No, if anything, with the slightest contact, it was his back heel. Nothing intentional, nothing malicious. There was also a lot of contact -- he sort of slipped over himself as well. So that's pretty much all the contact that I saw myself.
Q. Did you feel your confidence growing as the game progressed?
KOSI THOMPSON: Yes, for sure. First five, ten minutes, first start, tried to go out there with confidence. Obviously you're not going to have it from the beginning. You need, your confidence needs to be backed with how you're playing. And first five, ten minutes I thought, as I started getting more touches on the ball, my confidence grew and grew. And then it was just at that point where I didn't need to worry about confidence anymore. I just knew it was there. And I played the rest of the game like how I played.
Q. In terms of just emotionally, mentally, this must have been a moment that you were looking forward to for quite some time, as someone who played (indiscernible), did it live up to everything you thought it might be when you stepped on the field playing in front of these fans and getting a big win? Just your emotions going into this run, knowing that as an Academy player, playing for (indiscernible), did this live up to your expectations as someone who has played in this program to play on this field and play in front of these fans?
KOSI THOMPSON: For sure. A lot of kids dream to be in a position that I'm in. As a young player, getting a chance to start and prove myself and continue to prove myself, the emotion's undescribable. That's the best way I could put it.
Q. Just wondering, when did you find out that you were going to be in the starting lineup? And what instructions, if any, special instructions, if any did sort of Bob give you before going out there today?
KOSI THOMPSON: Well, throughout the international period, I was put out as a right wing back. And throughout the weeks Bob was telling me to really play with confidence going forward. And, yes, I have defensive responsibilities but really play with confidence going forward. Look inside as that's our identity and basically coming into the game we throughout the week I knew what he wanted as a tactical standpoint. So the advice that I heard from all the coaching staff was confidence, fearless. And so I took that and carried it into the game with me.
Q. On the first Toronto goal, it seemed like you were a little surprised how much space you had in front of you. What was going through your mind in that moment and what did you see on that play?
KOSI THOMPSON: I wouldn't say surprise, but I received the ball and there was a lot of space. So I said, you know what, I'm going to carry it a bit.
And I saw the gaps open up and quickly they closed. So thought on my feet, took a couple more touches. As you're moving you're going to see gaps open up. And it was a good movement from Ali. And slipped it to him and obviously great connection between Ale and Oso and from Oso to Jesús. And the ball's in the back of the net.
Q. Did you allow yourself a bit of a moment today to sort of look up in the crowd and dream about where you were?
KOSI THOMPSON: Yeah, after that final whistle, I had family and friends here today. After I heard that final whistle, I was able to take in really what I had just accomplished. And it's a great milestone for me. Yes, I was able to take in where I am, who is around me, the atmosphere, everything. Everything.
Q. You're one of a long line of young Canadian players getting their chance this year under Bob Bradley. Can you give us a sense of what the atmosphere is like at the club right now for a young player like yourself? Is it like anything's possible?
KOSI THOMPSON: Yes. I mean, we're at that point where if you're going to play, if you're performing well, you're going to play. Bob doesn't really care if you're young, if you're 18, 19, if you're 45. He doesn't care. If you're playing well, you're going to play. And he trusts us. I think that's the big point. He really does trust us. We need to trust ourselves. And the atmosphere for the young guys is amazing. The atmosphere here for everyone is amazing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports