It didn’t always look this easy for NYCFC.

Before they’re showered in praise this weekend with a home opener title presentation before facing Montreal, NYCFC were treated to a more hostile “home” environment on Tuesday. And they handled it with aplomb.

Hosting Guatemalan side Comunicaciones in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, New York City found themselves surprisingly in enemy territory at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn.

Despite the relative proximity to New York (Yankee Stadium and Red Bull Arena are unapproved for play for the tournament), matchgoers reported a majority opposition crowd. The blue flags throughout the stands were for Guatemala – not the reigning MLS champs – and the visitors’ tying goal was met with raucous applause.

Yet what may have been a weakness for the club in the past now looks like a strength. After winning MLS Cup mostly on the road and dispatching Santos de Guapiles with relative ease in Costa Rica in the CCL Round of 16 first leg, New York City have clearly learned to take comfort in the uncomfortable. Tuesday followed that pattern, as Maxi Moralez regained the lead for New York City five minutes after the visitors’ equalizer, and Santi Rodriguez finished off a counterattack to cap off a 3-1 win.

Coach Ronny Deila laughed after the game when asked if it felt like a home match, and as one Twitter user pointed out, the players and staff have barely been in New York since mid-January. This title defense has thus far been no red carpet coronation.

Not so long ago, this was a team allergic to big moment. They were trying to figure out the right “mentality” to win, as James Sands put it last year.

“I’ve never doubted that we’re more talented than the other teams in the playoffs, but when it comes to a one-game playoff, it’s not always talent that’s gonna win — it’s effort, and work-rate, and just willing to sacrifice a little bit for your teammates,” said Sands, who is currently on loan to Rangers in Scotland.

With a banner raising and celebration of the club’s first title in store, NYCFC will deservedly enjoy some home comforts on Saturday. It’s nights like Tuesday, though, that truly show how far they’ve come.

A couple of months ago – as I debated the merits of the Scottish Premier League on Twitter – I was told former Celtic player Lewis Morgan had been “smashing it” in MLS.

It was a somewhat dubious claim based on his two seasons with Inter Miami. But after his start with the Red Bulls, it may well be spot on.

Morgan was named MLS Player of the Week for the second week of the season after he scored a first half hat-trick in a 4-1 rout at Toronto. In just two games with New York, the winger has already surpassed his 2021 goals total (2), and also added an assist in the first game of the season. He’s clearly loving life under Gerhard Struber thus far.

When Morgan was traded from Miami to New York, he was undoubtedly sent to a better situation. He’s not the first player to post somewhat paltry numbers on a struggling side.

Now, though, Morgan is beginning to show why the Red Bulls parted with $1.2 million in General Allocation Money – at the time the highest ever amount of guaranteed cash in a trade – to get him. 

The expensive gamble is so far looking well worth it.