It could’ve gone differently, Victor Ulloa said.
At first, he referenced the two early goals FC Cincinnati allowed three minutes apart. One came off a goal kick; the other off a defensive miscommunication.
But he wasn’t talking about the goals, however. He was talking about the Nippert Stadium atmosphere.
While the Orange and Blue haven’t won an MLS match since May 11, they sold out Saturday’s match with 32,250 people on-hand to watch the game against the LA Galaxy.
“I just want to thank all the fans for backing us up,” Ulloa said. “They could’ve easily left or reacted differently after the first 15 minutes but they stood behind us the entire time. We never gave up, we pushed and we’re just grateful for the support they give us every home game.
“We promise them we’re working hard and really trying to turn things around.”
Ulloa wasn’t the only one delivering praise. Rookie Frankie Amaya, who played against the club he grew up supporting, offered similar sentiments.
“It was a good atmosphere,” Amaya said. “The fans were amazing. It’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever played in front of … It was perfect and it felt like home.”
Cincinnati’s attendance of 32,250 was the largest in MLS last weekend, with the Portland Timbers second with a crowd of 25,218.
“That was amazing,” FCC Interim Head Coach Yoann Damet said. “That’s what we mentioned to the players in the locker room. The support of the fans is huge for us. It’s a tough period but everybody feels that they are behind us. They also see the improvement that we are speaking about.
“It's also a part of the process to see that the club is moving in the right direction. I feel that everybody is believing in the vision of the club, and that is very good. That is exactly what we need right now.”
