FRISCO - When you need to do something that has never been done before, it takes a heroic effort from everyone involved.
For FC Dallas, that not only includes the team on the field, but the team in the stands as well and FCD is calling on the fans to bring the noise on Sunday evening at Toyota Stadium.
“Having the fans behind us from the start is huge because it’s one of those things where once you get one and the momentum will build,” said Ryan Hollingshead. “So we want to get that early and get the crowd into it for a crazy second half.”
While Toyota Stadium has enjoyed fantastic crowds through this late-season playoff push, there’s no denying this is a playoff town. The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final saw a packed and raucous crowd at 9:00PM on a Tuesday night while playoff games last year saw some of the best atmospheres Frisco has ever seen.
From a stadium already nearing capacity before warmups were even done to a chanting, screaming, cauldron of an atmosphere, Oscar Pareja’s side wants to see an atmosphere like never before on Sunday night as they look to turn around a 3-0 deficit after leg one.
“I remember last year, I’ve never seen anything like that honestly and that really helped us, despite the circumstances of the game going into that one the crowd helped us. They were behind us the whole game,” said Kellyn Acosta. “It was a tough situation for us and they are like a 12th man for us. They help bring that energy we need and might be lacking in certain circumstances. When the crowd is into it, it just adds motivation to go out there and get the goals that we need.”
Sunday could see Carlos Ruiz make his first playoff appearance at home for FC Dallas since 2007 and the club’s all-time leading playoff scorer knows what to expect from Toyota Stadium.
“I think we have a great, great group of fans here,” said Ruiz. “For sure we know they’re coming to support us and it’s going to be a fantastic game.”
Having scored twice in a ten-minute span vs. Seattle a few weeks ago, the 3-0 deficit can certainly be turned around. The objective for Dallas? Find that early goal, put doubt into the opposition and prove that the higher seed having that home field advantage in the second leg is truly worth fighting for all season.
“That stuff is so big and you can’t even explain how much it helps giving us energy and adrenaline to keep pushing and make life for the opposing team tough,” said Hollingshead. “I’m expecting a big crowd and hoping a lot of people come out to support. We’ve proved throughout the year we can come back from big results, so we’re going to work to do it again.”