Ottawa Fury fans gathered at the heart of the soccer community in Little Italy on Sunday night to cheer on their team in this year’s North American Soccer League championship match against the New York Cosmos.
The Cosmos edged Ottawa 3-2 to take the NASL title, but Ottawa fans were able to celebrate the Fury’s appearance in the final and the club’s hugely successful 2015 season.
As the league final was taking place in New York, those who could not make the trip came out and showed their support at the Heart & Crown pub on Preston Street.
Kickoff was at 5 p.m., but the pub was filled with chanting and supporters dressed in red and black from head to toe at least an hour before the game had even begun.
The city’s Heart & Crown pubs are official sponsors of the team and regularly screen the team’s games, but general manager Jamie Lennox said Sunday’s turnout went far beyond his expectations.
“I am quite happy with the turnout — I just wish I had more seats,” said Lennox. “Some bleachers or something would help us out right now.”
Lennox commented that a regular away game brings out about 50 to 75 fans to watch the game on Heart & Crown television screens. He estimated Sunday’s crowd was at least 300.