It wasn’t pretty, but they’ll take it.
New York soccer fans celebrated advancing in the World Cup despite the team’s 1-0 loss to Germany — but they weren’t exactly dancing in the streets on Thursday.
Die-hard soccer lovers — who took extended “liquid lunches” and “sick days” to catch the match — waved flags and cheered to celebrate the US earning a spot in the World Cup’s knockout round.
“They got through the toughest group. It’s an amazing achievement. It would have been nice to have gotten a goal — but it’s great that they got through! That’s what matters,” said Patrick Lockson, 34, a business owner from Fort Greene, who watched the game under the Manhattan Bridge arch in Brooklyn.
The US will advance despite the loss because Portugal defeated Ghana 2-1, much to the delight of American fans.
Jojo Adamski, 21, who watched the match at a bar in Chelsea added, “I’m ecstatic! The USA is fun to root for because it’s the underdog.”
Other fans were more harsh.
“I think they folded like a bunch of sissies … But, dammit, I want that cup! Sorry, that’s how I feel,” said Chris Yohe, 29, of Long Island, who watched the game at in Studio Square in Astoria.
In Midtown, workers wore soccer jerseys over their business clothes, and even set up fake lunchtime “meetings” so they could catch the dramatic match.
“I called in sick … I lived in Germany and they would give you the day off for soccer. It’s a big deal — you’d get reprimanded for going in to work,” said Tommy Krasniqi, 26, a property manager from DUMBO, who also watched the game under the Manhattan Bridge arch.
“I could get in trouble, [but] it’s a beautiful day!” he said.
Others stretched the truth to get out of the office, too.
“I set up a ‘meeting’ and invited all the guys from the office … we usually stream the games at work, but this is the first time we came out,” said Walter Vargas-Pena, 27, who flocked to Beirhous NYC in Midtown with co-workers.
State workers didn’t have to be so sneaky.
Gov. Cuomo gave them an extra lunch hour, starting at noon, to “root Team USA to victory,” according to a letter posted by the pol.
The next US game is 4 p.m. Tuesday against either Belgium or Algeria.
