New York Cosmos kicked off their home campaign with a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies on the weekend.
The Cosmos played their first two matches of the 2015 NASL season on the road but returned to Shuart Stadium to meet the Rowdies in front of 12,550 fans on Saturday.
Cosmos striker Raul has played in front of massive crowds in Europe with Spain, Real Madrid and Schalke, meaning the attendance in Hempstead is something that would not faze him at all, but he insists that is not an issue once the first whistle is sounded.
"So once the game begins, it doesn't matter if it's 10, 20 or 80 thousand fans," Raul said through a translator after the triumph.
"The objective is to win the match, and that's where my focus is. I've had many experiences in Spain, or in Germany, but it's still great to feel the home atmosphere at the first game."
The Cosmos sit on top of the NASL table with two wins and a draw from their three outings thus far.