Q. Just start with your thoughts on how that one played out, please.
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: I thought it was a disappointing result but the effort was there from the start. The red card was unfortunate but the guys fought through to the end. Unfortunately the result is what it was.
Q. Your team is, I wouldn't say maybe unlucky is the right word but just the amount of goals the club has given up early on plays that are broken down and now this red card early in the game, do you almost feel as if this team is snake bit in a way?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: No, I don't think so. I think everyone, like I said, the red card was unfortunate and it could be anyone. It happened early on in the game, but the team still fought from the first minute to the last. Maximum effort from everyone.
Q. It was a great run that you made when you played off -- when you sort of released that ball down the right flank to Soteldo. You made that run from deep to get into the box. How did the play unfold for you?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: We were working all week, Richie and I, standing on the wing and trying to run off Yeferson and pause, that was one of the moments I made the pass, I realized that if he turns around, there's going to be a n open space in the back post. So I just tried my best to get there in time, and luckily the ball dropped right there, so it's good.
Q. It's been a long road obviously back for yourself returning from injury, and obviously you've got the goal tonight and I think I saw in your celebration it was quite a bit of emotion. What did scoring that goal mean for you?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: It means a lot. Really excited to get on the score sheet and help the team comeback to 1-1. So it's like all the work we've been putting in over the last 17 months, you know, that was my reward right there, the goal, so that was good. Excited about it, happy and we'll just work off it next game and try to score some more so we can win more games and win some points hopefully.
Q. You never want to lose a game but does the fact that it came at the home of the team's biggest rival sting a bit more perhaps?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: Yeah, of course. Of course it's disappointing hearing the fans cheer and boo, and of course if we were winning, we'll shut the whole fans up and the whole stadium, so it's disappointing. But I think there's a lot to take away from it and we're going to work hard to turn it around.
Q. You mentioned something about being able to turn it around, but at this late sort of date in the season; that even possible? There's 12 games remaining, and with the 12-point gap you have to sort of overcome, and there's six or seven teams you have to leapfrog, I'm just wondering, realistically, is a playoff spot even attainable at this point?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: I think so. I think it's still possible, and if there's a little possibility, we're still going to push to make the playoff and take it one game at a time. I think our next focus is on the next game, Cincinnati, and if we win that game and get three points, we go from there, and see where we're going to be on the end of the season.
But I think the full focus in everybody's mind is to win the rest of the games we have and hopefully teams in the front drop some points and we'll see where we're at.
Q. In every game it looks look you're moving better, is that fair to say? Do you feel the same way? Are you getting more comfortable out there?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: Yeah, I've been out for a long time, so the first few games I feel like rusty and trying to get -- but the more I play, the more I feel more comfortable and the knee feels more comfortable and stronger. I think with more games and more minutes, I'll get back to more comfortable and move well, so, yeah, I would agree.
Q. I was just wondering, the league goes on an international break now. Do you think the break comes at a good time or when a team loses like this, are you anxious to get right back at it? What do you think of the timing of the break now? Is it good or not so good for the team?
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA: I think it's positive. We have a lot of guys that have been playing a lot of minutes, so the break will probably give some of our guys a chance to take break and take a breather and let the body rest and come back in the next few weeks and put everything for the rest of the season.
I think the break is positive, also for me personally, and some of the guys injured, I think it will give us more of a chance to work on what we need it work on in the training room and come back more fit.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports