When a teenage athlete blows kisses to someone after a game, it’s usually an attempt to woo their crush from fourth-period algebra. But when cameras caught then 18-year-old David Ochoa making a similar gesture last November, the context was markedly different to that of most of his peers. In fact, it wasn’t directed to a friendly face at all — it was for El Paso Locomotive striker Omar Salgado, who had previously grabbed his crotch and made a face toward Real Monarchs fans after opening the scoring in the first half.



“He blew kisses at our fans,” Ochoa said ahead of the USL Championship final in Louisville. “I just felt like I should do it back to him. It’s just confidence, honestly. I’m feeling good and just letting myself out on the field.”



Sure enough, Ochoa would again pucker up, this time for the opposing fans, as Louisville supporters spent the full second half of the title game heckling the young goalkeeper.