Thousands of empty seats greeted them rather than boos and even the harshness of Moscow's winter had eased in the past few days to ensure the game was played in the kind of temperatures they have experienced at home.
In India, the national team's disappointing start was greeted with resignation rather than surprise.
And a quick read of reactions suggests that the new Ryan plan is being greeted with derision rather than adulation.
In 1970 as a whole, the trade deficit averaged 0.2% of GDP – a performance that today would be greeted with jubilation rather than despair.
It is a world in which somebody can stand up and propose that newly graduated scientists take some equivalent of the Hippocratic oath before they are allowed to practise their craft, and be greeted by applause rather than polite giggles.
Along Georgia Avenue and along 14th Street, two thoroughfares through poor and working-class black neighborhoods where the Mayor has continued to draw substantial support, the verdict was greeted with reflection, rather than spontaneous celebration.
The band's rock-fusion sound is also relevant to current bands like Radiohead and Air, which may be why this reunion tour has been greeted with joy rather than scorn.
Suicide officially disbanded in the early 80s, but Vega and Rev staged intermittent comeback tours where they were greeted with affection rather than horror or outrage ("The kids today, they've seen it all already," Vega observed).
Mills was greeted with curiosity rather than hostility by her fellow magicians, she says, especially during her early days in the Magic Circle, into which she was admitted in 2008.
Blues remain five points clear of the chasing pack but it was noticeable that news of Blackpool's goals were greeted with cheers, rather than indifference, at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
