The ESPN guy said this gave him “chicken skin:”
It also inspired the Portland Timbers players who, like their great fans, ignored the crummy weather conditions and went out and beat the revamped Philadelphia Union in their home opener last night, rallying from a goal down to win 3-1.
Scottish newcomer Kris Boyd scored a skillful glancing header in his debut, Kalif Alhassan had a goal and an assist, and Andrew Jean–Baptiste also scored, atoning for a defensive gaffe minutes earlier that helped Philly go up 1-0. (Jean-Baptiste’s deflection of a Gabriel Gomez free kick was initially ruled an own goal.)
Apart from the weather, it was an ideal debut for Portland.
As for Philadelphia, Gomez had his moments, and Colombian striker Lionard Pajoy could be a good pickup, but Freddy Adu failed to put his mark on the game, the backline looked shaky, and 20-year-old keeper Zac MacMath did his best Chris Seitz impression, nearly tipping an early shot into his own goal, and bungling Jean-Baptiste’s header that went in for the equalizer. They’ve got some work to do.
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