Dirigo Union, Portland Hearts of Pine Supporters Experience First Matchday
The chants and the cheers from the crowd at Lewiston High School could be heard from two blocks away
Many of the Dirigo Union supporters have been waiting for this day for years. Some 3,200 supporters from all walks of life filled Lewiston High School’s bleachers for what would be a memorable night for many. Whether they waited six years to a few days, everybody was here for one thing, watching the first professional soccer match of consequence for the Portland Hearts of Pine against the amateur side CD Faialense in the first round of the US Open Cup.
I personally fielded four questions after just entering the grounds and enjoying a few slices of pepperoni pizza from the Brickyard Hollow food truck. “Where do we sit to support the Hearts of Pine?” I told them all the same thing. “Anywhere will do. However, if you want to get close to the passionate Dirigo Union supporters with their loud chants and songs, (pointing to the banners and flags being waved) head right over there to the flags and banners hanging up in the back corner of the pitch.”
All four groups headed for the Dirigo Union.
Chants and songs began as the Hearts and CD Faialense finished up warmups. The skol chant, which was originally used by the Icelandic National team in the 2016 World Cup, has been adopted by the Dirigo Union and has been named “The Heart Attack.” The name derives from the energy the supporters are looking to transfer from the stands to their players in a time of suffering on the pitch. Used before the match as a connection between the supporters and the players, in unison clapping and yelling Hearts that slowly picks up pace until a feverish pace has been reached.
CD Faialense is a group of ex-division one soccer players that know how to play. They are a big side and they muscled the Hearts early and often, kicking long balls over a Hearts side that was looking to press early.
In an interview with the Dirigo Union’s Post-Match Pulse, Ollie Wright gave credit to their keeper Hunter Morse organizing the lines to stay close together to soak up the pressure CD Faialense was exerting early in the match. The Hearts were up to the task, neutralizing most of the advances on goal from the long balls lumped up the field.
Walter Varela took advantage of an attempted clearance from CD Faialense after a back healed pass from Ollie Wright to Nathan Messer and a Messer cross set up the partially cleared ball. Varela shot the ball into the back of the net past a diving goalkeeper. Cheers and jubilation from the crowd ensued. Walter Varela, celebrating his 29th birthday, explained at a press conference after the match that he didn’t really know how to celebrate the goal at the time, he just got caught up in the moment.
A second failed clearance gathered up by Michel Poon-Angeron in the 29th minute helped set up a great second goal. MPA passed to the left wing and Titus Washington crossed into his striker counterpart Azaad Liadi. The striker reached his left foot around the defender struck the ball with a high-quality strike, sending it into the net.
Defending a free kick in the 50th minute from the left side of the 18-yard box also proved difficult for the Hearts. A ball was hard struck through the two-man wall and keeper Hunter Morse had to apply dual fists of fury to clear it out the back. Morse then voiced his displeasure with his wall and set up to defend the impending corner. The corner proved little trouble, and the Hearts marched on.
Dana Ricker from the Dirigo Union commanded the capo position for the DU.
A capo position is in charge of organizing and motivating the supporter’s section through the matches chants and songs. Think of a capo in the sense of a conductor for an orchestra, the capo needs to stay in sync with the band and the chants.
The 62nd-minute quick re-start from Jayden Jones-Riley allowed Titus Washington to take a strike on goal. The ball was pushed back in front of goal and Azaad Liadi making a follow-up run scored a poachers goal for his brace.
The 68th-minute goal was free kick brilliance from Nathan Messer. The 29 yard left footed curling strike found the right side of the net about halfway up the post past a diving CD Faialense goalkeeper.
The celebration from a jazzed-up Nathan Messer started in one direction and quickly turned in the direction of the supporters’ section full of fans trying to pull the Hearts players in their direction to celebrate. Messer jumped into the waiting arms of supporters over the top of the expanded metal fence and Ollie Wright was right behind him in celebration followed by the rest of the team.
The bond of players and supporters was forged in the celebration of a 29-yard left-footed curling shot in the misty night of Lewiston, Maine that capped off a lot of hard work that went into the 4-0 scoreline.
After the goal-scoring celebration had ended and play was restarted, the supporters immediately went into a “we want Hersi” chant in the direction of Bobby Murphy. The Dirigo Union supporters wanted their Maine original. They wanted Lewiston, Maine’s Khalid Hersi.
In the 79th minute, Khalid Hersi took the field to the crowd’s delight. Hersi cut out some passes and added to a Hearts attack to keep the pressure on CD Faialense.
Samuel Camacho went down hurt in the 85th minute and never returned. The Hearts played with 10 men for the rest of the match, and CD Faialense got some shots on goal. Jake Keegan playing left back due to the Camacho injury cleared a ball off the goal mouth to keep the clean sheet.
Full Time: Hearts 4 CD Faialense 0.
After sharing some words with the CD Faialense players, the Hearts players joined hands and ran to their supporters thanking them for their sterling support throughout the match.
Coach Bobby Murphy was gifted the King of Hearts players card that was modified by Ian Lynch to display Bobby Murphy’s face onto the playing card. Instead of a sword, King of Hearts Bobby Murphy is holding a pine tree.
In the days since the March 20th gem in Lewiston, Maine, the Hearts of Pine have learned they will host Hartford Athletic April 2nd in Round 2 of the U.S. Open Cup back at Lewiston High School.
The next match for the Hearts of Pine is March 29 at FC Naples when they kick off the USL League One season. Kickoff is at 7 PM EST on ESPN+
You can watch From The Forest To The Tide and the DU Post-Match Pulse on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
The DU Post-Match Pulse will be LIVE on YouTube the day after each Hearts of Pine match at 5 PM with few exceptions. The Forest To The Tide and DU Post-Match Pulse is part of The Blazing Musket family.