Hearts of Pine vs CD Faialense
This 2025 season, we’ve made it one of our primary missions to cover as many US Open Cup games as possible. It’s the oldest and most historic competition in America, giving opportunities for lower-league teams to slay giants and for communities to be swept up in the excitement of what only a true open tournament can bring.
Over 3,000 people descended on Lewiston, ME to catch Hearts of Pine’s first-ever official match last week. Just when you thought the stands were ready to burst at the seams, hoards of fans would flow through the gate with vigor, anxious to catch this once-in-a-lifetime match. The ground felt like a powder keg.
It’s not every day you get to witness a club’s debut game, and the thousands of supporters shuffled nervously in the unrelenting cold, waiting for the cue to explode. Once the whistle blew, they cheered every tackle, sang through every stoppage of play, and finally, let loose once that first goal hit the net. For a few seconds you could’ve sworn we all touched that beautiful New England sky. It was almost too good to be true… and then we got to do it three more times. No need to pinch ourselves. A commanding 4-0 win to usher in this new era of soccer in Maine.
Here’s what photographer Luke Stergiou had to say about the experience:
“Thousands of people made the journey up to Lewiston, Maine to witness Portland Hearts of Pine’s first ever official match. The club hasn’t even played a competitive league game, yet fans from all over new England were not deterred by the foggy, rainy, and windy weather to watch a US Open Cup tie against reigning BSSL Division 1 champions CD Faialense.”
“Well, those 3,000+ fans were rewarded for their unwavering support as Hearts beat CD Faialense 4-0, perfectly setting up the hype for their inaugural season and maybe even a deep run in the cup.
The Dirigo Union Supporters Group finally got to sing and chant together in the stands for the first time, parents enjoyed this momentous win with their kids, and even Hearts player—and Lewiston native—Khalid Hersi made his professional debut in his hometown in front of friends, family and fans. It was a truly historic night for footy in not just Maine, but New England as a whole… long live the magic of the Open Cup!”
