It was the rematch that everyone was waiting for.
Three months earlier – to the day – the Portland Timbers had defeated Columbus Crew SC 2-1 at MAPFRE in Columbus, Ohio to win the 2015 MLS Cup championship.
Now the two sides were meeting again, this time in the 2016 MLS regular season opener, and all eyes were on Providence Park. How would the fans react to their heroes taking the field for the first time in a meaningful match since the MLS Cup victory?
That was the reaction from the Timbers Army the moment that the team's championship banner was unveiled.
The Army would share its own banner only minutes later when they hoisted their first tifo of the 2016 season.
“I thought it was incredible. It was brilliant,” defender Liam Ridgewell said of the display after the match. “One of the best starts I’ve ever been involved with in my professional footballing career. A big thanks to the fans for setting it on for us. It was nice to celebrate that way. I watched it all the way through. It was fantastic. One of the best things I’ve experienced in my footballing career after winning something.”
Both the raising of the championship banner and the Timbers Army tifo provided fitting tributes to the Timbers' achievement: the first major trophy in franchise history.
And the team capped off the championship celebrations with an equally fitting win, defeating Crew SC by the same scoreline as December's MLS Cup win: 2-1.
