Azaad Liadi of the Hearts of Pine reacts after scoring against CD Faialense. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

LEWISTON — Woo hoo indeed.

Those words blared from the speakers after Nathan Messer’s blistering free kick into the top-right corner of the goal put a capper on the Portland Hearts of Pine’s 4-0 U.S. Open Cup victory over amateur side CD Faialense of Cambridge, Mass. on Thursday in Lewiston. It fit Messer’s goal, which drew woos of appreciation from the estimated crowd of 3,200.

Even more, Blur’s celebratory anthem fit the festive feel of the first professional soccer game played in Maine by the state’s newest pro franchise.

Pat Langlois of the Hearts of Pine competes for the ball with Denis Petro of CD Faialense. Derek Davis/Portland Press Heral

The Hearts of Pine will open their inaugural USL League One season on March 29 in Naples, Florida. On Thursday night they presented themselves to their home state, about 40 minutes away from what will be their permanent home at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

“Firsts are hard to come by in this world, you know what I mean,” said Hearts coach Bobby Murphy. “And to be first and to be able to be a part of something that means so much to so many people is humbling to me and the players. It’s not lost on them what we saw in terms of a turnout on a (weeknight) in less than ideal weather conditions.”

This first couldn’t have gone much better. Despite it being a misty Thursday night with temperatures hovering at 40 degrees, the bleachers on both sides of Don Roux Field were packed with hundreds more fans standing along every bit of fence that provided a view.

“When we came out for the game and we were walking out with the referees (the stadium) was completely full and it was just incredible,” said defender and captain Patrick Langlois. “It was a great experience tonight. I think we showed that it’s going to be an exciting group. Obviously plenty of goals tonight and then to keep a clean sheet, you can’t ask for much better of a start.”

Walter Verala is a native of Cape Verde who played soccer at Bunker Hill Community College. He played on men’s teams in and around Boston that played clubs like CD Faialense before reaching USL League One with Chattanooga in 2023. Last season, Verala wasn’t on any team.

Fans cheer on the Hearts of Pine during their game against CD Faialense at Lewiston High School in a first-round game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

It was Verala who scored the franchise’s first goal in the 17th minute and he did it on his 28th birthday.

“To be honest, guys were saying in the locker room I would get the first goal,” Verala said. “I don’t know if it was because of my birthday or anything like that but that feeling is surreal. It means a lot. To me. To my people that were there, my family. It’s like unique.”

Twelve minutes later, after a series of attacking forays, Azaad Liali one-timed a crisp cross by Messer with a sweeping side kick that zipped into the net. As with Verala’s goal, it was Messer, a left back, who created the opportunity with a decisive and fast move into the box with the ball at his feet that led to a crossing pass.

Liali made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute when he pounced on an uncontested rebound off a direct kick.

Then it was Messer who finished the scoring with his direct kick laser.

Hearts of Pine players celebrate with fans after Nathan Messer scored on a free kick against CD Faialense. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

Goalkeeper Hunter Morse made two tough saves in the final minutes when the Hearts were playing down a man because they had used all their subs only to have reserve Samuel Mahlamaki Camacho get hurt on a seemingly benign play without a defender near him.

Messer, 23, was an individual standout with two assists, his goal and match-long cohesive and effective runs pairing with midfielder Ollie Wright.

The Hearts of Pine advance to the second round of the 110th edition of the Open Cup, to be played April 1-2. With the first round of 32 games, each pitting a pro team against an amateur squad, completed the second-round matches will be announced Friday.

Hearts club president Kevin Schohl said it’s possible the Hearts could host another Open Cup game and, if so, Lewiston would be the likely site. The new modular locker rooms at Fitzpatrick Stadium were only delivered this week and other renovation work is still to be finished prior to the May 4 home opener.

Hearts of Pine coach Bobby Murphy congratulates Azaad Liadi after Liadi scored a goal. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

It is fair to point out that the Hearts’ first win came against an amateur team. While the Hearts have been training diligently since mid-January, CD Faialense got together on Saturdays. But it is also important to note that not every pro team wins Open Cup first-round games. Seven amateur teams won in 2024 and three had won this year entering Thursday’s action.

Murphy said the Open Cup format combined with the historic nature of it being the Hearts of Pine’s first game had him worried.

“This game took a lot out of me, I mean personally,” Murphy said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to coach in MLS stadiums and I was never as nervous as I was tonight, just because of what it means to everyone and to have such a great night and then if we came out and fell on our faces, that would be hard.”

Matt Civello of South Portland sings songs with other Dirigo Union members and Hearts of Pine fans during a gathering at Craft Brew Underground in Auburn on Thursday. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald