Philadelphia Union win home opener

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Thousands of fans were decked out in blue and gold jerseys, hats, t-shirts and scarves, juggled soccer balls and played soccer games with mini nets and woofed down typical tailgate fare in the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field as early as four hours before the first tap of the Philadelphia Union’s first home game in club history on Saturday.

 Union flags waved from cars in the stiff wind while other fans carried them into the stadium. The Sons of Ben, the fan support group of the Union that is hundreds strong, marched down 11th street chanting and singing en route to the entrance.

That was the scene outside the stadium.

Inside, it was just as electric.

 The entire lower bowl of the stadium was virtually filled with a sprinkling of fans sitting in the club level, and the line was out the door to get into the team store on the main concourse. In front of more than 34,000 fans, the team made a grand entrance on to the field just after 7:50 and Vice President Joe

Biden had the first kick, which is akin to throwing out the first pitch in baseball.

 When Sebastian Le Toux scored in the first minute, the first goal in club history, the crowd went bananas waving their rally towels. When the game ended, they were just as ecstatic as fireworks shot off from the top of the stadium.

 The final score: Union 3, D.C. United 2.

 It was just the first home game for the newest professional team in town, but if Saturday was any indication, the Union should be a popular team and a tough ticket in its inaugural season.

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