The Portland Timbers ended their 12-game away run to open the season on Saturday night, travelling cross country to face the best team in the East, the Philadelphia Union.
In a consummate away performance, scoring goals on the counter-attack and defending with discipline without the ball, the Timbers squeezed their way to a 3-1 win over an excellent Union team that pushed hard in the second half, the Portland goals coming from new designated player signing Brian Fernandez, twice, and Diego Valeri.
Here are three things we learned.
