Recently acquired United striker Ramon Abila celebrated his new club's first victory in its fifth try, his first MLS goal and a bittersweet recent anniversary all in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Vancouver at Allianz Field.
A second-half substitute who played his fourth game with his new team, Abila's 72nd-minute goal was the only one the Loons needed to stop an 0-4 season start and get their first points earned this season.
"It's a huge relief for everybody concerned, most importantly the players," Loons coach Adrian Heath said. "I know pressure starts to build on players, on the coaches, on the manager, even the supporters. You could feel the relief on the supporters at the end. I'm pleased for them all."
Signed in early April, Abila flicked on with his head teammate Robin Lod's precise crossing pass seven minutes after he entered the game and a day after Heath said he still wasn't sure how close to full fitness and health his new striker is.
After his header eluded Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, Abila lifted his jersey in joy to reveal underneath an image of his brother Gaston, who suffered from depression and committed suicide about this time last year.
It came on a night when Heath received the change he saw from a winless start by swapping goalkeepers. He inserted veteran Tyler Miller into the starting 11 for Dayne St. Clair, and several times Miller kept his team even or ahead with timely saves.
Afterward, Abila said in Spanish through an interpreter that all of his celebrations now will be for his brother, even though the gesture got him a yellow card.
He said he still doesn't know all the rules in his new league with his new team in terms of what he can or cannot do to celebrate. He said he didn't care about receiving the yellow card because Wednesday's celebration honored someone very special who gives him the strength to push forward.
