Boyd logs on and opens his account for new club

KRIS Boyd netted the winner for his new club on his debut, then celebrated by raising a tree log to the Portland Timbers fans after the game!

The former Rangers, Kilmarnock and Scotland striker had a debut to remember as he headed the only goal of the game against AIK Stockholm in a pre-season tournament. But he had to embrace a unique tradition with the MLS club after the goal.

After each goal scored by Timbers at their home stadium, a slice is cut from a tree log. The log slab is then paraded through the stands and ultimately presented to the goal scorer in a post-game ceremony. Boyd said: “It was a bit strange at first!

“Hopefully, I’ll get used to it and score a few more between now and the end of the season. It was something new for me, that’s for sure.

“You want to win games, and you want to get off to a good start in the pre-season matches.

“It was a good start, but the most important thing is to get the fitness out of the game, but to top it off with a goal was good. It was good to get out for 75 minutes. It was my first game in a long time. It may take a few more weeks to get up to full speed, but it felt good.”

Portland manager John Spencer said: “He’s nowhere near match fit yet, but it was good for him to score.

“If you get the ball in there, he’s going to get on to it nine times out of ten.

“And if you’re switched off for a moment, he’s going to punish you.”