Soccer crowd sings national anthem a cappella after audio system goes out (VIDEO)

Fans gathered at Sporting Park to watch the soccer match between Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City Saturday night showed their patriotic spirit loud and clear before the game started. Loud being the key word.

While the pre-game national anthem was played, the public address system and microphone went out leaving everyone without musical accompaniment. So the fans took over. Instead of letting the song go unsung, the entire crowd cleared its collective throat and belted out a stirring a cappella version of "The Star Spangled Banner,"  providing its own volume to get the night started.

And everyone knew the words.

The Union —who hadn't won a game since August — were just as inspired and went on to a 1-0 victory.

20,000 soccer fans sing National Anthem in unison

At the Portland Timbers MLS home opener last night, rather than having a single person belt out the National Anthem at the beginning of the match, over 20,000 fans in the stands sang as one.

Sheets of rain and chilly temperatures didn't stop the wildly enthusiastic fans— known as the "Timbers Army"— from singing a fine rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at sold-out JELD-WEN Field.

 They even finished it under 1:30— which has to be a record these days.



It was a stirring moment before the nationally-televised game started and it got even better for the home team who came back from a one goal deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Union, 3-1.

It was nice to see players— a lot of them non-American— being moved by the scene they were surrounded by and not scratching their crotches or unloading a gob of chaw during the song.