DeMerit won’t have fond memories of final Whitecaps game at Empire Field

After the Vancouver Whitecaps played their final game at Empire Field, you wouldn’t want to blame Jay Demerit if volunteered to start taking the place apart brick by brick. The Whitecaps’ veteran central defender played a role in three goals on Saturday. Unfortunately, they were the three that the Seattle Sounders scored to take a 3-1 victory over the home team at its last-ever game at Empire Field. The Whitecaps will move to the new B.C. Place next week. After the Whitecaps took an early lead on a goal from Camilo, a handball call against DeMerit allowed Brad Evans to equalize on a penalty before halftime.It was tough luck for the American defender — the Sounders had come down the field on a break and held a numerical advantage over the Whitecaps, who had too many men caught upfield. The ball game to Alvaro Fernandez, who was wide open in the box,. DeMerit scrambled across to block the shot, but it hit him in the arms he had thrown up to protect his fsce. His hands were moving, though, so, there was little choice but to ive the penalty. While DeMerit was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in the first half, he made a major error in the second. In the 63rd minute, as he ran back towards his own goal, he chose to try to hook a bouncing ball over his shoulder rather than concede a corner by knocking the ball into touch. The ball went over DeMerit’s shoulder, all right — and right to Seattle striker Fredy Montero at the top of the penalty area. He punished the Whitecaps, pounding a shot past keeper Joe Cannon and into the top corner of the goal. Two minutes later, and Montero had another goal; this time a long shot that deflected off DeMerit and looped over Cannon. Like so many losses for the Whitecaps this season, it started out promisingly. The Whitecaps dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and could have been three goals to the good before the Evans penalty. But a mix of poor finishing and great goalkeeping from Kasey Keller kept the Whitecaps to the one Camilo goal. Keller made a fantastic save on Whitecaps defender Michael Boxall, who came up for a corner. After Seattle attempted to clear the ball, it was played back into the box by Vancouver midfielder Peter Vagenas. Boxall was alone in front of goal, but Keller came out to challenge and smother the shot. Keller also took a goal away from Whitecaps ‘ striker Mustapha Jarju; he jumped onto a great through ball by Vagenas, and Keller palmed his shot wide — a touch so slight that the referee mistakenly awarded Seattle a goal kick. Jarju had another frustrating day — the Designated Player was stopped that one time, but on three other occasions in front of goal, put attempts well wide. The most disturbing was when he looked to be behind the Seattle backline, on the right side of the penalty area. Rather than cut in for a shot, he continued to run forward, taking away his own shooting angle, then blasting wildly wide. Jarju is far too young, and has played too few MLS games, to be considered a Designated Player bust along the lines of Branko Boskovic or Mista. But the Belgian second division, where he excelled, is quite a few steps below the quality of MLS — and you can’t help but think he has been overwhelmed by the jump. The Whitecaps’ goal was sublime; Eric Hassli set Davide Chiumiento free behind the Seattle back line with a perfectly weighted backheel. Chiumiento then slotted to Camilo, who blasted the ball home.