Vancouver’s Renniessance overwhelms Impact in MLS opener

It took just three minutes and seven seconds for the Renniessance to officially take hold in Vancouver.

That’s how long after the kickoff of the MLS season opener that it took for the new and improved Vancouver Whitecaps to stick the ball in the back of the Montreal Impact net.

After taking a perfectly weighted headed flick from French compatriot Eric Hassli, Sebastien Le Toux, the MLS star forward acquired from Philadelphia in the off-season, used a deft left-footed chip to push the ball into space behind Impact defender Tyson Wahl, ran onto the ball and then slid the ball past keeper Donovan Ricketts.

For Vancouver, it was a dream start in front of 21,000 fans at B.C. Place. For the Montreal Impact, it was a rude welcome to MLS.

“The disappointing part is that it happened so quickly into the game that we didn’t give ourselves a chance for the game to settle in and we are already down 1-0,” said Impact coach Jesse Marsch.

Before the match, the Vancouver Southsiders displayed a large banner declaring that, yes, this was the beginning of the “Renniessance.”

After a 2-0 win over their old, hated rivals, Whitecaps fans can be excused for taking this win a little out of context. Really, it is hard to judge if new coach Martin Rennie is getting everything right, or a case of the Whitecaps exploiting what looked to be a toothless expansion side that’s short on offensive threat.

But for today, the can celebrate Le Toux and Camilo’s well-taken goals. They can celebrate a stunning MLS debut from former Carolina RailHawk Jun Marques Davidson, who was named man of the match for a dominating performance in the centre of midfield.

After the game, Davidson, who played for Rennie in Carolina, talked about the loyalty the players have for their coach.

“There is a lot of loyalty, and he has all the faith,” said Davidson. “For me, it’s all the loyalty I can feel. He brought me to this team. He made me feel important to this team, so when I go on the pitch I am going to do whatever I can do.”

Davidson made a key defensive play right before the halftime whistle, which was just as important as the the Le Toux goal. After a Vancouver set piece was broken up by the Impact, the back line was slow to react as Justin Mapp and the speedy Sanna Nyassi broke up the field. Davidson recognized the danger, tracked Nyassi’s run and made a fantastic sliding tackle to take the ball off Nyassi’s feet. If Nyassi scores, the Whitecaps lose all the momentum.

“On a set piece like that, I have to be in that position,” said Davidson. “So, to me, I was just doing my job.”

Rennie lauded Davidson’s play, with an “I knew it all along” kind of aplomb.

“He controls the tempo of the the game, and he also wins headers and wins tackles.”

After Le Toux got the Southsiders singing Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough,” Argentine defender Martin Bonjour could have made it 2-0. He was left unmarked on a corner, but he headed his effort wide.

In the second half a clever dummy-and-pass combination between Whitecaps Eric Hassli and Davide Chiumiento mesmerized the Montreal back line. Camilo sprinted into the gap and received the pass. He made a quick cut to the left that sent former Serie A defender Matteo Ferrari sprawling, then unleashed a fine strike that gave Ricketts no chance.

Montreal had a fantastic chance to chop the deficit back to one, as Davy Arnaud headed a corner towards goal. But his effort was cleared off the line by Korean Young-Pyo Lee.

Whitecaps’ defender Alain Rochat had a great chance to rub salt in the wound. After a scramble in the Impact penalty area, Rochat collected the ball and thundered a shot off the post.

At time, it looked like men versus boys. But Rennie said it’s still just another step in the process.

“It takes a long time to build confidence and belief, but winning games like today certainly helps to do that.”