VANCOUVER, B.C - The 2016 MLS season kicked off at BC Place on Sunday afternoon with an all Canadian battle featuring the visiting Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps. For the second opening match of the season the Whitecaps fell to a bitter Canadian rival. Montreal surprised a young and talented Vancouver side and came away with a 3-2 win before a crowd of 22,120.
Skipper Ignacio Piatti scored a brace and added an assist to lead the Montreal Impact to victory. Dominic Oduro scored the game-winning goal and added an assist. Defensive errors doomed the Whitecaps from the get go. Piatti scored a highlight reel goal 19' minutes in after weaving his way through the heart of the Vancouver defense. Jordan Harvey was able to cut the Montreal lead in half via a free kick just before halftime. Kendall Waston added a late stoppage time goal, but it wasn't enough. Newcomer Harry Shipp picked up his first assist and Montreal goalkeeper Even Bush earned himself a win on his 31st birthday and was asked if that's the best birthday gift he has ever received.
"I suppose so, I won't recount some of the birthday gifts I got. Today to get our first win on the road in Canada during regular season. That's huge for the club, that's huge for the us. The way we started last year and to get 3 points right off the bat on the road that's huge."
Following the match Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted was placing all the blame and errors on himself.
"On a personal level that's some of the worst I've played as a Whitecap and I'm gutted for the team. I thought we did well in periods today. I thought we scored two good goals, but we ended up giving three away, which is not a nice start to the season. I've said all along that mistakes are going to come and that's part of soccer, part of life."
A usually upbeat Jordan Harvey summed up the disappointment after another opening season loss.
"We dug ourselves a hole, I thought we came out a little flat. With that said, I thought we played alright. We just couldn't finish and we made some mistakes."
The Opening 45
The Bug, Cristian Techera was buzzing all over the Montreal goal early on, but could not find an early goal for the home side. Montreal weathered the first onslaught of pressure from the Whitecaps and opened the scoring. Ignacio Piatti was able to get by Kianz Froese and then nutmeg Christian Bolanos. Piatti then got around new Whitecaps right-back Fraser Aird and a flat-footed Kendall Waston as the Argentine playmaker riffled a shot low far corner past David Ousted.
Montreal had an early lead to the shock of the supporters. Vancouver was not able to capitalize on a Octavio Rivero shot that hit the crossbar, a Rivero breakaway and a free kick into the Impact wall from Techera. Coming into the match Montreal players had talked about getting through the early stages of the matches and settling in. Mauro Biello's match plan was on point early on.
A bungled play at the back gifted Impact striker Dominic Oduro his first goal of the season. Piatti played a ball into the path of the 30 year-old Ghanian and a you take it, I got it miscommunication unfolded between Kendall Waston and David Ousted. Neither Vancouver player cleared the ball and Oduro was in on goal with an open net to give Montreal a 2-0 lead. Ousted once again was taking all the blame for the poor communication between him and his centre-back.
"No, it was all me. I came out and I think I got it. I should have communicated better with Kendall. Then I tried to slide and ended up not wanting to collide with him and slide past the ball, so that was all me."
Not wanting to go into the half down by a pair of goals, Vancouver cut the deficit in half with a goal from left-back Jordan Harvey. Ambroise Oyongo caught Techera up high with a foul and was issued a yellow card. On the ensuing free kick, Pedro Morales found an unmarked Harvey who was able to score his first goal since June 1, 2014 at Portland.
The teams went into the break with Montreal ahead 2-1 and Vancouver with a 52% - 48% possession advantage.
The Second Half
Vancouver's defensive woes were a cause for concern as Montreal continued to catch the Caps on the break. Substitute Anthony Jackson-Hamel struck the far left post as he was able to evade the Whitecaps back-four. Carl Robinson's side has their chances, but scoring an equalizer remained difficult.
Kekuta Manneh entered for Techera in the 60' min and soon after Blas Perez made his Whitecaps debut in the 66' replacing Kianz Froese. Manneh immediately made his presence known as he sent in a lovely cross to Octavio Rivero. The Caps striker was able to get his head on the ball, but was out done by a tremendous save from the outstretched Evan Bush.
The Vancouver Whitecaps were pressing in search for that all important trying goal, but it just wasn't meant to be. Piatti added his second of the match after Oduro sent him in 1v1 with David Ousted in the 88' minute. The Vancouver defense pushed forward and left the barn door open for a Montreal counter. Kendall Waston was able to head home a goal at the death in stoppage time, but it wasn't enough. Vancouver shot themselves in the foot from the start and could not overcome the Impact and Piatti..
Man of the Match
Ignacio Piatti
Piatti was all over the pitch and easily the best player all around. The 31 year-old was not daunted by the Whitecaps strong defense from a season ago as he darted wherever he wanted and caused havoc at the back for the Caps. The Montreal captain took charge and dictated play for the Impact with a brace and an assist. The Caps young team was not able to handle his slick foot work and he was instrumental in all the visitors goals. Piatti is going to have to be a big part of the Impact offense this season with Didier Drogba refusing to play on artificial turf pitch. After the first match, Piatti showed he is up for the task of leading Montreal.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Fraser Aird, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Kianz Froese 68 (Blas Perez); Christian Bolaños, Pedro Morales(C), Cristian Techera 60 (Kekuta Manneh); Octavio Rivero, 81 (Masato Kudo). 4-2-3-1.
Montreal Impact Starting XI: Evan Bush; Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Victor Cabrera, Danny Toia; Marco Donadel, 56 (Calum Mallace), Eric Alexander; Harry Shipp, Ignacio Piatti(C), Lucas Ontivero, 53 (Anthony Jackson-Hamel); Dominic Oduro 90+1 (Hassoun Camara). 4-2-3-1
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