Piatti Spoils Whitecaps’ Opener

By Bruce Nolte 

The Montreal Impact surprised the Vancouver Whitecaps before 22,120 fans at BC Place Stadium on Sunday afternoon in their home opener with the Impact coming out on top 3-2 in a very entertaining game in the MLS opener for both clubs as Ignacio Piatti scored twice including the game winner late in the second half in the 88th minute the Whitecaps defender Kendall Watson made things interesting at the scoring in extra time leaving the Caps short on their comeback.

Vancouver came out strong in the opening minutes creating chances with the front line of Rivero and Christian Techera as well as newcomer Christian Bolanos testing Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush celebrating his birthday on the afternoon as well Techera in the 7th minute tested Bush tipping the ball over the crossbar followed by a chance by Bolanos in the 12th minute as they had Montreal on their heals.

But then the Impact started to get their legs going testing the Whitecaps defense stretching it out as Ignacio Piatti got penetration into the caps penalty area following several close call for the Vancouver defense before hammering home a shot past David Ousted from the edge of the box to open the scoring for the visitors in the 19th minute.

Just after the opening goal by Ignacio Piatti of the Impact Christian Techera had a great chance to even the match as his shot was tipped by Even Bush over the crossbar in the 23rd minute as the Montreal maintained their slim lead over the Caps.

Dominic Oduro came within a whisker of sending the Impact to a two goal  testing Ousted from the top of the box before getting a second chance and this time not missing as he buried one behind Ousted to put the Impact up 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

Just prior to the half Vancouver finally got on the scoreboard when Jordan Harvey off a corner free kick got his boot on the cross in the 45th minute beating Bush of the Impact to cut the lead to 2-1 at the half as the teams went to the intermission.

Both teams started to make subs in the second the maximum required by the MLS Montreal in the 53rd minute Anthony Jackson-Harmel came on for Lucas Ontivero as play resumed Vancouver almost tied the game on a Rivero

rocket that hit the crossbar with Even Bush beaten.

In the 56th minute Calum Mallace came in for Marco Donadel with the Impacts second sub of the of the game Vancouver made some key subs as well with Ketuta Manneh relieving Christian Techera in the 63rd minute and they made a second change three minutes later as Blas Perez replaced Kianz Froese one more change for Vancouver to try get some offence as Masato Kudo took the place of Froese.

Toronto added an insurance goal in the in the 88th minute when Dominic Oduro on a long ball down the left side of the field found a charging Ignacio Piatti as Vancouver cheated and got caught taking the ball and cutting in to beat

Ousted from the left side of the penalty area to extend the Impact lead to 3-1 and with three minutes of added time Vancouver’s Jordan Harvey as time was whistled in beat Even Bush to make the final score 3-2 for Montreal.

Stats in the game shots Vancouver had 22 to 11

Shots on target 10-5 for the Caps

Fouls 12-10 Montreal

Shots saved Pct. Evan Bush Montreal 80% David Ousted Vancouver 40%

Vancouver head on the road for a pair of games next Saturday against Sporting Kansas City and the following week in Seattle taking on the Sounders before returning home on the 26th to take on the Houston Dynamo 7pm at BC Place for the kickoff.