VANCOUVER, B.C. – Two goals from Designated Player Eric Hassli paved the way for a 4-2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC victory over Toronto FC in the first-ever all-Canadian MLS game on Saturday in front of a packed house at Empire Field.
It took only 15 minutes for the home side to score their first MLS goal when Davide Chiumiento whipped a dangerous cross into the box. Atiba Harris got a slight deflection enabling the ball to reach the feet of a wide open Hassli. The Frenchman made no mistake, burying the ball off the near post past a helpless Stefan Frei.
Toronto answered five minutes later when Dwayne De Rosario was sprung on a breakaway down the right flank. The TFC captain proceeded to bury a shot to level the match at 1-1, bagging the historic 8,000th goal in league history.
The ‘Caps would not be denied though, and on 26th minute they re-took the lead. With no one pressuring him, Chiumiento dribbled through the Toronto defense before playing a brilliant through-ball to Terry Dunfield, who beat Frei far post for a 2-1 advantage.
The second half continued in the Whitecaps' favor. Hassli ignited the crowd in the 49th when he again found the back of the net, but his goal was called back due to a foul. Harris nearly netted a second in the 51st when he swiped the ball from Harden at midfield, but after darting towards goal his eventual shot was foiled by a great reaction save from Frei.
Vancouver padded their lead in the 63rd minute when corner kick from Russell Teibert landed at the feet of Harris who finished for a two-goal advantage.
Hassli added his second of the afternoon in the 72nd minute when substitute Wes Knight broke free for a breakaway and fed a charging Hassli for an easy tap-in.
Toronto pulled one back two minutes later, however, when Maicon Santos blasted a 20-yard left-footer past Joy Nolly. But it wasn't enough as the 'Caps rode the momentum from the feverish crowd and held on for the win in their MLS debut.
Vancouver now hit the road next weekend as they face Philadelphia on March 26 at PPL Park, while Toronto head home to face MLS' other expansion side, Portland, at BMO Field.
Scoring Summary:
VAN -- Eric Hassli 1 (Atiba Harris 1, Davide Chiumiento 1) 15
TOR -- Dwayne De Rosario 1 (Maicon Santos 1) 20
VAN -- Terry Dunfield 1 (Davide Chiumiento 2) 26
VAN -- Atiba Harris 1 (unassisted) 64
VAN -- Eric Hassli 2 (Wes Knight 1, Atiba Harris 2) 72
TOR -- Maicon Santos 1 (Mikael Yourassowsky 1) 74
Misconduct Summary:
VAN -- Terry Dunfield (caution; Leaves without Permission) 27
TOR -- Nathan Sturgis (caution; Reckless Foul) 31
VAN -- Atiba Harris (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 39
TOR -- Dan Gargan (caution; Reckless Foul) 44
VAN -- Eric Hassli (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 50
Lineups:
Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Nana Attakora, Ty Harden, Adrian Cann, Nathan Sturgis (Gianluca Zavarise 69), Dwayne De Rosario, Jacob Peterson (Mikael Yourassowsky 71), Nick Soolsma (Keith Makubuya 46), Maicon Santos, Javier Martina.
Substitutes Not Used: Oscar Cordon, Matt Gold, Ashtone Morgan, Milos Kocic.
Vancouver Whitecaps -- Jay Nolly, Jonathan Leathers, Michael Boxall, Jay DeMerit, Alain Rochat, Gershon Koffie, Davide Chiumiento (Nizar Khalfan 46), Terry Dunfield, Russell Teibert (Wes Knight 69), Atiba Harris, Eric Hassli (Camilo 83).
Substitutes Not Used: Jeb Brovsky, Greg Janicki, Long Tan, Joe Cannon.
Referee: Paul Ward
Referee's Assistants: Anthony Vasoli; Joe Fletcher
4th Official: David Gantar
Attendance: 22,592
Time of Game: 2:04
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 48 degrees
