VANCOUVER, BC – A large banner, unfurled before kickoff, announced “THE RENNIESANCE BEGINS.”
After a last-place finish in 2011, the Vancouver Whitecaps opened the Martin Rennie era with an important win in front of 21,000 fans at B.C. Place on Saturday.
The 2-0 victory signalled change and hope. It came against a longtime Canadian rival, the Montreal Impact. And anything less would have been a dispiriting start against the latest MLS expansion side.
But as important as the win was the muted celebration.
Not like last season, when a 4-2 win over Toronto even sparked singing in the dressing room.
“It’s definitely more somber,” said Caps’ captain Jay DeMerit, who is fit again after a season of injury woes and was a physical force. “Guys aren’t going crazy, yelping or yelling.
“I think when you have the confidence to go out and win like this, just a good, solid performance where guys did their jobs…that’s the type of performance we can do every week.”
The Toronto win last season was followed by a three-month drought. The Caps finished with six wins, and not many fans need reminding of that.
Last season also ended with just five clean sheets. Only New England and Toronto allowed more goals than the Whitecaps, who surrendered 55.
So the shutout and the win on Saturday were equally well received.
As were the goals.
The first, from newcomer Sebastien Le Toux, was pretty. The second, from last year’s MVP Camilo, was breathtaking.
Both were textbook lessons in teamwork.
It should be a sign of things to come this season as Rennie’s squad is loaded with skill up front.
For a team with 11 fresh faces — including four in Saturday’s starting lineup — there were plenty of promising signs as the old and new start to mesh.
DeMerit and Argentinian centre back signing Martin Bonjour naturally have some things work out, but it looks to be a solid partnership at the back.
Eric Hassli matched DeMerit’s physicality up front, absorbing his usual allotment of abuse from defenders. He also combined well on both goals with Le Toux, and those two barely played together during the pre-season.
Young-Pyo Lee, the South Korean star brought in to fill a hole at right-back, was lively getting down the wing, slick on the ball and sound in defence.
And Jun Marques Davidson, one of Rennie’s former Carolina RailHawk players, might have been the best Whitecap, bringing size and simple play to the holding midfield position.
For all the promise, though, humility was in great supply.
“That was just a good win to start,” said Chiumiento, “but we have a whole season to play, so that means nothing today.
“The win last year against Toronto was incredible, but, after that, nothing else.
“We were lucky to score fast in the first half [Saturday]. In the end, we deserved to win — the second goal was so important for us.”
The win wasn’t without its nervous moments.
Montreal forward Sanna Nyassi, whom the Whitecaps picked in their expansion draft then dealt immediately to Colorado, should have made it 2-1 in the 59th.
Nyassi found himself wide open dead on from 15 yards but fired well high over Joe Cannon.
Two minutes later, it was Lee to the rescue as he headed Davy Arnaud’s header off the line.
Davidson also made a key play seconds before halftime. He raced back and slid to cut out a low cross with Nyassi waiting in front.
Those crucial minutes before and after halftime were a nightmare for last year’s Whitecaps. Just another sign of change.
“I’m really pleased to get the win,” said Rennie. “For the first time in a while, the Whitecaps were the favourites going into an MLS game, and that brought some pressure.”
It’s a pressure they handled well. And one they’ll be pleased to deal with all season long.