As Vancouver Whitecaps FC kicked off the 2018 MLS season with a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact at home on Sunday, Vancouver’s two goal scorers collectively reached a big milestone: 100 MLS goals.

While Kei Kamara, the 33-year-old striker who made his Whitecaps debut in the game, scored his 99th goal in MLS, 17-year-old wunderkind Alphonso Davies opened his MLS account with his first.

Despite the gulf of experience between the two players, they were able to connect to put the ‘Caps on the scoreboard.

After a stalemate in a first half where the Whitecaps looked dangerous, Kamara opened the scoring in the 63rd minute. Russell Teibert found Davies in space on the left wing and a terrific cross from the 17-year-old Canadian connected with Kamara’s head. The veteran guided the ball into the goal, leaving Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush with no chance.

The cross, the header, the dance moves! Kei Kamara opens his account for #VWFC.#VANvMTL https://t.co/z9IemFerad — Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) March 5, 2018

Vancouver kept on the front foot and only seven minutes later, Davies scored his first career MLS goal. Streaking into the box from the left wing, Cristian Techera found Davies in front of goal where he blasted a shot that Bush could not control.

The clean sheet was not meant to be for Stefan Marinovic, however, as Matteo Mancosu, the Impact’s Italian striker, headed home a cross from Daniel Lovitz in the 81st minute. It appeared that Aaron Maund, who stepped into the lineup to replace the departed Tim Parker, was marking Mancosu on the far post. Whether or not Parker could’ve prevented the goal can only be pure speculation, but it is something worth considering.

Notably, for Canadian soccer fans, six Canadians started the game. With Marcel de Jong, Russell Teibert, and Alphonso Davies featuring for the ‘Caps and Michael Petrasso, Samuel Piette, and Raheem Edwards playing for the Impact, it was a bright spot for a league often devoid of Canadian talent.

Four newcomers also featured for Vancouver in the match as Kei Kamara and Efrain Juarez started, with Felipe and Anthony Blondell coming for the bench. Kamara was a star, showing off his offensive prowess while also tracking back defensively when needed, while Juarez showed his physicality, picking up a yellow card in the 11th minute and making some crunching tackles in the midfield. Felipe and Blondell did not stand out in their cameo appearances.

Credit for the victory must also be given to Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. A new 4-1-4-1 formation looked lethal for the ‘Caps on the attack and attacking substitutions, even with a lead, solidified the win for Vancouver.

Northern Starting XI Man of the Match: Alphonso Davies

https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/970460143891574784

Despite being ineligible for the official “Budweiser Man of the Match” for being underage, the 17-year-old was the best player on the pitch for the ‘Caps to open the season.

His picture-perfect cross to Kamara opened the scoring, while his first MLS goal was too much for Evan Bush to handle and won the Whitecaps the game.

Although Kamara showed off in front of net and Vancouver’s newest designated player Kendall Waston made some big defensive plays, the poise and composure of the boy nearly half their age makes him the Northern Starting XI Man of the Match.

Stats and Lineups:

[wptab name=’Stats’]

Goals:

1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Kei Kamara (Assists: Alphonso Davies, Russell Teibert) – 63’

2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Alphonso Davies (Assists: Cristian Techera, Efrain Juarez) – 70’

1-2 Montreal Impact – Matteo Mancosu (Assists: Daniel Lovitz, Ignacio Piatti) – 81’

Cautions:

Efrain Juarez – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 11’

Victor Cabrera – Montreal Impact – 32’

Kendall Waston – Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 37’

Matteo Mancosu – Montreal Impact – 92’

Statistics:

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal Impact Goals 2 1 Shots 11 8 Shots on Target 4 1 Possession 49.6% 50.4% Corners 3 4 Duels Won 68 63 Tackles Won 12 16 Saves 0 2 Clearances 16 24 Offsides 5 1 Fouls 13 15 Yellow Cards 2 2 Red Cards 0 0

Statistical data from Opta.

[/wptab]

[wptab name=’Vancouver Whitecaps FC’]

(4-1-4-1)

Substitutes: Felipe for Reyna (75’), Shea for Davies (81’), Blondell for Kamara (89’)

Unused Substitutes: Rowe, Ibini, Mezquida, Aja

[/wptab]

[wptab name=’Montreal Impact’]

(4-1-4-1)Substitutes: Vargas for Edwards (70’), Choiniere for Raitala (78’)

Unused Substitutes: Pantemis, Oduro, Duvall, Shome, Donadel

[/wptab]

[end_wptabset]

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Jacob Noseworthy jacobnoseworthy@outlook.com Jacob is a 21-year-old political science major at the University of Victoria, but he is also setting his sights towards a minor in journalism. He joined Northern Starting Eleven to combine his passions of soccer and journalism and to help promote and grow the sport in Canada. NSXI gives him the opportunity to refine and grow his writing skills, while also growing his love of the beautiful game. When he’s not studying, Jacob can usually be found watching soccer, whether he is supporting Vancouver Whitecaps FC from across the Georgia Strait or at Centennial Stadium cheering on the UVic Vikes.

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