Whitecaps open second MLS campaign on strong note, while the Impact are off to rougher start

The Vancouver Whitecaps' debut Major League Soccer season in 2011 was far from ideal, with the team firing coach Teitur Thordarson mid-year, finishing with six wins, eighteen losses and 10 draws, and placing last in their conference and tied for last in the 18-team league with just 28 points from 34 games. Their second campaign carries high expectations, though, and it's off to a bright start thanks to an impressive season-opening 2-0 victory over the expansion Montreal Impact at B.C. Place Saturday. For the Impact, it was a less-than-stellar way to begin their MLS history, but there were positive signs that they can build on going forward. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps will have to be careful not to get too cocky based on this one, as last year started with a stunning 4-2 victory over Toronto FC but quickly fell apart from there.

Vancouver fans will have a lot to be happy about from this result, though. Their team not only came out on the right side of the scoresheet, but also looked thoroughly impressive along the way. New forward Sebastian Le Toux made an immediate impact, notching his first Vancouver goal in the fourth minute off a feed from Eric Hassli, and veteran defender Young-Pyo Lee proved to be a valuable acquisition, saving the day by clearing a Montreal shot off the line in the 61st minute. New head coach Martin Rennie's system appeared to be working solidly, much as it did for most of the preseason, and the positional flexibility he's touted was very noticeable Saturday.

Hassli, Le Toux, Camilo and Davide Chiumento demonstrated a great ability to interchange with each other from the forward and attacking midfield slots in Rennie's 4-2-3-1 system, with Gershon Koffie and Jun Marques Davidson serving mostly as defensive midfielders and keeping Montreal's attackers locked down. These Whitecaps looked like a flowing, flexible squad that can quickly turn from defence to attack, and that was most evident on their second goal, where they quickly counterattacked off a Montreal turnover and Le Toux and Hassli combined to play Camilo into the box, where he finished spectacularly. If this team can keep up that kind of play against more fearsome MLS opponents, it could be an excellent year for the Whitecaps.

The upside for Impact fans is more limited, but this was always going to be a difficult fixture for them. Playing their first MLS game on the road was tough, especially against a Vancouver team very eager to show hometown fans the dark days are over. There were plenty of good moments from Montreal, though, and players like Sanna Nyassi and Justin Mapp had terrific chances. The Impact should have had at least one goal, and they have plenty to build on going forward. The early part of the MLS schedule doesn't look good for them, with the impressive Chicago Fire coming to town next week and a three-game road trip against the Columbus Crew, the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake to follow, but this Montreal side does have talent. If they can pull it together, it might not be a bad year for them either.

Of course, the MLS season is a long haul, with 34 regular-season games scheduled plus other competitions such as the Amway Canadian Championship and the CONCACAF Champions League. This opener doesn't mean a ton in the grand scheme of things; although it is three valuable points for Vancouver, they picked the same total up with an impressive showing on their first match day last year, and it didn't stop them from collapsing soon afterwards. Both of these teams do have talent and potential, though, and if they can build on the strengths they showed Saturday while reducing their weaknesses, they could have solid 2012 seasons.