Vancouver Whitecaps' Alain Rochat heads the ball away from Toronto FC's Reggie Lambe during their season-opening game yesterday at BC Place. (GETTY IMAGES)
VANCOUVER - It was a tale of two halves in every since of the idiom.
Toronto FC’s first-half unveiling to rave reviews was erased from most peoples’ memories when Vancouver’s Gershon Koffie rifled the Whitecaps to a 1-0 win not long after a rusty start gave TFC supporters cautiously optimistic confidence.
But the half-time bewilderment of being level on the road changed after the break when the heavily favoured ’Caps asserted their superiority, keeping Toronto winless in 15 games dating back to last season.
In the 58th minute, a quick combination saw Vancouver’s Y.P. Lee connect with Daigo Kobayashi, whose quick touch found Koffie streaking from the top of the box before he sent a knee-high laser past Toronto’s Joe Bendik, bringing the 21,000 in attendance at BC Place to their feet.
It was a bitter pill after watching the Reds more than hang with last year’s Western Conference playoff participants through the first 45 minutes.
