VANCOUVER - It was a moment of madness that highlighted an afternoon of celebration for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Midfielder Terry Dunfield celebrated scoring Vancouver's second goal of the match by running to the stands and launching himself into the Empire Field crowd.
He landed in the lap of his parents, who were among 50 family and friends on hand to support Dunfield and watch the Whitecaps defeat Toronto FC 4-2 Saturday to win their first Major League Soccer game.
"I scored and went crazy," Dunfield said with a big grin after the match. "It was a moment of madness."
Big striker Eric Hassli scored twice, including the Whitecaps' first MLS goal, but it was Dunfield's impromptu leap that captured the unbridled emotion of Vancouver's return to the top level of North American soccer.
"It was a great moment," said Dunfield, who grew up in Vancouver and spent 14 years playing soccer in England. "It wasn't planned. It just happened."
The crowd of 22,592 squeezed into Empire Field were on their feet shouting their delight several minutes before the referee blew the final whistle.
A cold afternoon couldn't cool the excitement of the fans who shook the stadium with their enthusiasm.
Winning the first game was great. Beating Toronto made it that much sweeter.
Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit liked the tone that was set.
"This is what soccer is," said the U.S. international defender. "You come to stadium like this and there are going to be teams who don't want to come here.
"There are going to be teams that are going to be intimidated. If we can create that atmosphere every week, we will hold ourselves good as we move along."
MLS commissioner Don Garber was impressed with what he saw.
"We knew it would be big, we knew it would be exciting," Garber said. "It's a great day for soccer.
"Canadians love this sport. They certainly love it in Vancouver. I had high expectations. (The Whitecaps) over-delivered. It's rare that happens in this business."
While the Whitecaps basked in their success Toronto coach Aron Winter fumed.
"It was a pity we lost the game but it was also unnecessary," he said. "With all respect for Vancouver they're not much better than us.
"The third goal, that was the most important moment in the game was four or five metres offside. The opportunities they got, they scored."
Atiba Harris scored during a scramble off a corner kick in the 63rd minute to give Vancouver a 3-1 lead before Hassli made it 4-1 in the 72nd.
Dwayne De Rosario and Maicon Santos had the goals for Toronto FC. De Rosario's goal was the 8,000th in MLS history.
A frustrated De Rosario, who has been feuding with the club over his contract, said his team showed "no fight."
"We fought with a team that had more heart, more hunger and desire and really wanted to get a result in front of their home fans," he said.
Hassli gave the fans what they came to see in the 15th minute.
Speedy winger Davide Chiumiento started the play, breaking down the right flank before feeding a ball through the box. The big, strong Hassli, Vancouver's first designated player, collected the pass, then blasted a left-footed shot past Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Hassli was mobbed by his teammates and celebrated by kissing the Whitecaps' logo on his uniform.
The French-born Hassli said being part of Whitecaps history "is really special.
"We are a group, it's 30 people," he said through an interpreter. "It's history for everyone."
The game was the first all-Canadian clash in MLS history and also marked the Whitecaps' return to the continent's top soccer league since the old North American Soccer League folded in 1984.
Attending the pre-game ceremony along with Garber were B.C. Premier Christy Clark and NBA star Steve Nash, one of the Whitecaps co-owners who grew up in Victoria.
Whitecap supporters held up team scarves while Nash whipped the crowd into a frenzy by pounding a drum and waving his arms in the air.
"I just feel like a super fan," Nash, a two-time NBA most valuable player, said during a halftime interview. "I have been a Whitecaps fan since I was a little boy.
"To see us back in the top flight in North America is exciting. The atmosphere is great. It makes a really great day."
Whitecaps coach Teitur Thordarson said his team couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.
"To win 4-2 on the opening day of our MLS season is just a dream come true," he said. "We want to be an attacking-minded team. We were never exposed. It felt that was very good."
Thordarson praised the work of Hassli, who used his size and strength to control the ball.
"For the way we play Eric is a very important player," said Thordarson. "He helps us keep the ball up but at the same time he's dangerous in the box.
"He doesn't need many good chances to score a goal and he proved that today."
Each fan attending the game was given a white poncho to wear to create a 'Whitecaps Whiteout.' About 5,000 spectators were given drums to pound.
The crowd tossed hundreds of the ponchos, still in their package, onto the field after each Vancouver goal. That caused a delay in the game and an admonishment from the public address announcer.
There was plenty of excitement in the Whitecaps dressing room.
Chiumiento, who left the game at half time after his hamstring tightened, called the victory great, but just a first step on a long road.
"It's important for to start like this but it's also a little bit dangerous," he said. "It was the first game, a great game, but we must continue to work hard.
"Every game is different and it's a long season. We must continue to try hard and play like today."
The Whitecaps will attempt to win their first road game next Saturday against the Philadelphia Union.
Notes: Missing from the Whitecaps lineup was MF Michael Nanchoff (groin), MF Shea Salinas (knee) and MF John Thorrington (quad strain). ... An EA Sports simulation had the Whitecaps winning the game 1-0. ... Vancouver first away game is next Saturday in Philadelphia.
