Whitecaps start MLS life in style, Red Bulls sink Seattle

(Reuters) - French striker Eric Hassli scored twice as the Vancouver Whitecaps marked their MLS debut with an impressive 4-2 victory over Canadian rivals Toronto on Saturday while the New York Red Bulls inflicted a second successive defeat on the Seattle Sounders.

The Whitecaps' return to top flight soccer, 27 years after they folded with the old North American Soccer League, was a pulsating encounter in front of a capacity 23,000 crowd.

Hassli opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a left-foot drive only for

 Dwayne De Rosario to bring Toronto, coached by Dutchman Aaron Winter, back on level terms.
Goals from Terry Dunfield and Atiba Harris put the Whitecaps firmly in control before former FC Zurich striker Hassli completed the rout.

Toronto did get a late consolation thanks to a stunning strike from 25 meters out from Brazilian Maicon Santos.

The other new team in the 18-team league, the Portland Timbers, had a much tougher time on their debut falling three goals down to champions the Colorado Rapids inside the opening half-hour before eventually losing 3-1.

Charlie Davies, the U.S. international whose career was nearly wrecked by a fatal car crash in October 2009, marked his return to action with two goals as a substitute for D.C United in their 3-1 win over the Columbus Crew.

Davies, who missed the World Cup last year due to the injuries he suffered in the crash, is on loan from French club Sochaux and had not played competitively for 17 months.

New York's former France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry had a first half penalty saved but his 18-year-old strike partner, U.S. international Juan Agudelo, confirmed his growing reputation with a confident strike on the break in the 70th minute to secure victory over the Sounders.

Mexican international striker Omar Bravo scored twice on his MLS debut for Sporting KC in their 3-2 win away to Chivas USA while Kyle Beckerman was on target for Real Salt Lake in their 1-0 win at the San Jose Earthquakes.
The final game of the weekend, on Sunday, pits David Beckham and the L.A Galaxy against the New England Revolution, coached by former Liverpool and Scotland international Steve Nicol.