Vancouver-Seattle rivalry gets the villain it needed in Fredy Montero

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Minutes before kickoff between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders on Friday night, ‘Caps club president Bob Lenarduzzi ruminated on why this particular Cascadia derby doesn’t crackle with the intensity found south of the border.

“When people think of Canadians, they think of polite, nice people,” Lenarduzzi said from his box at BC Place. “I think that has transitioned through to this rivalry, for sure.”

“We seem to be the good guys. Whatever banter there is between the Sounders and Timbers … sure, there’s banter with us, but it doesn’t seem to be at the same level.”

Despite a rich history of its own – the Whitecaps and Sounders, believe it or not, have faced off more often than Seattle and Portland – this matchup has always felt like an undercard. With too much mutual respect and not enough bile, the series was badly in need of a jolt.

Enter Fredy Montero.

Montero, Seattle’s leading modern-era goal scorer and the man who netted its first-ever MLS goal, signed with Vancouver on loan from the Chinese Super League back in February. Facing his former team in an opposing jersey for the first time, the Colombian struck twice, burying headers in the 65th and 80th minutes to lead the ‘Caps to a much-needed 2-1 victory over their rival.

Montero barely celebrated either goal. He simply dropped to his knees, pointing index fingers toward BC Place’s vaulted roof.

“Yeah,” Montero said when asked whether he had to catch himself, pressing pause on jubilation that typically follows such an emotional tally. “Yeah, it’s hard, especially when all my teammates came and they were hugging me.

“But I did my best. I wanted to show Seattle fans respect for them for all that they gave me the four years that I was there.”

His crossing of enemy lines hasn’t been treated as magnanimously on the other side. This may be a friendly feud, at least in contrast to Seattle-Portland, but rivalries are rivalries.

Longtime Sounder Brad Evans has made clear his displeasure of Montero’s move. Pressed after Friday’s match about his former teammate’s comments, Montero shot back with “Who?” before changing the subject.

Evans, who is dealing with a lingering calf strain, didn’t play on Friday night. But for 90 minutes at least, there was little love lost. They may have slapped hands good naturedly afterward, but that forearm shiv that Ozzie Alonso shoved into Montero’s back early in the second half couldn’t have felt good.

“They were kicking lumps out of each other, trying to get each other booked and sent off,” Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said. “That’s what happens. I said to him [Montero] before the game: I’ve been there, so I know what it’s like. It’s important to enjoy it. Don’t let the occasion pass you by.”

Montero certainly didn’t. Although his playoff scoring record with the Sounders may have left something to be desired, he’s clearly a finisher that raises his game to the moment.

He scored 12 minutes into Seattle’s inaugural MLS match against the New York Red Bulls, putting to rest all kinds of butterflies. Montero scored in his Whitecaps debut, too, a sweetly struck volley (coincidentally enough, also against the Red Bulls) that helped them advance to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

So it felt inevitable when he snuck between a pair of Sounders defenders to tilt a previously balanced match midway through the second half, and even more so when he struck again 15 minutes later.

“Fredy is a calm guy,” Robinson said. “He does his talking on the football pitch. I don’t think he had anything in his head that shouldn’t be. I think he’s got great respect for Seattle, as we have here as an organization. I think he showed that when he scored. But he’s my player now. He’s our player. We’ll enjoy him.”

Just a parting word of advice, Fredy: Deference is all well and good, but this rivalry could really use an ostentatious celebration should you score again on your return visit to Seattle in September.

ONE TOUCHES

Some other observations from the seventh week of MLS action:

Major League Soccer sure has a sense for timely news drops.

Late on Friday evening of a holiday weekend, word came down that Colorado Rapids goalkeeper and United States international Tim Howard had been suspended for three games following a verbal confrontation with Sporting Kansas City fans – with additional reports that he’d also grabbed a Sporting supporter after the match. Not a great look for anybody involved.

Cyle Larin is a budding star.

Orlando City’s 21-year-old striker scored his fourth goal in five games of this young season on Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy. It was a big one, too, in the 91st minute of a tied game and having shrugged off Jermaine Jones to get a strong right boot to the ball.

At this point, it’s fair to wonder how long it’ll be before the Canadian national team standout makes a big-money move abroad. Enjoy his MLS tenure while it lasts.

Goal of the Week.

David Villa, New York City FC.

This might be the most straightforward choice of the season. Villa’s dagger from 50 yards out against Philadelphia will feature prominently in Goal of the Year discussions.

Save of the Week.

Tim Melia, Sporting Kansas City.

And yet, Darlington Nagbe would have had a legitimate claim on Villa’s honor if Melia hadn’t gotten a fingertip on his swerving volley Saturday night at Providence Park. The Sporting goalkeeper’s late, leaping save clinched a statement 1-0 victory for SKC over a Portland team that’s still holding down first place in the Western Conference.

Matt Pentz covers Major League Soccer for FC Yahoo. Follow him on Twitter @mattpentz.