HOW RUUD! The Province, April 3, 2011 The atmosphere was electric, the stadium a sellout. The 57,000 in attendance were bedecked in a blinding sea of white. Newly reinvented BC Place Stadium welcomed the Whitecaps back to top-flight soccer, and those same Whitecaps welcomed I-5 archrivals the Seattle Sounders for the first game in Whitecaps MLS history. From the first touch of the ball one could sense it was going to be a special night. The two biggest supporters groups, the Southsiders and the Blue and White Brigade, co-ordinated their efforts and began singing "White Is The Colour" at the top of their lungs. The players obliged their fans with a rousing van Nistelrooy strike hitting the back of the net in the 19th minute. I daresay no moment in Vancouver sports history up to that moment was greeted with the deafening volume that that moment was. Van Nistelrooy sprinted to the supporters sections, jumped over the railing and embraced the throng, with several other Caps players joining him. Streamers were everywhere and the supporters began singing "One-Nil". The game progressed entertainingly with the Sounders providing formidable opposition as always, nearly bringing things level in the 43rd minute with an Henry strike ringing off the crossbar from just outside the box. It seemed the supporters redoubled their efforts after that: even the halftime intermission was filled with singing and chanting which only stopped to allow Lenraduzzi to address the crowd and thank them for making all this possible. He also announced that Waterfront Stadium would be ready March 2014 - news that was greeted with the third loudest cheer of the night. Third loudest? Well, the second loudest was the first goal, and the loudest? That would be in the 86th minute. With white flares and smoke bombs going strong late into the second half, and the supporters in full voice chanting the Westminster chimes "Play up Whitecaps, Whitecaps play up!" it came time for a truly magical moment. When a long ball came sailing into the edge of the box, van Nistelrooy let the ball bounce off the ground and onto his head, deflecting it over the defender on his back. Spinning around the defender, van Nistelrooy got to the ball before it hit the ground and sent a ballistic volley into the top right corner of the net, setting off decibel levels the likes of which I have never heard. Four minutes later the whistle blew and 57,000 people were delerious with joy. Whitecaps 2, Sounders nil. A magical moment for Whitecaps fans. A man can dream, right?