In the run-up to the 2019 season, much was made of the addition of defender Ike Opara and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, and rightly so. With three MLS Cup wins between them and a Defender of the Year trophy for Opara in 2017, they each made their case for their importance in the Loons’ 3-2 win over the Whitecaps in the season opener. They snuffed out chances again and again and Alonso notched seven tackles — more than twice as many as Vancouver’s top man, Derek Cornelius, who had three.
But based on the early returns from that opening game, the signing of right fullback Romain Metanire could end up being just as significant.