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SEATTLE -- Jermain Defoe gave Toronto FC its moneys worth on Saturday. Defoe, one of Torontos marquee off-season signings, scored both of his teams goals in a 2-1 win against the Seattle Sounders to start TFCs Major League Soccer season. It was Torontos first win to open a season since 2009, and only the second in its seven-year existence. "I thought the guys were magnificent in the first half when it came to their football and magnificent in the second half when it came to their desire and their character," said Toronto head coach Ryan Nelsen. Defoe, who hadnt scored since Jan. 11 for former club Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, needed just 24 minutes to secure the win for his new team. He spoke earlier this week about his desire to perform well in case England coach Roy Hodgson was watching. With his two-goal performance on Saturday, Defoe has renewed hope for inclusion in Englands squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil this summer. "To score two goals on your debut, its a dream," Defoe said. "The England thing is obviously going to be at the back of my mind." After early pressure from the Sounders, Defoe made a run between two Seattle defenders in the 17th minute. Jonathan Osorio, on the ball in midfield, slipped a perfectly weighted pass through the gap, and Defoe nestled the ball into the goal. Seven minutes later, Defoe picked up a loose ball after a Sounders giveaway near their own penalty area. He found space to cut to the right and fire another shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei. "The first goal was a great ball, and you just have to finish it off," Defoe said. "The second half, we showed great character because they put us under a lot of pressure. Youve got to do that sometimes away from home." Seattle began the second half as it did the first, pressuring Torontos goal. Another big-name signing, Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar, made his first important intervention in the 53rd minute. He fell to his right and stuck out his left leg, deflecting a close-range shot from Obafemi Martins out for a corner kick. However, the Sounders pressure would eventually pay off. Seattles own Designated Players, Martins and Clint Dempsey, combined down the right flank in the 68th minute, putting Dempsey in space on top of the penalty area. The U.S. international took a settling touch with his left foot before slamming a right-footed shot low and to Cesars left. The CenturyLink Field crowd of 38,441 came to life, and the Seattle attack continued to press. Torontos back line held, helped by several foul calls by referee Ioannis Stavrides close to its goal, despite dropping into a defensive shell for the last 15 minutes of the game. Notably, Seattle substitute Kenny Cooper got behind the defence with five minutes remaining, but his central pass went wayward under pressure from Cesar rushing out of his goal. Osorio headed clear a tame Sounders corner kick in stoppage time, which effectively closed out the match. "Theres no doubt in my mind that as the season goes on, well continue to improve, and our football will be good," said Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley, another one of the clubs big off-season signings . "Tonight was different. Tonight was about the spirit, the mentality and doing whatever it took to come away with three points." Nelsen downplayed the result throughout his post-game talk with media, choosing instead to expound his desire for consistency over a long MLS season. "Weve got so much to improve on. Were not stupid," he said. "What I like about this team is their heart, their character, their desire -- that they want to win. Thats what you hope for. You build your house on that type of foundation." Toronto (1-0) plays its first home game of the season on March 22 when it hosts D.C. United at BMO Field. Seattle (1-1) takes to the road for the first time the same day, playing the Montreal Impact. Charles Barkley Jersey . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun the international tournament will likely return in September 2016 rather than 2015. Cheap 76ers Jerseys Authentic . -- Terrelle Pryor took the opening snap of the game, put the ball in Darren McFaddens belly and saw LaMarr Woodley crash down. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=ch...a-barros-jersey. Strasburg (1-1) got 14 consecutive outs in one stretch and allowed only three hits, including Marcell Ozunas homer in the seventh. The right-handers lone walk was to the last batter he faced. Washingtons starter Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann, left after a career-low 1 2-3 innings, leaving the bullpen "taxed," as manager Matt Williams put it. Mike Muscala Jersey .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team. Markelle Fultz Jersey . Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens are wondering where their power play has gone. What used to be their best weapon has mostly been firing blanks for the last month or so. And while they didnt need it much to sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of NHL playoffs, it could come in awfully handy when they face the Boston Bruins in an Eastern Conference semifinal later this week. The Canadiens went 0-for-23 over the final eight regular season games with the man advantage and scored on only two of 13 chances against the Lightning, although one was Max Paciorettys series-clinching goal with 43 seconds left in Game 4 in Montreal. It has got to where they dont talk about scoring goals so much as building "momentum" off the power play. "We worked on the power play (Monday) and well work on it more," coach Michel Therrien said this week. "We want to create momentum on the power play and were working with that in mind." The Canadiens have spent a lot of time in practice over the past month trying to find answers. Early in the season, they were scoring regularly until opponents started keying on P.K. Subbans big point shot. Since then, the Canadiens have had trouble finding a winning formula. They will need it to keep the bigger, more physical Bruins honest and to match the Boston power play, which went 6-for-16 in a five-game win over the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. The Bruins used to labour on the power play. They beat Montreal in seven games in a 2011 first round series despite going 0-for-23 with the man advantage. But that was before they picked up slick point man Torey Krug, which allowed them to move towering Zdeno Chara into a much more effective position in front of the opposing teams net. Subban looks to the 2011 Bruins as proof that a team can win even if the power play is struggling. "The year they won the Cup, I dont think that had many power play goals," he said. "The power play is one thing, but I think the most important thing is generating momentum on a power play.dddddddddddd "Youre not always going to score, especially when you play a team with a good penalty kill. But you try to create opportunities and generate momentum and really grind down their forwards and defence." They hope to catch fire against the Bruins. In the first round, there were times they had dazzling puck movement, and other times when they looked like marionettes following a choreographed routine. It may just be taking more time than expected for trade deadline acquisition Thomas Vanek to make his mark on the first power play unit with Pacioretty and centre David Desharnais. Vanek has had a big impact on their even-strength play, and facing Boston may be just what he needs to help the power play get going as well. The Austrian has 30 goals and 62 points in 55 career regular-season games against the Bruins, most while he played for the Buffalo Sabres. Penalty killing is also a concern. The Canadiens were fourth best in the NHL this season with an 85.1-per-cent kill rate, but gave up two goals on only seven chances to Tampa Bay (71.4 per cent). Boston killed 90 per cent of Detroits advantages. The penalty killing units should be bolstered by the return of Travis Moen from a concussion. The left-winger missed the last nine games of the regular season and the first round of playoffs after he was injured in a March 24 game against the Bruins. He has been skating on the fourth line with Daniel Briere and Dale Weise. Rookie Michael Bournival played well in that spot in the first round. "I havent decided on our lineup," said Therrien. "To prepare Travis, Ive got to have him practice with players who might have a chance to play. But hes a guy with experience.