Saturday proved to be a night of firsts for Vancouver Whitecaps FC and defender Pa-Modou Kah.
Kah scored his first goal as a member of the Whitecaps and added another to collect a brace for the first time in his professional career in the Whitecaps’ 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC.
With the victory, Vancouver climbed back into first place in the MLS Western Conference standings and stopped the Sounders from clinching their first Cascadia Cup since 2011.
Kah became the first Whitecaps player to be voted MLS Player of the Week this season. Goalkeeper David Ousted and forward Octavio Rivero both received MLS Player of the Month awards on separate occasions earlier this year, but neither of them won the weekly accolade.
Kah opened the scoring for Vancouver just six minutes into the match with a beautiful swinging volley from the middle of the penalty area. Kah’s powerful volley went soaring into the bottom right corner of the net with authority.
The 35-year-old's second goal came in the 49th minute off a corner kick in the Sounders’ end. Kah finished off the play with a beautiful back-heel deflection from a Cristian Techera ball into the box. His brilliant finish also earned him an MLS Goal of the Week nomination.
Before doubling on Saturday, Kah’s previous best for goals was one, which he scored as a member of the Portland Timbers.
Kah had a tremendous game at both ends of the pitch as his solid defensive play helped preserve goalkeeper Ousted’s clean sheet. Kah and the rest of the Whitecaps' defensive core did an excellent job keeping Sounders forward Clint Dempsey and the rest of Seattle’s attack at bay.
The ‘Caps will be looking to Kah for another dominant performance against Seattle on Wednesday night when the team hosts the Sounders in CONCACAF Champions League play at BC Place.
The Whitecaps are back in MLS action on Saturday when they welcome Real Salt Lake to BC Place.