Vancouver’s Nicolas Mezquida (9) celebrates his first goal as a Whitecaps midfielder, flanked by teammate Pedro Morales (77)Anne-Marie Sorvin
Robert Earnshaw scored in the 90th minute in his Vancouver debut as the Whitecaps opened their defence of the Cascadia Cup with a 2-1 victory against the rival Portland Timbers on Saturday.
The veteran forward, who signed with the Whitecaps earlier in the week, made his debut in the 86th minute as a substitute and scored only minutes later to send the sell-out BC Place crowd into hysterics.
Midfielder Nicolas Mezquida scored early in the first half for the Whitecaps (3-1-0), who won its first game at home against Portland in six meetings in Vancouver.
Fanendo Adi scored for the Portland Timbers (0-1-3), who are still searching for their first MLS victory this season.
Octavio Rivero, who had accounted for all of Vancouver's goals this season going into the game, displayed some dazzling footwork at the top of the penalty box only to be brought down for a Portland penalty. Mezquida bended the ensuing free kick beautifully and eluded Timbers 'keeper Adam Kwarasey to put Vancouver ahead 1-0 in the 15th minute.
Rivero had scored winning goals late in both of Vancouver's last two away games and was looking for his fourth goal in four games when he fired in a close-range shot from a tough angle that just hit the side of the net at 28 minutes.
Portland played the aggressor for long stretches of a chippy first half, but couldn't get one past Whitecaps 'keeper David Ousted before intermission.
Portland kept up the pressure in the second as Diego Chara fed midfielder Darlington Nagbe in the box at 56 minutes. Nagbe almost levelled the score for the Timbers, but Ousted threw himself on the ball to stop the threat.
Ousted was continually put to the test in the second half. He made a spectacular diving save against Nagbe's cross in the 69th.
Vancouver came close to doubling its lead in the 77th when midfielder Erik Hurtado raced in alone on the flank only to miss on his pass to a wide-open Rivero in the six-yard box.
Portland finally beat Ousted in the 80th when a broken Vancouver defence allowed Nagbe to find Adi with a cross for the equalizer. Adi came close to scoring in the 89th, but missed on a glorious chance right in front of Ousted.
Earnshaw's winner came on a lob shot after a perfect feed from Whitecaps captain Pedro Morales.
Notes: Among the players unavailable for Vancouver on Saturday were striker/midfielder Kekuta Manneh (suspension), striker Darren Mattocks (international duty), midfielder Mauro Rosales (injured), defender Sam Adekugbe (injured) and defender Diego Rodriguez (suspended).