Whitecaps edge Timbers on late goal, 2-1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Robert Earnshaw scored in the 90th minute in his Vancouver debut and the Whitecaps opened their Cascadia Cup defense with a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night in Vancouver, B.C.

Signed earlier in the week, Earnshaw entered the game in the 86th minute as a substitute.

Midfielder Nicolas Mezquida scored early in the first half for the Whitecaps (3-1-0).

Fanendo Adi scored for the Timbers (0-1-3) in the 82nd minute to tie the match at 1-1.

It was Adi’s third goal in four matches this season.

Portland maintained 66 percent of possession throughout the match and finished with an MLS season-best 88-percent passing accuracy — completing 448 of 510 total passes.

Portland saw two chances to grab a late lead as substitute midfielder Dairon Asprilla saw a close-range header bounce just over the crossbar in the 89th minute.

Moments later, Adi was played into the penalty box, took a touch and unleashed a right-footed effort, but Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted made a point-blank stop.

Following the save, the Whitecaps scored the game-winning goal.

Portland saw its 11-match unbeaten streak against Western Conference opponents snapped.

The result also marked the Timbers first-ever loss at BC Place in the team’s MLS era (3-1-2). For the second time in four matches to start the season, Portland held an opponent without a corner kick.

WHITECAPS 2, TIMBERS 1

Portland 0 1—1

Vancouver 1 1—2

First half—1, Vancouver, Mezquida 1, 15th minute.

Second half—2, Portland, Adi 3, 82nd. 3, Vancouver, Earnshaw 1 (Morales), 90th.

Goalies—Portland, Adam Kwarasey; Vancouver, David Ousted.

Yellow Cards—Koffie, Vancouver, 12th; Powell, Portland, 30th; Beitashour, Vancouver, 58th; Waston, Vancouver, 88th.

Lineups

Portland—Adam Kwarasey, Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell, Darlington Nagbe, George Fochive (Gaston Fernandez, 75th), Rodney Wallace, Jorge Villafana, Diego Chara, Maximiliano Urruti (Dairon Asprilla, 65th), Fanendo Adi.

Vancouver—David Ousted, Steven Beitashour, Pa-Modou Kah, Sam Adekugbe, Kendall Waston, Erik Hurtado (Robert Earnshaw, 87th), Nicolas Mezquida (Kianz Froese, 58th), Matias Laba, Pedro Morales, Gershon Koffie (Deybi Flores, 72nd), Octavio Rivero.