Robert Earnshaw's last-minute strike gave the Vancouver Whitecaps a 2-1 victory over Western Conference rivals Portland Timbers in the MLS.

The Canadians took the lead after 15 minutes when Nicolas Mezquida beat Adam Kwarasey to score his first goal of the season.

Mezquida nearly set up a second for the Whitecaps when he teed up Raul Rivero, but the Uruguayan forward fired narrowly wide from a tight angle.

Five minutes before the interval, Portland almost got back on level terms when Fanendo Adi's strike from the centre of the area was inches away from creeping inside David Ousted's left-hand post.

On the hour mark, Pedro Morales almost doubled Vancouver's advantage, but pulled his driven shot wide of the target.

Darlington Nagbe saw his effort saved as Portland tried to find a way back into the game. They did draw level through Adi's 82nd-minute shot and looked to be heading for a share of the spoils.

However, Earnshaw popped up in the 90th minute to turn Morales's pass beyond the reach of Kwarasey and seal Vancouver victory.