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Whitecaps leave it late again, Robert Earnshaw scores winner to beat Timbers 2-1

Robert Earnshaw, Vancouver Whitecaps (Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Robert Earnshaw, Vancouver Whitecaps (Rich Lam/Getty Images)

VANCOUVER  For the third straight week the Whitecaps needed a last-gasp goal to secure a victory.

This time it was Robert Earnshaw, making his debut for the club after being signed during the week, who came through with the winner in the 90th minute to give Vancouver a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers in a game where they were far from their best. Earnshaw took a pass from Pedro Morales and chipped it past Portland keeper Adam Kwarasey.

"Today I thought we were average at best but we stole a victory in the end," said head coach Carl Robinson. "They were the better team for long stretches."

Save for Nicolas Mezquida's beautiful free kick strike in the 15th minute, the Whitecaps did not impress at all in attack. The Timbers bossed the majority of the game, enjoying over 65% possession, but only had Fanendo Adi's 82nd minute goal to show for it.

The only real bright spot for Vancouver was keeper David Ousted, who came up with some big saves and was deservedly named man of the match. After the game he echoed the thoughts of his head coach.

"Pleased with the three points, not pleased with the way we got them," said Ousted. "We're a better team than what we showed today."

It was the same story last week, when they escaped with a 1-0 win over Orlando after Octavio Rivero scored in the 96th minute.They were better two weeks ago in Chicago, but were headed for a 0-0 draw if it hadn't been for another late Rivero goal, this one in the 86th minute to lift them to three points.

As much fun as the dramatic finishes are for their fans, the Whitecaps would prefer to do their business early. And with nine points from their first four games, they're in a position to work through the sloppy play without the fear of falling behind in the standings. A matchup against the defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy looms next Saturday and Vancouver knows they won't be able to get away with poor play again in that one.

"We need to be better next week. We’re playing the best team in MLS,” said Robinson. “We need to perform better than that."

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter.