Portland Timbers' Jose Valencia, right, and Diego Chara, both of Colombia, celebrate after Valencia scored the tying goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, May 18, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - Second-half substitute Jose Valencia's goal in the 83rd minute gave the Portland Timbers a 2-2 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday in Major League Soccer action.

Will Johnson also scored for Portland and assisted on the winner as the Timbers (4-1-7) extended their unbeaten strike to 10 games. The tying marker came while Portland was playing with 10 men due to Mamadou Danso's ejection only two minutes earler.

Camilo led Vancouver with a goal and an assist, while Gershon Koffie also scored for the Whitecaps (3-4-4), who remained unbeaten at home (3-0-3).

Valencia scored after receiving a long, high lob from Johnson. Valencia and Vancouver defender Brad Rusin went up for the ball in the Whitecaps box, and it appeared to touch the Porland player's arm. But play was allowed to continue, and Valencia tucked a short shot inside the near post.

Continuing a trend of recent games, Vancouver coach Martin Rennie juggled his lineup and made some surprising moves.

Goalkeeper Brad Knighton received his first start of the MLS season after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 0-0 with Montreal in Amway Canadian Championship play Wednesday. Also, striker Darren Mattocks was rendered a substitute after scoring in Vancouver's last MLS game, and defender Alain Rochat, a perrenial starter, was also deployed as a reserve.

Both Mattocks and Rochat came on as late substitutes.

Jordan Harvey started in Rochat's place on the back line after doing likewise in Montreal while the veteran left back used as a midfielder. Rochat again played midfield

Meanwhile, Camilo, who has been utilized mainly as a midfielder, played as a lone striker. The move paid off as Camilo generated some early scoring chances.

The Brazilian fired just wide on a free kick from about 35 yards out in the 23rd minute, taking the shot after Russell Teibert was fouled on the right flank. But Camilo made no mistake a minute later as he curled a shot hight into the corner of the net from about 20 yards.

The free kick resulted after Camilo himself was fouled by Johnson, a Toronto native, who received a yellow card for the infraction.

Despite holding the lead, the Whitecaps spent much of the time in their half of the pitch, and Knighton was forced to dive and share a Rodney Wallace header on 30 minutes. Three minutes later, the Timbers lost forward Darlington Nagbe after he was injured in a sequence in which Portland's Diego Valeri delivered a hard tackle on Vancouver's Young-Pyo Lee.

Nagbe was replaced by Kalif Alhassan.

Camilo had another chance in the first minute of the second half, but Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts dove to stop his shot from just outside the right corner of the 18-yard box.

In the 52nd minute, Johnson made up for his miscue on Camilo's goal as he fired in a penalty kick to create a 1-1 tie. The spot kick resulted after Johnson's shot hit Vancouver defender Andy O'Brien's arm and the Caps were called for a hand-ball.

But Koffie put the hosts ahead just two minutes later as Camilo, grappling with two defenders in the Portland box, sent the ball back to him and he curled in a high shot.

Danso received a straight red card after he and Camilo tangled legs while rushing for a loose ball deep in the Portland zone.

But the short-handed situation did not hurt the Timbers for long as Valencia emerged the hero for the visitors.

Notes: The game served as part of an in-season competition, the Cascadia Cup, between Vancouver, Portland and the Seattle Sounders. ... Gambian centre back Pa-Modou Kah dressed for his first game with Portland after signing earlier this week. He is expected to see action soon. The Timbers have a shortage at centre back as David Horst and Mikael Silvestre battle knee injuries that are expected to keep them out six to nine months. The Timbers also released Colombian centre back Hanyer Mosquera after he returned to his homeland. ... Vancouver striker Kenny Miller (hamstring) and midfielder Daigo Kobayashi remained out with injuries.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013