Vancouver Whitecaps' Tom Heinemann, left, celebrates his game-tying goal with teammate Kenny Miller, of Scotland, during the second half of an MLS soccer game against Chivas USA in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, September 1, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - Second-half substitute Tommy Heinemann's goal in stoppage time gave the Vancouver Whitecaps a dramatic 2-2 draw with Chivas U.S.A. on Sunday in Major League Soccer action.

Heinemann scored his first goal of the season as he volleyed Erik Hurtado's diving header home just moments before the final whistle. The 26-year-old, who has played sparingly in his first season with Vancouver, enabled the Whitecaps (10-9-7) to overcome a 2-0 deficit.

The Goats (5-14-7), last in the Western Conference by a wide margin, were denied a second consecutive victory, which would have been only their second triumph since May.

Gershon Koffie, in the 64th minute, replied for the Whitecaps after rookie Erick Torres had staked Chivas to its lead with a pair of first-half goals.

Torres now has four goals in his past two games. The 20-year-old has recorded six goals in only seven MLS career games, all starts.

Chivas acquired him on loan in July from his hometown club, also Chivas' parent organization, Club Deportivo Guadalajara of the Mexican League.

The Whitecaps entered the game looking to make amends for two straight shutout losses. The hosts were wary of taking Chivas lightly after the Los Angeles-based club upset the New York Red Bulls last weekend, but the visitors still surprised the Caps by getting a pair of early goals.

Camilo started for Vancouver after watching the previous game against the L.A. Galaxy from the bench due to a slight groin strain.

Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie elected to go with a 4-4-2 formation as he gave rookie midfielder Kekuta Manneh, 18, a rare start on the right wing due to Nigel Reo-Coker's one-game suspension for taking his eighth yellow card of the season against the L.A. Galaxy. It was only Manneh's third start of the season.

He created an early scoring chance, running onto a long ball that resulted in a corner-kick.

But for the second consecutive game, the Whitecaps allowed a goal in the third minute as Torres scored on a stunning bicycle kick from 13 yards out. Torres put a ball from Carlos Alvarez into the top left corner of the net as Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted leaped in vain.

The Whitecapas had a chance to equalize in the seventh minute as Kenny Miller streaked down the right flank with only Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to beat. However, Miller put a shot off the outside of the near post.

Torres struck again in the 14th minute as he headed in a well-placed cross from Edgar Meja, who deked a couple of defenders on the right flank and sent the ball into the centre of Vancouver's 18-yard box. Torres, listed at five-foot-11, did well to get in front of taller Caps central defender Andy O'Brien, who stands six-foot-three, and connect on the ball before he could.

After each goal, Torres did a funky celebration that appeared to mimic the movement of the robot C3PO from the movie Star Wars.

Vancouver controlled possession for the rest of the half, but struggled to finish chances. On one occasion, nobody took action on Manneh's rolling pass from the left flank. On another, nobody ran with him as he took the ball down the left flank avoided defenders and sent another rolling pass into the middle of the box.

But the Whitecaps were also unlucky not to score. In the 35th minute, Kennedy, used both hands to punch away a Manneh shot.

The opportunity led to a pair of corner kicks. On the second one, a Chivas defender booted O'Brien's header off the goal-line.

Fans booed as the clubs went into the dressing rooms at half-time.

Vancouver had three excellent chances in the first five minutes the second half, but again struggled to convert. Miller muffed a chance within six yards, Manneh put a sliding shot off a cross wide, and then the rookie and Camilo misplayed a chance off a Miller dangerous run, with both appearing to get their feet on the ball, resulting in a wide shot.

Fans protested after Chivas goalkeeper Kennedy appeared to touch a loose ball with his hands outside of the 18-yard box after he had misplayed a slide onto the sphere and Camilo was checking him. But Camilo was called for a foul instead.

But a short time later, another Kennedy miscue enabled the Whitecaps to reduce their lead. Koffie scored after the goalkeeper ran out of the box to the left flank to play a loose ball, but kicked it to him. Koffie quickly fired a shot as Kennedy raced back to his net.

Kennedy appeared to get a piece of the ball, but could not stop it from going in.

Whitecaps coach Rennie inserted a third striker in the 80th minute, substituting Heinemann for O'Brien, leaving Vancouver with only three defenders. The risky move paid off as Heinemann, who was released by the Columbus Crew after playing just five minutes in 2012 due to a major knee injury, exited the hero.

Notes: Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit, recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, remained out of the lineup. ... Whitecaps midfielder Matt Watson made a rare second-consecutive start. ... Torres was shaken up a couple of times in the second half, on a tackle by Young-Pyo Lee and a collision with Jordan Harvey. The Goat required attention from trainer both times. ... Vancouver midfielder Russell Teibert was replaced by Erik Hurtado in the 55th minute. No reason was given for the unexpected switch. Teibert was slated to leave after the game for a Canadian national team camp with new coach Benito Floro in Spain after the game.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013