Blanco hits winner as shorthanded Portland beats Vancouver

Sebastian Blanco scored early in the second half and the undermanned Portland Timbers beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Sunday to snap a six-game winless streak.

Jeremy Ebobisse set up the winner and also scored for Portland. The Timbers are missing numerous players because of injuries, suspensions and players away for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. They lost three and drew three during the winless streak

Andrew Jacobson scored for Vancouver in the 45th minute to briefly level the score.

Blanco scored in the 49th minute to restore Portland's lead. The Argentine midfielder sliced through the defense, took a back-heel return pass from Ebobisse and rolled the ball past a helpless goalkeeper David Ousted.

Ebobisse scored in the 14th minute in his first MLS start.

Portland strikers Fanendo Adi and Victor Arboleda were suspended for the match after getting sent off Wednesday night in a 4-1 home loss to Real Salt Lake.

Midfielders Darlington Nagbe and David Guzman, defender Alvas Powell and forward Darren Mattocks are away on Gold Cup duty, and defenders Gbenga Arokoyo (Achilles' tendon), Liam Ridgewell (quad), Amobi Okugo (knee), Chance Myers (hamstring) and Vytas Andriuskevicius (calf) also were unavailable.