VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Kenny Miller scored in the 57th minute and the Vancouver Whitecaps remained undefeated with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.
The Crew dropped to 1-1 after winning their season opener.
Daigo Kobayashi also scored for Vancouver, while Jairo Arrieta replied for Columbus.
Miller stole the ball from Columbus defender Glauber, rushed toward the goal and fired a shot past Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum from just inside the 18-yard box to put Vancouver ahead 2-1.
Miller, a 33-year-old Scottish international, has come under criticism for his lack of scoring since joining the Whitecaps in summer 2012. He said Friday he wanted to get more chances, and he was not disappointed.
He came close on a couple of occasions in the first half before putting the ball in the back of the net. Miller excelled while wearing the captain's armband in place of the injured Jay DeMerit, who is out six to eight months after having surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Whitecaps controlled for most of the game, but were caught off-guard by Arrieta's goal early in the second half.
Kobayashi opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he took a pass from Darren Mattocks and put one in from about 25 yards out. The Whitecaps were blanked for the rest of the first half, but still had a number of chances, with Miller figuring prominently.
Glauber received a yellow card after he pulled on Miller's arm as he rushed at the net with the ball. In the 38th minute, Miller missed a pass from Mattocks from along the goal line. Two minutes later, Gruenebaum robbed Miller from point-blank range, and Nigel Reo-Coker fired the rebound high and wide.
Arrieta created a 1-1 tie after the second half had barely begun, putting a shot in off Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon's legs after the Whitecaps were slow to get back.
But Miller finally received some good luck -- and a bit of revenge -- by taking the ball from Glauber.
Miller also set up a would-be goal by second-half substitute Erik Hurtado on a 2-on-1 in the 77th minute. But the goal was disallowed by an offside call.
NOTES: Whitecaps midfielder Camilo saw his first action of the season as he subbed in for Mattocks in the second half. ... DeMerit spoke to reporters Saturday for the first time since being injured in the season-opening win over Toronto. The Vancouver captain did not blame the medical staff, coaches or management for allowing him to play after he had been bothered by Achilles tendinitis in the preseason.
