The Vancouver Whitecaps pulled a rare animal out of their hat this weekend — a road victory. After outplaying and outchancing opponents in several draws (and even a few losses) over the past few weeks, the boys in blue and white stole a 2-1 win in a contest they had no business winning.

Karma dictated the Caps had to come out on top of a decision like this sooner or later. Despite riding a four-game unbeaten streak into the match, they hadn’t received all the points they had deserved. Wednesday’s heartbreaking draw against Montreal lost the Whitecaps their first Voyageurs Cup. They had run the show for 85 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice and putting several shots just wide. By all accounts they could have scored a half-dozen against the Impact but only gave Craig MacEwan two opportunities to say “it’s in the back of the net!”

The previous game was another 2-2 draw, this time against Portland. The Caps scored two marvellous goals, but the Timbers played with twelve men — unfortunately the twelfth one carried a whistle and wore a referee’s jersey. While that may seem unfair, both goals for the visitors were contestable. The tying goal in particular was quite stinky, as Jose Valencia clearly used both arms to corral a hail-mary pass in the Vancouver box before depositing it behind Brad Knighton.

So yeah, gutting out a win when the other guys probably deserved it? Karmic payback against all those other teams that have nicked points from the Caps earlier in the year.

More, including match highlights, after the jump.

The New York Red Bulls dominated just about every statistic. They had more possession, more shots, more marquis names, and an arena full of vocal supporters. But the Caps took advantage of a defensive miscue when New York defender Eric Alexander mysteriously headed an errant Whitecaps cross back into the danger zone in his own 18-yard box.  Jordan Henry rocketed the loose ball into the top right corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

When Jamison Olave slewfooted Kenny Miller forty yards from the goal, the referee had no choice but to hand the Colombian his second yellow of the match — and thus, a red and an ejection — in the 75th minute. Vancouver took advantage of the extra man, subbing in YP Lee and generating more offence. In the 83rd minute, Miller streaked into the box and headed in a Russell Teibert cross to give the Caps a 2-1 win. It marks the first time this season Vancouver has won on the road, and the first time since mid-April that the Red Bulls have lost a game, period.

In all there were four cautions issued in the match, two to each team. Knighton was solid in goal. Ditto Andy O’Brien on the back end. Jordan Henry had probably his best all-round match as a Whitecap, and Russell Teibert continued his strong play up front. Miller cemented his status as a difference maker this year, in this his second game back from injury.

Let’s hope the rumours of him returning to Scotland for a third tour of duty with the Glasgow Rangers prove to be just bloody rumours. Miller has three goals in just four MLS matches this year — he’s missed most of the team’s games this season with a hamstring injury — and hey, whaddaya know, the Whitecaps have won three of those four games that saw #9 in action. When he’s on the pitch for Vancouver, Miller is a game-changer.