Vancouver Whitecaps have beaten Toronto 1-0 on the opening day of the 2013 Major League Soccer season.

Both teams fielded lineups that would have been familiar to British football fans but it was Vancouver who came out on top.

The away side started well, with former Cardiff City forward Robert Earnshaw causing problems for the Whitecaps defence.

Hogan Ephraim, once of Queens Park Rangers, was also a threat for Toronto but saw his effort saved midway through the half.

Vancouver grew into the game after that and although they had the lion's share of possession, they failed to find the right service for Kenny Miller, and the teams went in level at the break.

Five minutes into the second half, the home side finally worked their way through the Toronto defence, but Alain Rochat was denied by a fantastic save from Joe Bendik.

Miller himself then had his header stopped by an equally good save, before the home side took the lead. Local boy Gershon Koffie found space in the box before firing past Bendik for the opener.

It could have been 2-0 10 minutes later when Nigel Reo-Coker played in Darren Mattocks, but a goal-line clearance from Richard Eckersley denied him.

The home side remained comfortable thereafter and saw out the victory to begin their campaign with a win.