[USL-1] St. Vincent & Grenadines international Marlon James enjoyed a memorable debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps, scoring a hat trick, including the winning goal on a penalty kick in the 90th minute, to give the defending champions a 3-2 win at Minnesota on Saturday.

Mexican Ricardo Sanchez had twice replied for the Thunder after James scored before Bolivian Vicente Arze was taken down Minnesota midfielder Lawrence Olum in the penalty area for James' deciding spot kick.

The win moved the Whitecaps into second place, two points behind Carolina, which fell at Portland, 2-0. The Timbers got a goal and assist from former Soccer America's Men's College Player of the Year Ryan Pore in their first win of the season.

In a battle of the USL-1's two Concacaf Champions League teams, Puerto Rico edged Montreal, 3-2, on Trinidad & Tobago international Kendall Jagdeosingh's late goal.

Charleston won its first game after three ties with a 1-0 victory at Miami FC, which drew only 1,503 fans at Lockhart Stadium.

Minnesota, Montreal and Cleveland are the only teams without wins. The City Stars fell, 3-0, to visiting Rochester in a downpour on Friday night.

Results:
May 1
Cleveland 0 Rochester 3
Goals:
ROC: Tai Atieno (penalty) 49
ROC: Johnny Menyongar (Leslie Fitzpatrick) 55
ROC: Mike Ambersley 78
Att.: 2,087.

May 2
Puerto Rico 3 Montreal 2
Goals:
MON: Kevin Sakuda (Leonardo Di Lorenzo) 26
PR: John Krause (Sandy Gbandi) 38
PR: Sandy Gbandi (Cristian Arrieta) 60
MON: Joey Gjertsen (Rocco Placentino) 76
PR: Kendall Jagdeosingh (Fabrice Noel) 81
Att.: 4,022.
 
Miami FC 0 Charleston 1
Goals:
CHA: Ian Fuller (Tsuyoshi Yoshitake) 73
Red Card:
MIA: Walter Ramirez 18
Att.: 1,503.

Minnesota 2 Vancouver 3
Goals:
VAN: Marlon James (Charles Gbeke) 35
MIN: Ricardo Sanchez (Leonel Saint-Preux) 48
VAN: Marlon James (Martin Nash) 61
MIN: Ricardo Sanchez (Rod Dyachenko) 69
VAN: Marlon James (penalty) 90

Portland 2 Carolina 0
Goals:
POR: Brian Farber (Ryan Pore) 5
POR: Ryan Pore (George Josten) 83
Att.: 6,742

Standings:
TEAM W L T GF GA P
Carolina 3 1 1 4 3 10
Vancouver 2 1 2 6 5 8
Rochester 2 1 1 5 2 7
Puerto Rico 2 0 1 5 3 7
Charleston 1 0 3 2 1 6
Miami FC 2 2 0 6 5 6
Austin 1 0 2 5 2 5
----------------------------
Portland 1 1 1 2 1 4
Minnesota 0 3 2 5 8 2
Montreal 0 2 1 3 5 1
Cleveland 0 3 0 1 9 0

Leading Scorers:
James, Vancouver 3
Menyongar, Rochester 3
Addlery, Puerto Rico 2
Johnson, Austin 2
Nunes, Miami FC 2
Serna, Miami FC 2
Saint-Preux, Minnesota 2
Sanchez, Minnesota 2