VANCOUVER — It wasn't pretty but Carl Robinson is taking away the positives from his Whitecaps' 2-2 home draw with Orlando.

The Vancouver head coach was pleased at how his club rallied from a one-goal deficit in the first half and ultimately earned a point Saturday night to move up to fifth in the air-tight Western Conference.

"I think we're happy to take a point because we didn't play very well," said Robinson. "We missed tackles, we defended poorly at times, we made mistakes at key areas of the field at key moments — just one of those days."

Nevertheless, there was plenty to feel good about for the Whitecaps (8-8-5), including the goal by Masato Kudo in the 43rd minute. The Japanese striker was playing in only his second game back after suffering a gruesome head injury when he collided with another player on May 11 against Chicago.

The fact that he scored a header off a Pedro Morales bending free kick made it all the better.

"I'm happy for Masato," said Nicolas Mezquida, who scored Vancouver's other goal in the 35th. "Tonight he was in good shape and showed he can play. I hope he keeps scoring."

Equally exciting for Whitecaps fans was the MLS debut of recently signed 15-year-old Alphonso Davies, who substituted into the match in the 77th.

Davies, the youngest active player in the league, took a right-footed shot in the 80th that could have won the game. The BC Place crowd erupted as soon as the ball left his foot.

"It was a really great experience," said Davies. "I wasn't that nervous because it's the game of football. It's just football, you go out and play and have fun."

For struggling Orlando (4-5-10), it was a much needed point. The team has been in turbulence lately with a fired head coach and a stretch of three games with zero goals. The team is eighth in the Eastern Conference and looking for answers.

"I think what I saw for the first time in my three games in charge have been the closest thing to a complete team performance that we've had," said Orlando interim coach Bobby Murphy.

Canadian national team member Cyle Larin and Julio Baptista scored for Orlando.

"It's so important for Cyle to come back here, he's so proud of being Canadian," said Murphy. "He stepped off the plane last night and said, 'the air is so much better here.' I'm happy for him."

Orlando opened the scoring from atop the 18-yard box at 14 minutes. Baptista's shot bounced off goalkeeper David Ousted's legs and into the net.

Mezquida scored in 35th to tie it. Kudo's deflected shot off Orlando 'keeper Joseph Bendik bounced right to Mezquida six yards out for a clear header.

It was Kudo's turn in the 43rd as he headed the ball just out of reach of Bendik and into the top corner of the net.

Ousted preserved the Whitecaps' 2-1 lead going into the half when he made an impressive save off Larin's strike in added time.

Orlando evened the game 2-2 in the 50th minute when Larin jumped high to head in a Kevin Molino cross and quiet the crowd.

Baptista had a chance to put Orlando ahead with a penalty kick in the 59th, but his unsightly attempt went wide much to Vancouver's relief.

Murphy wasn't dwelling on the missed opportunity after the game.

"I think two hours ago we would have snatched somebody's hand off if they offered it to us. We'll take (the point) and move on."