Luis Silva is making the most of his second chance.

Less than a month ago, the Toronto FC rookie was one of three players who embarrassed the club, especially new head coach Paul Mariner, by being charged with public intoxication after a brawl outside a Houston bar.

Today, Silva is coming off the best performance of his young career. He notched his first Major League Soccer goal with a lovely finish, sprung teammate Ryan Johnson for two breakaways and was a force the entire match as the Reds defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 Wednesday.

“We’ve had some ups and downs to say the least,” Mariner said of Silva, who he first scouted at the University of California Santa Barbara before the Reds made him their top pick, fourth overall, in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

While the other two players involved in the June 18 incident in Houston — forward Nick Soolsma and defender Miguel Aceval — are no longer part of the club’s plans, Silva clearly is. The 23-year-old midfielder from Los Angeles has regularly come off the bench as a substitute since that night. By contrast, Soolsma, 24, was released before Wednesday’s match and Aceval, 29, is likely soon to follow, having not played a minute in the last 10 games.

Some of that is no doubt due to the unique circumstances around Silva’s situation. Barely 24 hours before that night in Houston, which he later called “a stupid mistake,” the young man learned his father, Saul Silva Segui, 52, died two weeks after suffering a stroke and never regaining consciousness.

Grieving, Silva went overboard on a night off — Father’s Day. He later apologized to his teammates and vowed that “will never happen again.”

While Mariner admitted the Houston incident was “a black eye for me and a thorn in my side,” he saw it as an aberration rather than a character flaw. After flying back on a red eye from his father’s service, the coach brought Silva off the bench the next day against New England at BMO Field.

The key reason Mariner stuck with Silva is simple — the kid can play.

“He’s a wonderful young man, a tremendous talent,” Mariner said. “He was hurt by what happened (in Houston) and he wants to do well.”

Silva, a first-team All-American after scoring 17 times in his final year at UCSB, made the most of his first start in eight games against Vancouver. He sent Johnson away with great through balls five minutes apart late in the scoreless opening half. Then, he side-footed an Ashtone Morgan cross off the inside of the goalpost past diving goalkeeper Joe Cannon to tie it 1-1.

It was the first goal for Silva since 17 minutes into his professional debut in March, a 2-2 tie against his hometown Los Angeles Galaxy before a sellout crowd of 47,658 at Rogers Centre in CONCACAF Champions League.

“I’ve been through a rough three weeks,” Silva said Wednesday post game. “Obviously this goal is dedicated to my dad. I know he’s looking out for me.

“I’ve just got to continue and be consistent now.”

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After shining in his first appearance on the right side of the midfield, it’s likely Silva will get the start Saturday at New England (TSN2, 7:30 p.m.).

“The most important thing is that the coach gave me that confidence. He believed in me,” Silva said. “He knew I was ready to start and he gave me that chance and I just had to take advantage.”