He’s a BC Place villain when he suits up for the green-clad Portland Timbers against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but Will Johnson was a hero in red for Canada on Friday night.

The 28-year-old Toronto native — yeah, he’s got that going against him, too — scored, or set up (depends on your viewpoint) — the decisive goal as Canada began a key round of World Cup 2018 qualifying with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Honduras.

Johnson had called it an “almost must-win” before the game and he ensured the Canadians would get the three-country, six-match qualifying round off on a positive start for Canada with a strong performance in a midfield that Canada controlled.

“It’s important to win your home games, especially against a team that’s probably favoured to get second in the group,” Johnson said in the mixed zone after taking a few minutes to meet with family.

“It’s good that we held serve at home, but obviously there’s five more games to go, a lot of work to do. We put a lot into this game. It’s been a long time coming for us, from the last round to now. It feels good to have taken another positive step for this country.”

Johnson and veterans Atiba Hutchison, 32, and Julian de Guzman, 34, who combined for a terrific chance on goal in the 31st minute, defended well and moved smartly into the attack in coach Benito Floro’s 4-3-3 formation.

With the win, Canada, ranked No. 102 in the world, seven spots back of Honduras, avenged an embarrassing 8-1 defeat in the Sedfro Valaua in 2012. It was a defeat that knocked Canada out of the battle for a place in the 2014 World Cup.

Canada is in El Salvador on Tuesday. The next set of games goes in March when Canada faces Mexico, the third country in the group.

Friday’s game was a mostly tepid affair through the first half-hour, but opened up after Canada took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute. The second half was a wild back-and-forth with Honduras pushing for the equalizer and forcing Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan into making a handful of game-saving stops.

“His game management was fantastic,” said Johnson. “He was on the edge of the box, coming out and grabbing crosses. He was really sharp tonight.”

The Canadian goal came off a quick counter attack from midfield. Striker Cyle Larin, the 20-year-old Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year, sent winger Junior Hoilett away down the left flank. Hoilett got almost to the end line before sending a terrific cross to the far post. Johnson headed it down and in off the back of a prone Larin.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter to me,” said Johnson, who was initially credited with the goal. “Both of us made good hard runs. I think he just missed (the header) and I was there to follow it up. It went in, who cares.”

Johnson praised Hoilett, saying the English Premier League player who only recently decided to suit up for Canada was brought in “to create special moments. And that cross was mighty special.” Johnson nearly put Canada up 2-0 in the 63rd minute when he struck he free kick with venom from about 35 yards out. Honduran goalkeeper Noel Vallardares went full stretch to his left and got a finger tip on the ball, which hit the inside of the right post and back across the face of goal before being cleared.