Canada started their four-match tour of Europe in winning style by beating Portugal 21-13 at Stadio Universitaire in Lisbon on Saturday.
It was only the second match between the two countries, the first taking place last year in the lead up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Canada got on the board in the first half with a pair of James Pritchard penalties and the men in red were playing the majority of rugby in Los Lobos' end of the pitch.
Then a penalty against Portugal saw Canada kick to the corner and go for the drive from a line-out. Jebb Sinclair went for a big run to within five metres of the Canadian line where he then passed to his right to a trailing Adam Kleeberger who scored the first try of the match.
The visitors held an 11-3 advantage with only a minute remaining to half-time.
From the ensuing kick-off, debutant full-back Pedro Silva chased a high ball with Canada half-back Morgan Williams bobbling the effort around 40 metres from his line.
Silva timed his run perfectly, getting to the ball before Williams and was away on clean heels over the Canada try-line. With a Pedro Leal conversion to follow, Canada held on to an unconvincing 11-7 lead at half time.
In the second half, Portugal made changes in the scrum - an area of contention for Canada - who had been driving their hosts back in the first half.
That advantage seemed to dry up and the Portuguese played with fervour, making multiple visits inside the Canadian half, but coming away frustrated.
With Canada leading 14-10, Portugal were pressing with a line-out five metres from the visitors' line. With the ball spreading to the left wing, a well timed tackle saw the ball go loose with James Pritchard picking up and racing untouched 70 metres for a crucial try.
After taking a breather, Pritchard calmly slotted the extras for a 21-10 advantage.
Leal struck back with another penalty a few minutes later, but - needing at least three scores to pull ahead of Canada - could not organise a final drive across the visitors' line.
With no time left on the clock, a Canada scrum netted Morgan Williams the ball, and he kicked it back on an angle to secure the victory.
The scorers:
For Canada:
Tries: Kleeberger, Pritchard
Con: Pritchard
Pens: Pritchard 3
For Portugal:
Try: Silva
Con: Leal
Pens: Leal 2
Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Phil Mackenzie, 13 Bryn Keys, 12 Ryan Smith, 11 Dean Van Camp, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Morgan Williams, 8 Aaron Carpenter , 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Andrew Fagan, 5 Stu Ault, 4 Tyler Hotson, 3 Mike Pletch, 2 Pat Riordan, 1 Kevin Tkachuk,
Replacements: 16 Frank Walsh, 17 Travis Robertson, 18 Luke Cudmore, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Sean Duke, 21 Sean White, 22 Nathan Hirayama
Portugal: 15 Pedro Silva, 14 Adérito Esteves, 13 David Mateus, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Gonçalo Foro, 10 Pedro Cabral, 9 Pedro Leal, 8 Tiago Girão, 7 Salvador Palha, 6 Vasco Uva, 5 Juan Severino, 4 David dos Reis, 3 Diogo Fialho, 2 João Correia (c), 1 João Júnior
Replacements: 16 Juan Murre, 17 Duarte Figueiredo, 18 Valter Jorge, 19 Julien Bardy, 20 Lourenço Kadosh, 21 Duarte C. Pinto, 22 Diogo Gama
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch judges: Rob Dickson (Scotland), Ronnie Dumma (Scotland