The Vancouver Whitecaps left with one of the wildest wins of their season, besting St. Louis CITY SC 3-2 at BC Place before 26,031 stunned fans. The winner did not come until the 14th minute of stoppage time, the team's latest goal in history, and naturally, it was Thomas Müller who supplied the moment.
At 35, the German veteran got his first start for Vancouver, wearing the vice-captain's armband, and delivered. Immovable under stress, he hammered home the penalty that confirmed all three points and cemented his name in Whitecaps history immediately as his Canadian adventure begins.
The victory left Vancouver third in the Western Conference at 49 points, one shy of Minnesota United and four behind leaders San Diego FC but still on a game in hand. St. Louis, their opposite near the other end of the table, is 14th with only 21 points.
St. Louis scores first and White retaliates
Vancouver started on the front foot. Müller nearly had the opener early on, springing for a Berhalter corner but sending his header just wide. Roman Bürki, St. Louis' goalkeeper, was also kept busy — saving on Nelson and Ocampo to keep the scoreline intact. And then the goal. In the 14th minute, Conrad Wallem played a great cross, and Eduard Löwen nodded it in with a strong header over the head of Takaoka to put the visitors ahead.
The answer arrived in a hurry. Another Berhalter corner, another dangerous series. This time Tristan Blackmon was taken down inside the box. The referee had no problem awarding the spot kick. Brian White took the shot and slid it home in stoppage time of the first half. That marked his 20th of 2025, a career high for him individually, and his eighth against St. Louis alone.
Whitecaps flip the script late and make history
During the second half, Vancouver accelerated its tempo. Müller did a great run down the flank, beating one defender before being found by Sabbi, whose shot was blocked by Bürki. Suárez and Ahmed also had chances but could not beat the Swiss keeper. And just when it appeared the Caps had it under control, St. Louis scored again. Sang Bin Jeong played a through ball to Klauss, who outmuscled one defender to the ball and rolled it home for a 2-1 score.
But the Whitecaps refused to quit. Berhalter played another set piece in the 79th minute, this one a free kick into the box. Substitute Daniel Ríos leaped highest and headed it under the bar for 2-2. The building trembled, and after that it was wave after wave of attack.
The last chance came in the latter stages of stoppage time. A VAR assessment presented Vancouver with one last chance from the spot. Müller collected the ball, set it down on the turf, and at 90+14 minutes on the clock, blasted it home for his first goal for the club. The stadium went wild, and the Whitecaps departed with a 3-2 win that was as thrilling as any in the history of their MLS franchise.