Vancouver. – A late strike from Thomas Müller sparked wild celebrations in Canada. In the 114th minute, the veteran converted a penalty to seal a 3-2 victory for the Vancouver Whitecaps over St. Louis City SC on Sunday. It was his first-ever competitive goal for a club other than Bayern Munich – a historic milestone for the 35-year-old.
“Scoring in front of these fans was simply fantastic,” Müller said afterwards. Wearing the captain’s armband, he led by example from the start and capped his performance with the decisive goal.
A dramatic encounter
The match was full of twists: Vancouver twice fell behind, only to respond each time. Deep into extra time, Müller had the chance to turn the game around completely. From the penalty spot, he made no mistake, sending the BC Place crowd into raptures.
Significance for club and league
With the win, Vancouver moved closer to the top of the Western Conference. With seven matches still to play – and a game in hand over rivals – the race for the Supporters’ Shield remains wide open. Beyond the sporting impact, Müller’s performance was seen as a statement for both his team and the growing stature of Major League Soccer.
A new chapter unfolds
After ending his long and decorated spell at Bayern Munich, Müller chose North America for the next stage of his career. His debut goal in Whitecaps colors shows he can deliver instantly, even in new surroundings.
As the club posted after the final whistle: “With this goal, a new era has begun.”
