Thomas Muller brings 'a little bit of magic' to Vancouver Whitecaps as last-minute winner shows he's more than MLS title candidates 'could have hoped for'

Muller scored a sensational winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time to give Whitecaps a 2-1 victory over Orlando City, sending his side to the top of the Western Conference standings. With the match seemingly heading for a draw, the German legend controlled the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a low, deflected strike past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to snatch all three points. The goal came moments after a controversial incident where a Sebastian Berhalter shot appeared to cross the line, but with no Goal Line Technology in MLS, play continued, setting the stage for Muller's heroics. Vancouver had fallen behind to a 24th-minute Dagur Thorhallsson strike before MLS Next Pro call-up Nelson Pierre netted his first goal for the club to equalise in the 81st minute.

Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen lauded the impact of his star signing, attributing the late winner to a special quality. 

“He struck it well, and maybe it’s just a little bit of magic,” Sorensen said post-match. “We're in magic land, so it was a little bit from the magic kingdom.” 

The coach also praised how quickly Muller has become a pivotal figure, not just for his goals but for his overall contribution to the team's system. “What he’s shown since he’s come here, with the way he presents himself, with the quality he adds to the team, with how much he’s involved in what chances we create… in the build up and also in the pressing, I think he’s been even more than we could even have hoped for when he came.

“He has had a very fast, very strong impression, and it will also add to his teammates, because they also have a strong belief that we can do something like this.”

Since arriving from Bayern Munich in August, Muller has had a transformative effect on the Whitecaps. The 97th-minute goal was his seventh in just eight MLS appearances, to go along with four assists. His 11 goal contributions have been central to Vancouver's 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions (7W,4D) and have drawn comparisons to Didier Drogba's explosive start with Montreal in 2012. The winning goal against Orlando was assisted by club captain Ryan Gauld, who is working his way back to full fitness after a long-term injury, hinting at a formidable partnership developing between the two.

The victory propels the Whitecaps into first place in the Western Conference on 63 points with one match remaining. They are now in a strong position to secure the number one seed for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. However, the race for pole position is not over. LAFC can reach a maximum of 65 points with their two remaining matches, while second-placed San Diego FC can equal Vancouver's current tally of 63 if they win their final fixture. 

Vancouver will host Dallas on Decision Day on October 18, knowing that a victory will give them the best possible chance to clinch the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The team's resilience, having come from behind to win, has instilled a strong sense of belief heading into the crucial final match. Muller himself expressed confidence in the squad's mentality, stating: “I trust this team, I love this team, and we will go for it. It’s a good feeling to know that you’re not losing every game if you’re down; we are even winning.”