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Vancouver Whitecaps drew 3-3 with D.C. United as Thomas Muller scored and assisted. The Whitecaps stay top of the MLS Western Conference with eight games left.
VANCOUVER — Thomas Muller scored and provided an assist, but his Vancouver Whitecaps settled for a 3-3 draw with D.C. United on Saturday at BC Place. The result keeps Vancouver atop Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with eight games remaining in the regular season.
Match Action and Key Goals
D.C. United took the lead in the 16th minute after a scramble in front of the Vancouver net. Off a corner, defender Mathias Laborda stopped Kimito Nono’s initial attempt on the goal line, but Nono booted in the rebound to make it 1-0.
Vancouver equalized nine minutes later. Sean Johnson saved Brian White’s first shot, but the rebound fell to the top of the six-yard box and White blasted his second attempt into the top of the net. It was White’s team-leading 17th goal of the season, a new career high for the 30-year-old American forward.
The Whitecaps took a 2-1 lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Bruno Caicedo slipped a ball to Muller at the top of the area, then took a few quick steps toward goal. Muller returned it to the Ecuadorean winger, who tapped it in.
D.C. equalized again in the 65th minute off another set play. Keisuke Kurokawa floated in a corner kick and Lucas Bartlett headed it over Yohei Takaoka to make it 2-2.
Vancouver struck back in the 72nd minute. Muller collected a ball from defender Aleksa Cvetkovic and fired a rolling shot from just above the penalty area that ticked off Johnson’s fingertips and into the net, putting the ‘Caps up 3-2. The goal drew animated cheers from the announced crowd of 26,080 at BC Place.
D.C. refused to relent. In the 77th minute, Hosei Kijima sent Nono a ball and the Japanese right back popped it in for his second goal of the game, leveling the score at 3-3. Vancouver came within inches of a win late in injury time when Laborda sent a shot just wide of the post.
Johnson finished with six saves for United, while Takaoka registered four stops for Vancouver. The Whitecaps controlled 62.3 per cent of possession in the first half but were outshot 11-8 by United. Vancouver held a 6-4 edge in on-target shots.
Standings and Playoff Implications
The draw leaves Vancouver (15-6-5) atop the Western Conference, three points ahead of second-place FC Dallas. D.C. United moves to 6-8-12 on the season. With eight games left, the Whitecaps remain in a strong position to secure a high playoff seed.
Both sides were missing key players due to international duty. The Whitecaps had six players away, including defensive midfielder Andres Cubas and midfielder Edier Ocampo, plus four others absent with injuries and illness. D.C. was without three players called up by their national teams, including Tai Baribo, and one due to injury.
Vancouver bolstered its roster on Saturday with two signings. The club signed Canadian forward Johnny Selemani to a contract through the 2029-30 MLS season and brought midfielder Valter Sedin up from MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 on a short-term MLS deal.
Vancouver returns to action on Oct. 6 when it visits the Chicago Fire. D.C. United travels to face Inter Miami on Oct. 10.
Vancouver Whitecaps D.C. United Thomas Muller Major League Soccer Brian White BC Place Western Conference
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