VANCOUVER — Thomas Muller scored twice, powering the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-0 Major League Soccer victory over visiting Toronto FC on Saturday.
The German soccer legend converted a penalty kick in the 25th minute, then added another goal in the 37th minute as the 'Caps (2-0-0) stretched their season-opening unbeaten streak to four games across all competitions.
Brian White also scored for Vancouver, firing in his first goal of the season in first-half stoppage time.
The 'Caps held 58.1 per cent possession across the match and outshot TFC 14-4, with a 5-3 advantage in on-target shots.
It was a relatively quiet night in net for Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, who made three saves to collect his fourth clean sheet across all competitions. Vancouver has yet to concede a goal in 2026.
Toronto's newest marquee player Josh Sargent was not in the lineup. The 26-year-old American striker signed with the club as a designated player earlier this week, bringing an end to his contentious time with Norwich City.
The Whitecaps took control of the game early, maintaining possession as TFC applied pressure and attempted to strip the home side of the ball through the midfield.
Toronto's aggression backfired in the 24th minute when centre back Walker Zimmerman tripped midfielder Aziel Jackson as he steamed into the penalty area. Referee Fotis Bazakos quickly pointed at the penalty spot.
The announced crowd of 24,533 rose to its feet as Muller stepped up to take the kick. The 36-year-old attacking midfielder stutter stepped in place, took a few long, slow strides toward the ball and sent a right-footed shot swinging into the bottom-left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.
He added to the tally in the 37th minute, directing in a corner kick from the top of the six-yard box to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead.
Muller now has 11 goals across all competitions since joining the 'Caps in mid-August.
Vancouver took a 3-0 lead into the locker room when White capitalized off another corner.
Sebastian Berhalter floated the ball into traffic, where it bounced off the shins of a Toronto defender. White took advantage, sending an unbalanced kick in past TFC 'keeper Luka Gavran for his first goal of the season.
The tally marked the American striker's 80th goal for the Whitecaps, giving him sole possession of second place on the club's all-time scoring list behind Domenic Mobilio (170).
Toronto nearly got on the board in the 55th minute when Djordje Mihailovic sent a shot in past Takaoka, only to see the offside flag raised.
The visitors registered their first shot of the night in the 67th minute when Daniel Salloi's right-footed shot sailed wide of the post.
They peppered Takaoka late in the game, including a shot off the foot of Jose Cifuentes that tested Takaoka in the 75th minute. The 'keeper dove and got a touch on the ball to preserve the shutout.
NOTES
Senegalese striker Cheikh Sabaly made his debut for Vancouver, coming on for Jackson in the 71st minute. … The Whitecaps were without forward Emmanuel Sabbi who was serving a one-game suspension for a bad tackle in last week's 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. … Toronto has not beat Vancouver on the road in league play since March 2017.
UP NEXT
TFC: Visits FC Cincinnati on Sunday, March 8.
Whitecaps: Visit their regional rivals, the Portland Timbers, next Saturday.
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