Muller’s brace powers Vancouver Whitecaps to 3-0 victory over Toronto FC

The 30-year-old American had other chances early in the campaign. A penalty kick got stopped. A point-blank chance was blocked on the goal line.

Finally breaking through brings some relief, White said.

“Obviously, you want to get off the mark as soon as possible. Obviously it didn’t happen,” he said. “But, always staying confident, working hard for the team, knowing that these chances will come, and then you’ll put them away. And then just move on from there.

“So, yeah, happy to get off the mark for the year.”

Thomas Muller scored twice for the Whitecaps (2-0-0) on Saturday as Vancouver stretched its season-opening unbeaten streak to four games across all competitions.

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 ‘Caps held 58.1 per cent possession across the match and outshot TFC 14-45 with a 5-3 advantage in on-target shots.

Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made three saves to record his fourth clean sheet across all competitions. Vancouver has yet to concede a goal in 2026.

The shutouts have been a whole-team effort, said head coach Jesper Sorensen.

“It’s all in the flow,” he said. “So when we have a better flow in our game and better passing, then we don’t allow many chances because the opposition will not get as high on the pitch. … But Yohei and the backline have been amazing.”

The Whitecaps took control of Saturday’s match early, maintaining possession as TFC applied pressure and attempted to strip the home side of the ball through the midfield.

“In the beginning of the game, I thought with the ball we just didn’t look as confident as we needed to and therefore led to a lot of turnovers,” said Toronto head coach Robin Fraser.

“And we certainly feel like when we play well and we’re engaged that we have the ability to play through teams and make it difficult for them. And I felt like tonight we just looked tentative in the beginning. So that kind of set the tone for a lot of defending.”

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.

“He’s seen the game at the highest level, he’s achieved the biggest things you can achieve in the sport. So I think all of us just kind of learn from him,” White said of the FIFA World Cup winner. “Obviously, he’s a leader on and off the field, he has so much experience that we’re all just trying to soak it up and follow his leadership.”

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 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).

The milestone is an important one, White said.

“When I came to the team, I think I was more seen as a backup,” he said. “And to earn the trust of the coaching staff, the front office, the fans and really just fall in love with the city and kind of move up in the charts and kind of put my name there, it does mean a lot. And it’s something I’m really proud of.”

At halftime, Fraser spoke to his group about being more intense, more engaged and more aggressive, and he was pleased with the response.

“I thought we gave a much better account of ourselves,” the coach said. “Unfortunate not to get something more out of it or get something out of it because we did create a few chances. Our pressure was good. We were really engaged and it felt like it was coming. And in the end, I think we just ran out of energy.

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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Muller’s brace powers Vancouver Whitecaps to 3-0 victory over Toronto FC

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