Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps hosted Heung-min Son and LAFC in an MLS Western Conference semifinal on Saturday. After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the past two years
by LAFC, Vancouver was looking for revenge. They earned a victory in front of a record crowd of 53,397 fans and moved onto the Conference Final for the first time since joining MLS in 2011.
The former Bayern man knew that it would be a tough test and sent out a late night text to his teammates the night before. His teammate, Sebastian Berhalter, told Sports Illustrated, “He sent a text and told everyone just to take deep breaths, if anyone’s feeling anything, do some box breathing and be ready. When you get a text like that at 11 p.m., you’re like ‘here we go.’”
The Whitecaps were cruising by halftime, up 2-0, but Son took over in the second half. He halved the lead about midway into the second half and then scored a world class goal from a freekick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to force extra time. Vancouver would limp into extra time with just ten men after a second yellow card gave Son the freekick opportunity. Müller was subbed out before extra time began and had to watch his team battle from the bench.
Perhaps Müller’s teammates remembered his advice from the late night text and used his advice to remain calm as they had to defend an onslaught from LAFC in extra time. They played the last ten minutes of stoppage time with nine men after an injured player could not continue and no subs were available. LAFC had three great opportunities at the death. They hit the crossbar, the left post, and the crossbar again in a matter of seconds, but the Whitecaps were able to keep the ball out of the net and forced penalties.
The woodwork continued to be friendly to the Whitecaps in the penalty shootout. Two of LAFC’s kicks — including Son’s attempt to begin the shootout — went off the post and crossbar. LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris saved just one Vancouver penalty, but the Whitecaps were able to hit their fifth attempt to secure the win and advance further in the MLS Cup Playoffs than ever before.
Postmatch, Müller said, “That was the brutal beauty of our game. I am so proud of the group. We suffered. … it’s unbelievable that we achieved it.” Müller and the Whitecaps move on and could host the Western Conference Final and maybe even the MLS Cup final, depending on who their opponents will be.
