Categories: MLSPhiladelphia UnionProst InternationalVancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps stake playoff spot with Philly thrashing

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 7-0 Philadelphia Union

VANCOUVER, BC–Saturday was Thomas Müller’s 36th birthday, and he celebrated with a hat trick and Vancouver celebrated by thrashing the current Supporters’ Shield leading Philadelphia Union, 7-0, at BC Place. The Whitecaps are the fourth team to hit seven this season (Nashville, Chicago, NY Red Bulls). It also clinches a playoff spot for the Whitecaps and virtually solidifies a top three seed in the Western Conference.

The last known instance of the Whitecaps scoring seven in any era was when they were known at the 86ers in the Canadian Soccer League when they beat the Edmonton Brick Men, 7-1, in 1988.

Mathias Laborda got the scoring started in the 18th minute heading in a cross from Sebastian Berhalter. Six minutes later, Ali Ahmed sent a cross into the area that Emmanuel Sabbi would drill home to double Vancouver’s advantage.

More misfortune came for the Union as Jesus Bueno was called for handball in the box in the 29th minute and Müller duly converted the spot kick at the half hour mark. Philly thought they had pulled one back, but VAR determined Alejandro Bedoya was offside in the buildup. Bedoya would then be on the wrong end of a penalty decision as he took down Ahmed just before halftime and Müller would go 2-for-2 from the spot.

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Müller added an assist to his stat sheet finding a criminally unmarked Sabbi who curled the ball in for his second of the night in the 61st minute. Berhalter got his second assist of the evening sending in a cross that was headed in by Rayan Elloumi in the 80th minute to make it 6-0. Müller completed his hat trick heading in from close range to cap the night.

Granted, the Union has a US Open Cup semifinal on Tuesday against Nashville on Tuesday (8pm ET, CBS Sports Network/Paramount+). Meanwhile, the Whitecaps have the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal against Forge FC of Hamilton on Tuesday as well (7pm PT, TSN1/FS2). The first leg ended 2-2 in Hamilton.

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe