Muller scores on late penalty as Whitecaps earn 1-1 draw with LAFC

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps put on a dominating performance against Los Angeles FC on Saturday but managed just a 1-1 draw in a Major League Soccer game.

Midfielder Thomas Muller scored on a penalty kick late in the second half to salvage the point for Vancouver after forward Son Heung-min gave LAFC the lead in the 37th minute.

The Whitecaps had 20 shots on goal compared to five for LAFC. Shots on target were 4-1 for Vancouver. The Whitecaps took 11 corner kicks compared to one for LAFC.

“We went for it,” said Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen. “We were in good control, and we also created some good opportunities. We were close to scoring a couple of times.”

Captain Ryan Gauld said LAFC was like a boxer content to lay on the ropes and wait to deliver a knockout punch.

“They are a difficult team to break through,” said Gauld. “They’re happy to sit a little bit lower and let us have the ball. We had a wee bit of difficulty creating clearcut chances.”

Muller’s goal came in the 76th minute after he was hauled down in the box by defender Yevhen Cheberko. The big midfielder calmly struck the ball into an open side of the net.

The Whitecaps controlled most of the first half, but LAFC took the lead on Heung-min’s pretty goal.

Left wing Denis Bouanga started the play by intercepting a Whitecaps’ pass and moved the ball into Vancouver’s zone. He flipped a pass to Heung-min, who spun and fired a shot into the short side of the net past the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

Heung-min soaked up the cheers of a large Korean contingent in the crowd.

Sorensen called Heung-min’s goal “a punch in the face.”

“It’s difficult when you have the feeling as a player that you are doing very well, then you get even more disappointed when you get behind,” he said. “You have to chase.

“Even though we had to chase for a long time, we played with the right balance. In general, I was happy for the performance.”

The Whitecaps (10-3-4) and LAFC (10-5-4) remain tied for the Western Conference lead with 34 points apiece, one ahead of the San Jose Earthquakes who lost 4-2 to FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

After winning eight of their first nine games, the Whitecaps are 1-2-2 in their last five.

Gauld said teams are playing a more defensive style against Vancouver. They are content to be patient and take advantage of any Whitecap mistakes.

“We need to find other ways of breaking down teams and ways to get through them,” he said, “We want to be on the ball and dominate games.

“We just need to sharpen up a little bit in terms of breaking down the lower blocks and creating those chances.”

A crowd of 40,086 watched the Whitecaps play their first game at BC Place Stadium since April 25th. The Whitecaps were forced on the road while the stadium hosted seven FIFA World Cup matches.

“It’s been a long time,” Gauld said. “It’s good to be back in front of our fans.

“I think we put on a good performance for them. It’s a shame we couldn’t come away with three points but it’s good to be back home.”

It was also the first time the two teams played since the Whitecaps defeated LAFC in the 2025 Western Conference semifinals.

The Whitecaps had several early chances. Midfielder Andres Cubas put a shot on net in the second minute, then centre back Mathias Laborda directed a header over top of the goal in the seventh minute.

Striker Brian White tested goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 16th minute. White intercepted a pass deep in the L.A. end then fired a low, hard shot that Lloris stopped.

White thought he had scored in the 27th minute but the goal was called back on an offside, bring a chorus of boos from the fans.

The Whitecaps threatened again in the second half. Centre back Tristan Blackmon earned a free kick in the 59th minute after being fouled at the top of the box. Vancouver did a little razzle dazzle but Muller’s shot from the centre of the box was blocked by forward Jacob Shaffelburg, a member of Canada’s national soccer team who played at the World Cup.

Muller had another chance in the 69th minute but sent his shot over top of the net.

UP NEXT

Los Angeles: Hosts Chivas de Guadalajara in Leagues Cup (Phase 1) on Wednesday.

Whitecaps: Host Atlante FC of Mexico City in Leagues Cup (Phase 1) on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2026.

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press