If there鈥檚 a feel-good sports story of the summer in Vancouver, the Whitecaps are it.
Last Saturday night at BC Place Stadium, the atmosphere was electric when new arrival Thomas M眉ller stutter-stepped up and calmly penalty-kicked in the winner "at the death" (late in the game), 3-2 over St. Louis CITY SC.
Delirious fans in the crowd of 26,031 were lucky to see the German star's first goal in Caps colours, and the likeable, excitable M眉ller made the most of a big (and slightly controversial) moment.
With all the confidence in the world, he gave the home team its 14th win of the MLS season, good for third in Western Conference standings, playoffs on the horizon.
Now just a win away from clinching a post-season berth, the Whitecaps would celebrate at home Saturday, Sept. 13 with a decision over Philadelphia Union, then prepare for playoffs with a chance of winning their first MLS championship.
With lots of soccer to be played, a question is this: Have the Whitecaps enjoyed such a high since their glorious NASL Soccer Bowl championship in 1979? Probably not, and M眉ller's splashy arrival Aug. 6 has helped sell out the stadium's lower bowl in a season that has been memorable from the start.
"I still can't believe he's playing for the Whitecaps," said one disbelieving fan while focused on M眉ller, 35, who became a global icon in 2014 when he led Germany to a FIFA World Cup victory over Argentina in the bright lights of Brazil.
Wearing the 鈥楥鈥� armband for the home side, M眉ller made his first start for the Caps on Saturday, and stuck around to score the latest goal of a game in Whitecaps FC MLS history (at 90'+14).
What drama!
Throughout the game, M眉ller was very active and intensely focused on scoring, though his rhythm appeared a bit off with new teammates around him. Off the field, he is engaging, witty and is apparently excited to be in Vancouver. Gotta love it.
Saturday, striker Brian White also scored on a PK in stoppage time (late in the first half), and Daniel R铆os scored his third of the season in the 79th minute to tie the match before M眉ller's memorable winner.
I was hoping to Surrey's Jeevan Badwal play, but the 19-year-old sat sidelined. No question, the midfield got a whole lot deeper with M眉ller's arrival this month, and the rookie Badwal will get his chances.
No matter who's on the pitch, the Whitecaps are fun to watch this season 鈥� save for the debacle in Mexico during the Concacaf Champions Cup final, of course.
M眉ller can only help their chances of making the season truly magical with an MLS title.
