Muller scores, Vancouver Whitecaps open MLS playoffs with 3-0 victory over FC Dallas

VANCOUVER — The Major League Soccer playoffs feel different for midfielder Ali Ahmed and the Vancouver Whitecaps this season.

A dominant 3-0 win over FC Dallas on Sunday showed why.

From the first whistle to the last, the ‘Caps controlled Game 1 of the first-round, best-of-three series, outshooting the visitors 22-0 and not allowing a single shot on target.

“I just feel like there’s just a different feeling this year, a different belief this year, heading into these playoff matches,” Ahmed said.

“The last few years was the guys’ first few times, so we didn’t know what to expect. But this year, just everybody’s confident in every game that the standard is we go in to win every game.”

For Dallas, Sunday’s loss was humbling, said head coach Eric Quill.

“They outplayed us in every phase of the game. They were honestly very motivated by what happened last week. And they beat us,” he said.

“This was an unacceptable performance that we need to look hard at and be honest with.”

The Whitecaps finished the regular season second in the Western Conference standings with an 18-7-9 record after falling 2-1 to Dallas in the final game on Oct. 18.

The victory improved Dallas’s record to 11-12-11 and moved the team up to the No. 7 spot, setting up the playoff series with the ‘Caps.

”I think the (loss) left a little bitter taste. We wanted that first seed,” Ahmed said after Sunday’s win. “We just used that fuel from that day. The guys and the coaching staff have just been emphasizing how we need to get onto the front foot in Game 1, and kind of set the standard for the rest of these playoffs.”

An animated crowd of 32,066 took in the game, with thousands in the lower bowl waving baby blue and white Whitecaps flags in a wave whenever the home side scored or took a corner kick.

“I was getting goosebumps when we were walking out, seeing the flags and everybody,” Ahmed said. “And although it was cold, I’m pretty sure the goosebumps were from just seeing the vibe and atmosphere.”

The ‘Caps controlled the vast majority of play from the beginning of Sunday’s game, keeping Dallas from even touching the ball for extended stretches.

Sebastian Berhalter nearly opened the scoring for the home side in the 11th minute, blasting a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area, only to see Dallas ‘keeper Michael Collodi make the stop.

Vancouver peppered the goalie with chances across the first half, including back-to-back shots in the 31st minute.

Ahmed sent a high ball soaring toward the net and Collodi turned it away, sending the rebound out to Thomas Muller. Facing the other end of the field, the German soccer legend went for a bicycle kick, but Collodi once again made the save.

“I mean, he’s a good ‘keeper. … So credit to him,” said midfielder Emmanuel Sabbi, who had multiple chances throughout the game. “But no, we just keep believing. We just keep going, keep attacking, relentless football. And that’s what we showed today.”

Dallas’s lone chance of the first half came in the 38th minute when Bernard Kamungo got a partial breakaway and sprinted down the field. Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka came off his line to challenge and Kamungo darted in behind, but sent his shot well over the net. The play was then called offside.

The ‘Caps got a ball past Collodi on their sixth on-target shot of the night when Ahmed floated a cross in to the back post in the 43rd minute. Daniel Rios jumped up and headed it in for his fourth goal across all competitions this year. The assist was Ahmed’s 11th of the campaign.

Vancouver continued its offensive onslaught in the second half.

Sabbi steamed toward the Dallas net with the ball at his feet in the 59th minute and was cut down at the top of the penalty area by Osaze Urhoghide. Referee Victor Rivas was quick to point at the penalty spot.

Muller stepped up to take the kick, slowly approached the ball, then blasted a right-footed shot into the side of the goal as Collodi dove in the opposite direction.

In celebration, he hoisted Sabbi onto his shoulders as they were mobbed by teammates.

The 60th-minute goal was Muller’s ninth across all competitions since joining the ‘Caps in mid August. Six of those tallies came on penalty kicks. The 36-year-old attacking midfielder has also contributed four assists.

Cabrera, who came in for Sabbi in the 76th minute, registered Vancouver’s third goal of the night in the 83rd minute.

Rayan Elloumi worked the ball along the goal line with a Dallas defender pulling on the back of his jersey. Despite the pressure, the 18-year-old Whitecaps academy product got a pass off to Cabrera, who booted a shot in from the top of the six-yard box.

“We were very focused,” Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said of his side’s performance. “Good teams and smart guys, they make mistakes, but they have to learn from it. And I think we made some mistakes a week ago, and now we also learned a little bit from it. And I think that we looked very solid.”

Dallas will host the second game of the matchup on Nov. 1.

The team needs to “look inward” before that matchup, said Dallas midfielder Christian.

“We need to show up because we can’t do what we did today and expect to win,” he said.

“This result hurt a lot of people. It’s not something that we’ve been used to in recent times. So of course we’re all competitors and everybody’s upset, as we should be. We take it tonight and then we look forward to tomorrow.”

If necessary, Game 3 will be held back at B.C. Place on Nov. 7.

The winner of the series will face the winner of a first-round series between Los Angeles FC and Austin FC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2025.