Berhalter notches brace, Vancouver Whitecaps thump San Jose Earthquakes 4-1

VANCOUVER — Sebastian Berhalter has been working on shooting from distance.

That practice paid off on Sunday as he launched two long bombs soaring into the back of the net and his Vancouver Whitecaps dumped the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 4-1.

“The coaching staff has worked with me to really improve on that and have that as a weapon, especially going into the post-season,” said the American midfielder. “So it’s something that we’ve worked on and I’m glad it’s been paying off.”

Berhalter also had an assist in the victory, which stretched Vancouver’s unbeaten streak to 10 games (6-0-4) across all competitions.

They 24-year-old athlete has been helping the team all over the field this season, said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen, in part by playing a slower pace that’s allowed his game come together.

“He’s just continued growing,” he said. “Today was obviously a very impressive, performance from him. The goals made it special, but he’s been good all through the season, I would say.”

Vancouver was dominant throughout much of the game, controlling 57.3 per cent of possession and outshooting the Earthquakes 18-8, with a 10-4 edge in on-target chances.

The victory moved the Whitecaps (17-6-9) back into second place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with two games left on the regular-season schedule.

The Earthquakes (10-15-8) remain two points below the playoff bar with one game to go.

San Jose had a good chance early in the game off a corner kick in the sixth minute.

Cristian Espinoza swung the ball in and Josef Martinez headed a shot on net, but Vancouver centre back Ralph Priso was on the goal-line to block the attempt.

The ‘Caps knew coming in that the Earthquakes were desperate for points, Sorensen said.

“They needed to win this game,” the coach said. “You could see they opened up very fast in the second half, and also made the substitutions coming in pretty fast. You could see that they really had to go for it, and it opened up the game for us.”

Whitecaps star Thomas Muller came within inches in the 12th minute, blasting a shot at the San Jose net from distance. Goalkeeper Daniel de Sousa Britto dove and got a touch on the ball, sending it off the post.

A first-half foul proved costly for the Earthquakes.

Benji Kikanovic hauled down Vancouver midfielder Ali Ahmed just outside the penalty area in the 38th minute, drawing a yellow card.

The ‘Caps made use of the ensuing free kick, with Berhalter swinging it into traffic and rookie Rayan Elloumi firing it in past de Soussa Britto to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

Muller doubled the advantage in the 57th minute, collecting a pass from Ahmed at the top of the penalty area and launching a right-footed rocket that sailed into the back of the San Jose net to make it 2-0.

The German soccer legend now has six goals since signing with Vancouver in mid August.

Berhalter made it 3-0 in the 74th minute, firing a shot up and over the hands of the diving de Soussa Britto from above the penalty area.

San Jose finally got on the scoresheet in the 89th minute when Beau Leroux — who came in for Ronaldo Vieira in the 79th minute — blasted a shot in over Vancouver ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka.

The goal was reviewed for a possible offside, but stood after a check by the video officials.

Vancouver replied in the second minute of injury time when Berhalter sent yet another long shot flying into the back of the San Jose net to seal the score at 4-1.

It was his eighth goal across all competitions this season. He’s also contributed 14 assists.

“It’s just trying to get better every day. I’ve been trying to put in the work and training so that I can go out here and perform,” Berhalter said of his play.

“I think every year, it’s just been a constant build. From season to season, just getting a little bit better, a little bit better. And it’s never come all at one, it’s just kind of steadily grown upon itself. And now I’m here and I want to keep going and keep getting better.”

NOTES: Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld came on for Ahmed in the 78th minute, marking his first MLS action since suffering a knee injury on March 8. … A crowd of 25,292 took in the game at B. C. Place. … Vancouver has scored 90 goals across all competitions this season.

UP NEXT

Whitecaps: Visit Orlando City SC on Saturday for their last road game of the regular season.

Earthquakes: Close out the regular season at home on Oct. 18 against Austin FC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 5, 2025.