White scores twice as Whitecaps earned 6-0 home win over Minnesota United FC

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White (24) celebrates his goal against Minnesota United with Emmanuel Sabbi (11) during the first half of an MLS Soccer match in Vancouver, on Sunday, March 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER — Less than 72 hours after being shut out in CONCACAF Champions Cup play, the Vancouver Whitecaps bounced back with a dominant 6-0 win over Minnesota United FC on Sunday afternoon at B.C. Place.

“It was more than we even hoped for,” said Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen. “Even though it was only two-and-a-half days since we played the last game, I think the players looked fresh. We looked really eager to come out here and push the pace and play with great quality. It was a great game.”

Brian White led the way with his fourth and fifth goals of the year, becoming the first Whitecaps player to log 100 goal contributions across all competitions in the Major League Soccer era. Sebastian Berhalter, Mathias Laborda, Emmanuel Sabbi and Cheikh Sabaly also scored for Vancouver (4-0).

“I think all around the field, guys are happy for each other,” said Berhalter, who also logged a pair of assists. “Guys are working for each other.”

Yohei Takaoka earned his third shutout of the year in MLS competition with a diving save off a Minnesota free kick in the dying minutes of regulation time. The 29-year-old now has 40 shutouts as a Whitecap, five back of franchise leader David Ousted.

The Loons fell to 1-2-1 in MLS play this year.

The result was in hand for the home side almost from the opening kickoff, as the Whitecaps built a four-goal, first-half lead for just the second time in their MLS era.

Berhalter started things off in the eighth minute, confidently converting from the penalty spot after Minnesota’s Kyle Duncan fouled Vancouver’s Jeevan Badwal in the box.

Sabbi set up the second goal in the 13th minute, chasing down a ball at the goal line and threading a perfect pass into the box for White.

In the 22nd minute, Laborda beat Loons keeper Drake Callender down low to give the Whitecaps a 3-0 lead with his first of the year.

Minnesota didn’t get its first good scoring chance until late in the first half, when Nectarios Triantis hammered the ball off the left goalpost.

The Whitecaps made it 4-0 just before halftime, when Berhalter fed a streaking Sabbi for his first of the season.

Vancouver didn’t let up in the second half, adding two more goals. White scored on a penalty in the 54th minute and Sabaly bounced a shot off Loon defender Morris Duggan and into the net in the 74th minute for his first-career MLS tally.

“If we want to develop as a team, you do not play according to what the score is,” Sorensen said. “You have to have the mentality that you want to push yourself and you want to push for the next goal. Don’t be relaxing just because you have a lead.”

After reaching the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last season, the Whitecaps will need another big outing on Wednesday in Spokane, Wash., down three goals on aggregate as they face the Sounders in the second leg of their Round of 16 competition.

“We put ourselves in harm’s way, in a couple of situations,” said Sorensen of Thursday’s loss. “This game today showed what I said after the game against Seattle, that we are a good team. We have to do something special Wednesday because we put ourselves in a very, very bad situation. But we believe we can.”

Less than three months before Vancouver hosts its first 2026 FIFA World Cup match June 13, Sunday’s game carried the anticipation of some historic World Cup flavour. For the first time ever in MLS competition, two Golden Boot winners took to the field in the same match.

After signing with Minnesota in February, Colombia’s 2014 Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez made his MLS debut Sunday. He squared off against 2010 winner Thomas Muller of Vancouver.

The pair were also teammates in Germany earlier in their careers, earning a pair of Bundesliga titles during their two seasons together with Bayern Munich.

Both international legends started Sunday’s match on the bench. James came in for the Loons in the 64th minute and Muller joined him 13 minutes later.


This report by Carol Schram, The Canadian Press, was first published March 15, 2026.