Whitecaps keep pushing for West title with rout of Earthquakes

Sebastian Berhalter scored twice in the final 26-plus minutes for his first career multi-goal game as the host Vancouver Whitecaps kept alive their chances for the top spot in the Western Conference with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

Vancouver (17-6-9, 60 points) is tied in points with San Diego (18-9-6, 60 points) but has one fewer win. Vancouver also has two games in hand by facing Orlando City SC and FC Dallas while San Diego visits the Portland Timbers on Decision Day on Oct. 18.

Thomas Muller continued his strong start in the MLS by scoring in the 57th minute for his fifth goal in five games since the German superstar joining Vancouver following a stellar 17-year career with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Muller's latest goal helped Vancouver earn a team-record 17th win and extend its unbeaten streak to seven games (4-0-3).

Rayan Elloumi scored his second career MLS goal in the 39th minute while Berhalter scored in the 74th and two minutes into stoppage time after setting up Elloumi's goal with a perfectly executed free kick. Teammate Ali Ahmed drew the foul that led to the free kick on Elloumi's goal and also collected an assist.

Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made two saves and nearly posted his league-leading 14th shutout before Beau Leroux scored in the 89th minute.

San Jose (10-15-8, 38 points) - the last club to beat Vancouver (2-1 on Aug. 9) -- dropped to 3-8-1 in its past 12 contests.

San Jose goalie Daniel De Sousa Britto stopped Muller in the 12th and 65th minutes but allowed four scores in 10 shots on goal.

After San Jose's Benji Kikanovic took a yellow card for fouling Ahmed, Vancouver cashed in. Berhalter kicked it toward the left side of the net for Elloumi, who eluded Kikanovic and another defender before sending a right-footed shot into the net.

Vancouver took a 2-0 lead after Berhalter won a ball near midfield and moved up the field before passing to Ahmed. He encountered two defenders and quickly moved the ball to Muller, who was wide open for a right-footed shot from slightly outside the box that went to the bottom left corner.

Following Muller's goal, Berhalter scored on a pair of shots from outside the box to secure the victory.

--Field Level Media