Midfielder's Late Finish Caps Stunning Whitecaps Comeback
Sebastian Berhalter needed a response after a difficult international break, and he delivered it in the most dramatic fashion possible.
The 24-year-old had endured a tough fortnight with the USMNT, coming off the bench for 26 minutes in a 5-2 hammering by Belgium before starting and playing 79 minutes in a 2-0 defeat to Portugal. Neither performance did much to strengthen his case for a World Cup roster spot this summer. Back in MLS on Saturday, however, Berhalter reminded everyone exactly why he belongs in that conversation.
Vancouver trailed Portland 2-1 as the match entered stoppage time at BC Place, staring down a second consecutive home defeat. Thomas Müller leveled from the penalty spot in the 91st minute, and then, four minutes later, Berhalter collected the ball at the edge of the area and side-footed an effort that crept beyond Pantemis's fingertips to send BC Place into pandemonium.
The stats reflected a thorough, all-around shift, with 122 touches, 85% passing accuracy, 21 passes into the final third, and three defensive contributions—underscoring his importance as the engine of Vancouver's midfield.
"To score two goals in stoppage time shows a lot," Berhalter said afterward. "It shows belief, and it shows that we believe in each other and that it doesn't matter if we're 2-1 down in the 91st minute. We still have a chance."
Now with three goals and four assists through six MLS matches, Berhalter leads Vancouver in goal contributions and has drawn early consideration as an MVP candidate. With the World Cup just two months away, performances like this are exactly what USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino will have been watching closely.
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