Bayern Munich great Thomas Muller made his MLS debut but could not help the Vancouver Whitecaps overcome the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

Muller had a goal disallowed just a few moments after his 61st-minute introduction at BC Place, where the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw.

Brian White put the hosts into an early lead from the penalty spot, yet Houston captain Artur popped up with an equaliser in second-half injury time, as Vancouver were prevented from moving into second place in the Western Conference.

Brooklyn Raines was sent off for the visitors in the final knockings, but Vancouver did not have the time to make their numerical advantage count.

"There's, of course, high expectations for a player like Thomas coming here to MLS, playing for Vancouver," said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen.

"First and foremost, it's about blending in together with his team-mates. I think he did very well.

"I think he has a high football IQ, so he understands where to position himself and also which spaces to attack. And of course, he's been here for three days.

"We just want to get him in, integrated into the team as fast as possible, and I think that he has done very well since he came to training sessions. Then [on Sunday], I was very happy with what I saw."

Muller ended the match with 27 touches, while he completed 19 of his 23 attempted passes.

The Vancouver fans erupted when Muller found the net, though the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

"The moment when I scored the goal, it was amazing," reflected Muller. "The noise in the stadium and then also the reaction of my team-mates, it was a great start for me."

"I'm now fresh into this team, new into the league. I need a few weeks to figure out what is right or wrong, but to be honest, I feel very good after this game."

Vancouver's draw leaves them third in the West, six points back from San Diego FC, who forged a late comeback to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 to take the lead in the race for the Supporters' Shield for the first time as they moved ahead of FC Cincinnati on goal difference.

Josef Martinez put San Jose ahead in the 72nd minute, yet San Diego hit back through Marcus Ingvartsen and Anders Dreyer.

With just seven regular-season games remaining, San Diego are in with a great chance of becoming the first MLS expansion side to win the Supporters' Shield in their debut season. 

Data Debrief: History beckons

San Diego became the first expansion team in MLS history to reel off six straight away wins in the regular season, and it is not only the Supporters' Shield that is in their sights.

With 16 wins to their name this year, San Diego are just one victory away from equalling the single-season record for wins by an expansion side in their first season (17 by St. Louis City SC in 2023).

San Diego need just five more points, meanwhile, to match Los Angeles FC's record haul of 57, when it comes to an expansion team in their maiden MLS campaign.