The Vancouver Whitecaps were 20 minutes away from seeing their season end, and playoff hopes dashed, but their biggest player stepped up with the biggest play of the season.

Costa Rican defender Kendall Waston lifted his 6-foot-5 frame into the air and headed home a Pedro Morales corner kick in the 70th minute to help give the Whitecaps a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Saturday night.

After shaking off a mark from Rapids forward Deshorn Brown, Waston jumped over Nick LaBrocca and Shane O’Neill to place his header past Clint Irwin.

The victory secured Vancouver’s place in the MLS Western Conference playoffs, making the Whitecaps the last team to qualify for the postseason. The Whitecaps will now play FC Dallas on Wednesday in the knockout round match, with the winner earning a chance to play No. 1 seed Seattle in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Whitecaps controlled the match throughout, but Irwin made several important saves to keep the match scoreless, and then keep it close until the final whistle. Kekuta Manneh also had a clear look rattle off the crossbar shortly before Waston’s winner.