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Sounders top Rapids in Colorado to book first MLS Cup final trip

Photo by Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports

For eight years, the Seattle Sounders failed to reach an MLS Cup final. The club was routinely in the mix as a perennial powerhouse, but repeatedly fell short in postseason play despite frequently entering as favorites.

On Sunday, the Sounders finally broke through thanks to the play of their young star, reaching MLS Cup for the first time in what has likely been the club’s most up-and-down season.

Jordan Morris provided a second-half finish, pushing the Sounders to a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. The win earned the Sounders a 3-1 aggregate victory, while eliminating the second-seed Rapids in the West finals.

The Sounders will now play the winner of the Toronto FC-Montreal Impact series, which heads to Toronto on Wednesday with the Impact holding a 3-2 first-leg edge. The Sounders would host the MLS Cup final if Montreal wins the East final, while TFC would host the final with a series win against the Impact.

Morris broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, giving the Sounders what proved to be an insurmountable advantage. After the Sounders claimed the ball in the midfield, in-form forward Nelson Valdez played provider, feeding Morris on the left side. The rookie forward looped a shot over a sliding Zac MacMath, giving the Sounders a 1-0 lead on the day and 3-1 lead on aggregate.

The goal saw Morris become only the second rookie goalscorer in Conference Final history, joining current Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney. Valdez, meanwhile, played a part in a postseason goal for the third time in recent weeks.

The Rapids certainly had their chances, especially in the first half. However, the hosts never truly threatened the Sounders net throughout the opening stanza, save for an acrobatic Jermaine Jones flick that went up and over the goal.

By the end of the match, the Rapids outshot the Sounders, 15  to 4, but goalkeeper Stefan Frei was forced to make zero saves for the eventual victors.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Injured and ill, Jordan Morris was in poor shape on Sunday afternoon. However, like a true star, Morris persevered, and provided Sunday’s deciding goal.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Jordan Morris’ goal all but sealed the Sounders’ spot in the MLS Cup. The finish gave the Sounders a two-goal cushion and a vital away goal, making it one of the most important finishes in club history.

MATCH TO FORGET

Shkelzen Gashi was the Rapids’ most active player on the day, but he was also the most wasteful. The Albanian star had several chances to provide a vital goal, but failed to take any of them as his team was shutout to end the season.

Comments

  1. When the backbone of colorados playoff gameplay is to bring their opponent to mile high to “asphyxiated” them ? Lame. Aside from the rapids playoff away goals their performances have been sub par at best.

    Pundits can rank on THE Sounders all they want but will never find a more deserving playoff side in the 2nd half of the season. #ebfg

    Reply
    • Colorado had a great defensive team all year. Huge credit to Mastroeni, he did a great job with ex-Sounders, many of who most teams didn’t want. They were in trouble when they needed to score two goals, as they need big upgrades offensively.

      Agreed with Seattle’s second half. There wasn’t a better team. Seattle is the best team in MLS, which is crazy, as they are missing Dempsey badly, as any team would. 12-3-4 since Schmetzer and Nico and one of those loses was meaningless ( put them into next round over Dallas ).

      Reply
  2. It’s embarrassing that at this stage of the “playoffs” when only the “best” teams remain the quality of play can be this horrid. Other than Valdez not a single soccer player made it into that field last night. MLS owes me those 45 minutes of my life back

    Reply
  3. You all as well as the Commentators are exaggerating. I watched the whole thing it was not that ugly. No blood or broken bones were present. Pretty cool of Jordan to win the con cup, score winning goal all in front of his dad. I hope he stays injury free, do we can see him on the next Nat matches. Shout out to Mcmath, hope he gets called in for some Nats matches too.

    Reply
  4. I wonder if a relegation team comes asking for the Donovan short term loan this winter. Ie him playing of Woods at Hamburg. If that team gets relegated he comes back to Seattle, but an option to buy if they stay up.

    Reply

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