The MLS Cup Final is upon us, and either Toronto FC or the Seattle Sounders will emerge from BMO Field with their first title on Saturday night.
After toppling the rival Montreal Impact, TFC hosts Saturday night’s finale against a Sounders team that has been on a warpath since the midsummer. The two sides collide at a frigid BMO Field, where the elements will no doubt prove a challenge for both sides.
The Sounders lineup remains unchanged from their last match, a victory over the Colorado Rapids. TFC, meanwhile, makes one change, inserting midfielder Jonathan Osorio into the XI in place of Will Johnson.
The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.
Enjoy the action.
Poor advert for MLS…a team with no shots on goal won, a terrible ‘champion’…
Finals are usually poor matches for some reason.
Yeah, Sounders had nothing. Too bad Toronto couldn’t have finished one of those.
Wow, Toronto totally dominated and then lost on PKs.Sux for them.
Before the game, I would not have guessed this game would be scoreless. Penalties, sure, but not scoreless. Cold and nervousness will do that to you, I suppose…
It sux that @Ivesgalarcep died.
Kickoff and we’re underway
Altidore just wide! TFC almost go up early, but Frei pokes it just past the post.
Chance for TFC in the 15th minute. Osorio with a chance to turn in shoot, but Frei collects comfortably. Fairly physical so far. Altidore going at it with the two Sounders centerbacks.
Altidore goes close again! Header from the center of the box, but Frei gets down to corral it. Altidore has been a handful, while Morris has had moments on the other side. TFC definitely with the better of the play so far.
Giovinco is getting HACKED out there. Drawn four fouls and has had a few looks from free kicks. Has hit the Seattle wall twice. Still, the Sounders backline is certainly playing physical and, so far, it’s worked.
HALFTIME and it’s 0-0. Somewhat uneventful, but TFC definitely the better team during that half. Sounders looking to pick their spots and Lodeiro dropped a bit deeper throughout the half. A bit tentative, but both teams definitely with good moments.
Second half is underway
Giovinco JUST wide. Smashes a shot into side-netting to start the half.
Sounders sub. Fernandez for Friberg. Still scoreless in the 69th minute.
77th and TFC makes a sub. Johnson for Osorio
Another sub for TFC. Cheyrou in for Cooper in the 85th.
SO CLOSE TFC! Corner in and Frei just gets in ahead of Altidore. In stoppage time now.
EXTRA TIME! Scoreless through 90 and we’ll move on to at least 30 more (very cold) minutes.
Shot by Cheyrou is gobbled up by Frei. Decent look.
Ricketts in for Giovinco. Interesting sub, in my opinion. Need Ricketts, but for Giovinco?
15 more minutes coming. Still scoreless. A fairly uneventful first period of ET. Hard to see who is capable of a winner.
Ricketts just wide before Sounders make a very defensive sub. Morris out, Evans in.
WHAT A SAVE! Frei with a magnificent stop on Altidore, palming out a headed effort. Huge.
Scoreless through 120 and we’re headed to penalty kicks. Frei with seven saves so far. Clint Irwin? Zero.
First penalty goes to Altidore, who scores to Frei’s right. 1-0 to TFC.
Evans scores to make it 1-1 before Michael Bradley MISSES. Advantage to Seattle.
GOAL IVANSCHITZ! 2-1 to Seattle. Cheyrou steps up for TFC and scored. 2-2 midway through the third round
SAVE IRWIN! Fernandez’s shot is parried away and TFC is back in it! BMO is ROCKING.
GOAL JOHNSON! 3-2 to TFC as Jones steps up.
GOAL JONES! Top corner, but Irwin can’t get to it. 3-3.
GOAL MOOR! Slides it right past Frei and TFC can win it with a save.
GOAL LODEIRO! 4-4 through five. Incredibly tense. Morrow coming up.
OFF THE BAR! Morrow’s shot clatters the crossbar and bounces out. Torres steps up with a chance to win it.
GOAL TORRES! SOUNDERS WIN THE MLS CUP!
Going to throw out my prediction here before kickoff: Taking the Sounders, 4-2. I think they’re better defensively and Lodeiro, a proven winner, will be immense.
Going to disagree with Franco and go with a 2-1 TFC win. Home field is always an advantage, and the strike force of ALtidore/Giovinco is just too good. Midfield battle will help decide the game, but I give the edge to TFC.
Good evening all. Seated at a FREEZING BMO Field, where it’s hovering around 26 degrees. Sounders just now taking the field for warmups. Have a little while until kickoff, so feel free to throw some questions/predictions into the chat.
Obviously people are looking for big games from Morris, Giovinco, Jozy, and Lodiero. Who is your surprise pick to shine?
For the Sounders, has to be Nelson Valdez. Just has that knack for big goals, and he certainly scored a bunch in Europe. (Finally) in good form now, and should be a handful. For TFC, Osorio needs a big game. Vanney opts for a more attacking approach with Osorio over Johnson, so interested to see how that midfield battle plays out.
Pumped for this game come on TFC