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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MLS Cup final: Toronto FC v Seattle Sounders – live! | MLS Cup final: Toronto FC v Seattle Sounders – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.58am GMT | |
| 00:58 | |
| A slight amendment to the schedule: kick off looks more likely to be at about 8.15, in classic MLS fashion. Almost as though the 8pm listed time is merely a suggestion. | |
| 12.53am GMT | |
| 00:53 | |
| Graham Parker | |
| “Toronto’s field has good undersoil heating and looks to be holding up well across the whole surface – certainly compared to the side of the Kansas City field that was visibly frozen back in 2013 and that had onlookers wincing every time a tackle went in on it. The main effect of cold might not be surface but on fact that every time Lodeiro wants to dink a delicate little defense-splitting ball perfectly weighted for Jordan Morris to run on to, he’s going to feel like he’s kicking a rock. Don’t expect a bunch of long passes from either side today. | |
| “An honorable exception for the beloved defensive tactic of hoofing it clear.” | |
| 12.41am GMT | |
| 00:41 | |
| We’re about 20 minutes away from kick-off, and without wishing to labour the point, it’s cold. Mid-20s. But the pitch is good for play, even if it does look a little heavy. | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.49am GMT | |
| 12.26am GMT | |
| 00:26 | |
| The road to the final | |
| Both sides did it the hard way. Seattle sneaked into fourth-place in the Western Conference after a late-season surge, but have shown their mettle in the postseason, beating Sporting KC before seeing off No 1 Dallas and No2 Colorado over two legs. | |
| TFC finished third in the East, beat Philly in the play-in game, humped NYC FC in a remarkable 7-0 aggregate win, and then ousted Montreal in an extremely entertaining Eastern Conference final. They might not have topped their respective divisions, but TFC and Seattle deserve to be here. | |
| 12.23am GMT | 12.23am GMT |
| 00:23 | 00:23 |
| Graham Parker is at a very chilly BMO Field: | Graham Parker is at a very chilly BMO Field: |
| “So far so good on snow … it’s cold, though. Not as cold as Kansas City in 2013 yet, but temperatures dropping. Am pathetically grateful that my Guardian affiliation qualifies me for an obstructed view seat inside the press box, rather than in the outdoor press tribune.” | “So far so good on snow … it’s cold, though. Not as cold as Kansas City in 2013 yet, but temperatures dropping. Am pathetically grateful that my Guardian affiliation qualifies me for an obstructed view seat inside the press box, rather than in the outdoor press tribune.” |
| 12.21am GMT | 12.21am GMT |
| 00:21 | 00:21 |
| So TFC look like three at the back, with Giovinco and Altidore the furthest forward. Four in defence for the Sounders, and Nelson Haedo Valdez will be the lone striker, ably supported by Morris, Lodeiro and Friberg. | So TFC look like three at the back, with Giovinco and Altidore the furthest forward. Four in defence for the Sounders, and Nelson Haedo Valdez will be the lone striker, ably supported by Morris, Lodeiro and Friberg. |
| 12.17am GMT | 12.17am GMT |
| 00:17 | 00:17 |
| Tonight's teams | Tonight's teams |
| Toronto FC: Irwin, Moor, Hagglund, Morrow, Beitashour, Zavaleta, Cooper, Bradley, Osorio, Altidore, Giovinco. Subs: Bono, Williams, Bloom, Cheyrou, Johnson, Ricketts, Endoh. | Toronto FC: Irwin, Moor, Hagglund, Morrow, Beitashour, Zavaleta, Cooper, Bradley, Osorio, Altidore, Giovinco. Subs: Bono, Williams, Bloom, Cheyrou, Johnson, Ricketts, Endoh. |
| Seattle: Frei, J Jones, Marshall, Torres, Mears; Roldan, Alonso; Morris, Friberg, Lodeiro; Valdez. Subs: Miller, Scott, Fisher, Ivanschitz, Fernandez, Gomez, Evans. | Seattle: Frei, J Jones, Marshall, Torres, Mears; Roldan, Alonso; Morris, Friberg, Lodeiro; Valdez. Subs: Miller, Scott, Fisher, Ivanschitz, Fernandez, Gomez, Evans. |
| Referee: Alan Kelly | Referee: Alan Kelly |
| 12.14am GMT | 12.14am GMT |
| 00:14 | 00:14 |
| Hello and welcome | Hello and welcome |
| Tonight a new name will be etched on the MLS championship trophy. Toronto play Seattle at BMO Field, and since neither side has ever won US soccer’s biggest prize. A chance to make history for two upwardly mobile clubs who were off the pace in the regular season, but who have peaked at just the right time. | Tonight a new name will be etched on the MLS championship trophy. Toronto play Seattle at BMO Field, and since neither side has ever won US soccer’s biggest prize. A chance to make history for two upwardly mobile clubs who were off the pace in the regular season, but who have peaked at just the right time. |
| Toronto have their Big Three ready to rock in the biggest game in TFC history: much of their play is expected to go through Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, and the well remunerated trio have the calibre to test the Sounders’ defence. Seattle have the wily Nicolas Lodeiro and the youthful Jordan Morris, and Ozzie Alonso remains a forceful presence, but Clint Dempsey, still sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, is a big miss. That said, Brian Schmetzer’s done a terrific job after taking over from Sigi Schmid midway through the season. An MLS Cup final appearance only five months into the post isn’t bad going for a who’s done some outstanding work in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Schmetzer deserves his moment. | Toronto have their Big Three ready to rock in the biggest game in TFC history: much of their play is expected to go through Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, and the well remunerated trio have the calibre to test the Sounders’ defence. Seattle have the wily Nicolas Lodeiro and the youthful Jordan Morris, and Ozzie Alonso remains a forceful presence, but Clint Dempsey, still sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, is a big miss. That said, Brian Schmetzer’s done a terrific job after taking over from Sigi Schmid midway through the season. An MLS Cup final appearance only five months into the post isn’t bad going for a who’s done some outstanding work in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Schmetzer deserves his moment. |
| Kick off is 8pm, and the weather is cold. Seriously cold – about -4C right now. Let’s play ball. | Kick off is 8pm, and the weather is cold. Seriously cold – about -4C right now. Let’s play ball. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.19am GMT | at 12.19am GMT |
| 8.50pm GMT | 8.50pm GMT |
| 20:50 | 20:50 |
| Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Graham Parker’s match preview: | Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Graham Parker’s match preview: |
| The key to this game well be which team gets its wide players up in support while retaining defensive shape. Steven Beitashour and Justin Morrow are part of that experienced supporting cast brought in to provide a platform for the team’s stars, but with Toronto moving to three at the back in recent weeks, they’ve also been charged with getting forward and overwhelming opponents with supply from out wide. | The key to this game well be which team gets its wide players up in support while retaining defensive shape. Steven Beitashour and Justin Morrow are part of that experienced supporting cast brought in to provide a platform for the team’s stars, but with Toronto moving to three at the back in recent weeks, they’ve also been charged with getting forward and overwhelming opponents with supply from out wide. |
| Seattle have their own version of that, with Joevin Jones stretching opposition defenses at times when he gets forward, and proving particularly effective in seeing off Dallas in the first leg of the Conference semi-final. If he can keep his Toronto counterpart honest, and allow Seattle to take their chances in controlling the battle for central midfield, the Sounders will hope that Lodeiro, who can pop up anywhere across the field, can find the angle and the pass to slip Morris behind the defense to where he can be deadly. Morris’s decision-making with his running has sharpened exponentially in the last few months, after an exciting but raw start to the season, but his cool in finishing is that of a born striker. | Seattle have their own version of that, with Joevin Jones stretching opposition defenses at times when he gets forward, and proving particularly effective in seeing off Dallas in the first leg of the Conference semi-final. If he can keep his Toronto counterpart honest, and allow Seattle to take their chances in controlling the battle for central midfield, the Sounders will hope that Lodeiro, who can pop up anywhere across the field, can find the angle and the pass to slip Morris behind the defense to where he can be deadly. Morris’s decision-making with his running has sharpened exponentially in the last few months, after an exciting but raw start to the season, but his cool in finishing is that of a born striker. |
| Still, you have to think that home crowd advantage, and just the variety of their attack, should favor Toronto on Saturday, which will be a novel position for them to be in. They may have only recently dared to dream of an actual MLS Cup, but they’ve waited a long, long time to be favorites for anything. And they look like they won’t be fazed by that. But they’ll need to be wary of a Seattle team thriving as underdogs. And whatever happens, one of these teams is about to permanently rewrite the myth about themselves. | Still, you have to think that home crowd advantage, and just the variety of their attack, should favor Toronto on Saturday, which will be a novel position for them to be in. They may have only recently dared to dream of an actual MLS Cup, but they’ve waited a long, long time to be favorites for anything. And they look like they won’t be fazed by that. But they’ll need to be wary of a Seattle team thriving as underdogs. And whatever happens, one of these teams is about to permanently rewrite the myth about themselves. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.26pm GMT | at 11.26pm GMT |