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| MLS Cup: the moments that decided the Seattle Sounders' victory MLS Cup: the moments that decided the Seattle Sounders' victory | |
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| Roman Torres gives the Seattle Sounders a historic winThis was a defenders’ MLS Cup final and so it was fitting that a defender should strike the decisive blow. Roman Torres was already something of a cult figure for the Sounders support before he strode up to hit the most important penalty in the franchise’s history. Now the image of his celebrations will be immortalised in Seattle. | Roman Torres gives the Seattle Sounders a historic winThis was a defenders’ MLS Cup final and so it was fitting that a defender should strike the decisive blow. Roman Torres was already something of a cult figure for the Sounders support before he strode up to hit the most important penalty in the franchise’s history. Now the image of his celebrations will be immortalised in Seattle. |
| Of course, the narrative that will be drawn from this match seems a little bizarre considering that an entire season came down to a few inches, with Justin Morrow smashing his penalty off the underside of the crossbar just moments before Torres converted to give Seattle their first ever championship win. | Of course, the narrative that will be drawn from this match seems a little bizarre considering that an entire season came down to a few inches, with Justin Morrow smashing his penalty off the underside of the crossbar just moments before Torres converted to give Seattle their first ever championship win. |
| But nonetheless, the impact this triumph could have on the Seattle Sounders is profound. Alexi Lalas said whoever won the 2016 MLS Cup final would go on to become “a super-club”. Of course, the Sounders might claim to have been a super-club for a while now. They might have beaten TFC without a single shot on goal - a triumph for the post-truth age - but this was the fulfilment of a club that had long boasted everything but on the field success. This, however, could be the springboard to something even greater. | But nonetheless, the impact this triumph could have on the Seattle Sounders is profound. Alexi Lalas said whoever won the 2016 MLS Cup final would go on to become “a super-club”. Of course, the Sounders might claim to have been a super-club for a while now. They might have beaten TFC without a single shot on goal - a triumph for the post-truth age - but this was the fulfilment of a club that had long boasted everything but on the field success. This, however, could be the springboard to something even greater. |
| Drew Moor v Nelson ValdezGiven that both these two teams had waited an MLS lifetime for this game it perhaps shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise that the opening exchanges were testy. What was surprising was that referee Alan Kelly kept his cards in his pocket after a couple of excessive challenges. | Drew Moor v Nelson ValdezGiven that both these two teams had waited an MLS lifetime for this game it perhaps shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise that the opening exchanges were testy. What was surprising was that referee Alan Kelly kept his cards in his pocket after a couple of excessive challenges. |
| First, Nelson Valdez went in crotch-high on Drew Moor, although the Sounders striker could at least plead a degree of innocence on the basis of his apparent focus on the ball. It wasn’t quite Roy Keane on Alf Inge Haaland, but the first yellow card of the match probably should have been flashed, even at such an early stage. | First, Nelson Valdez went in crotch-high on Drew Moor, although the Sounders striker could at least plead a degree of innocence on the basis of his apparent focus on the ball. It wasn’t quite Roy Keane on Alf Inge Haaland, but the first yellow card of the match probably should have been flashed, even at such an early stage. |
| Moor’s retribution on Valdez just seconds later, however, was much worse. With no chance of winning the ball, the TFC defender raked his studs down the achilles of the Sounders striker. It was a moment that could have set the course of the final. Moor quite feasibly could have been sent off, tipping the weight of the contest in Seattle’s favour. Another referee might not have been so lenient. Another referee might have stemmed the ill-temper which came to define the game. | Moor’s retribution on Valdez just seconds later, however, was much worse. With no chance of winning the ball, the TFC defender raked his studs down the achilles of the Sounders striker. It was a moment that could have set the course of the final. Moor quite feasibly could have been sent off, tipping the weight of the contest in Seattle’s favour. Another referee might not have been so lenient. Another referee might have stemmed the ill-temper which came to define the game. |
| Stefan Frei sends game to extra time with one save, and to penalties with anotherIt is the way of these things that no matter how cagey the game, no matter the lack of attacking quality, one team always gets a chance to win it late on. So it proved for Toronto FC, who with just seconds of stoppage time left to play at the end of the match, were presented an opportunity to snatch a winner. | Stefan Frei sends game to extra time with one save, and to penalties with anotherIt is the way of these things that no matter how cagey the game, no matter the lack of attacking quality, one team always gets a chance to win it late on. So it proved for Toronto FC, who with just seconds of stoppage time left to play at the end of the match, were presented an opportunity to snatch a winner. |
| Michael Bradley’s corner was flicked on into the six yard box, where Jozy Altidore appeared set to provide the finishing touch. But Frei threw himself at the TFC striker, in the midst of a diving header himself, to punch clear and send the game into extra time. The Seattle Sounders’ Twitter account hailed the Swiss goalkeeper a “master champion of the earth” for his intervention, but even better was to follow. | Michael Bradley’s corner was flicked on into the six yard box, where Jozy Altidore appeared set to provide the finishing touch. But Frei threw himself at the TFC striker, in the midst of a diving header himself, to punch clear and send the game into extra time. The Seattle Sounders’ Twitter account hailed the Swiss goalkeeper a “master champion of the earth” for his intervention, but even better was to follow. |
| Altidore’s towering header looked certain to find the back of the Seattle net, with his effort looping into the top corner. Nobody, though, counted on Frei somehow finding a way to claw the ball back off the goalline with all the mannerisms of a peak David Seaman. Without his astonishing save the Sounders wouldn’t have made it as far as a penalty shootout. | Altidore’s towering header looked certain to find the back of the Seattle net, with his effort looping into the top corner. Nobody, though, counted on Frei somehow finding a way to claw the ball back off the goalline with all the mannerisms of a peak David Seaman. Without his astonishing save the Sounders wouldn’t have made it as far as a penalty shootout. |
| Neither Sebastian Giovinco nor Jordan Morris lasting the distanceThere was a limp to his walk as Giovinco trotted over to the touchline towards the end of the first period of extra time, suggesting the Italian had either succumbed to cramp (like he did against the Montreal Impact) or had played through an injury. Whatever the reason, there was a certain symbolism to the withdrawal of Toronto FC’s best player. They had been ground down. | Neither Sebastian Giovinco nor Jordan Morris lasting the distanceThere was a limp to his walk as Giovinco trotted over to the touchline towards the end of the first period of extra time, suggesting the Italian had either succumbed to cramp (like he did against the Montreal Impact) or had played through an injury. Whatever the reason, there was a certain symbolism to the withdrawal of Toronto FC’s best player. They had been ground down. |
| It was a big call by Vanney. While Giovinco had struggled all night and looked to have run out of gas well before he was eventually substituted off, the Italian is a difference-maker like no other in MLS. Particularly with a penalty shootout looming, taking off a player who excels when the pressure weighs heaviest was a gamble. | It was a big call by Vanney. While Giovinco had struggled all night and looked to have run out of gas well before he was eventually substituted off, the Italian is a difference-maker like no other in MLS. Particularly with a penalty shootout looming, taking off a player who excels when the pressure weighs heaviest was a gamble. |
| The match was robbed of another difference-maker soon after when Morris was withdrawn by the Sounders. What’s more, the rookie was replaced by Brad Evans, a sure sign that Brian Schmetzer unashamedly planned on seeing out extra time and planning for penalties. Giovinco and Morris were billed as match winners, but neither lasted the distance. | The match was robbed of another difference-maker soon after when Morris was withdrawn by the Sounders. What’s more, the rookie was replaced by Brad Evans, a sure sign that Brian Schmetzer unashamedly planned on seeing out extra time and planning for penalties. Giovinco and Morris were billed as match winners, but neither lasted the distance. |
| The Seattle Sounders’ summer of change | The Seattle Sounders’ summer of change |
| Frei, Torres and every other player in rave green who won the title will be remembered for the night they gave the Seattle Sounders their first ever MLS era championship win, but in truth the defining stretch in the club’s season came back in July. | Frei, Torres and every other player in rave green who won the title will be remembered for the night they gave the Seattle Sounders their first ever MLS era championship win, but in truth the defining stretch in the club’s season came back in July. |
| It was then that in the space of just two days long-time Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was fired and new Designated Player Nicolas Lodeiro was signed. Those two events ultimately shaped what would become the most momentous few months in the club’s history. From there the Sounders would go on to win 13 of their next 20 fixtures, with Lodeiro the catalyst, particularly with Clint Dempsey ruled out with a heart problem. | It was then that in the space of just two days long-time Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was fired and new Designated Player Nicolas Lodeiro was signed. Those two events ultimately shaped what would become the most momentous few months in the club’s history. From there the Sounders would go on to win 13 of their next 20 fixtures, with Lodeiro the catalyst, particularly with Clint Dempsey ruled out with a heart problem. |
| Momentum is a powerful thing and Seattle collected just about as much of it as they possibly could over the final few weeks of the regular season and into the post-season. They found a groove that nobody, not FC Dallas, not the Colorado Rapids and not Toronto FC, could dislodge them from. It all started with a couple of big summer moves. | Momentum is a powerful thing and Seattle collected just about as much of it as they possibly could over the final few weeks of the regular season and into the post-season. They found a groove that nobody, not FC Dallas, not the Colorado Rapids and not Toronto FC, could dislodge them from. It all started with a couple of big summer moves. |