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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MLS Cup final: Seattle Sounders v Toronto FC – live! | MLS Cup final: Seattle Sounders v Toronto FC – live! |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Minute-by-minute report: The Seattle Sounders meet Toronto FC in the MLS Cup final for a third time in four years. Follow all the action with Beau Dure | Minute-by-minute report: The Seattle Sounders meet Toronto FC in the MLS Cup final for a third time in four years. Follow all the action with Beau Dure |
| 38 min: A kind word from Twitter ... | |
| And a tweet from Seattle’s favorite sons ... | |
| 36 min: CHANCE, and it’s a stellar save by Frei, who quickly sprawls to his left to paw away a well-driven low shot by Benezet. Kim clears it from there. | |
| 35 min: The crowd reaches a crescendo for the third corner, but it’s collected by Westberg, and everyone calms down. | |
| Svensson concedes a rather pointless foul to give Toronto a free kick from 30 yards out. It’s cleared, but Toronto maintain possession and ... | |
| 34 min: And another. | |
| 33 min: Michael Bradley now appears to be playing every defensive position at once. This time, he’s to the left of his own goal to block the ball away from Torres, who has adventurously crept up from the Seattle back line. Another corner. And another. | |
| 31 min: Brad Smith plays a nice 1-2 with Lodeiro and crosses, only to see it blocked away by Michael Bradley, whose work rate has never been questioned. | |
| Seattle win a corner. And another. And it’s starting to feel as if the home side are finally getting a grip on the game besides the occasional counter. | |
| 30 min: A bit of boring midfield back-and-forth until the Sounders decide to liven things up by blasting the ball back toward Stefan Frei with a bit more venom than a keeper would like from a backpass. | |
| Toronto win a corner, and Frei flies out to punch it away. | |
| 28 min: The odd thing here is that Seattle seem to be playing as if they’re the underdogs. They’re not. They earned home field here by having a better record than Toronto, which has had 61% of possession according to a TV graphic that I can’t verify because I’m not using a stopwatch. | |
| 26 min: Michael Bradley gets a bit of space 25 yards out and decides to go for glory. The ball rolls harmlessly wide. | |
| 25 min: From the dean of the U.S. soccer press corps ... | |
| 23 min: The ball and Ruidiaz get past Mavinga, but those two objects are not really in proximity to each other, and nothing results from it. | |
| I did referee a game earlier today, so yes, I do feel that I can question the second-guessing of our commentators. Take a recertification class and THEN argue with me. So there. | |
| 21 min: Brad Smith gets forward on the left for Seattle, which inspires the crowd. The ball pings around for an eventual Sounders corner, which lands at the feet of the onrushing Torres to volley over the bar. | |
| Best chance so far for either team. | |
| 20 min: Another Mavinga foul at midfield, this time on Lodeiro. ABC’s Taylor Twellman doesn’t see a foul, but he’s incorrect. | |
| 18 min: Now Mavinga has to do some actual defending against Ruidiaz, whose pressure forces the Toronto defender to boot it out of play. Seattle reclaim the ball and send the ball in to Ruidiaz, who has little room to put his header on frame. | |
| 16 min: And a bit of pain the other way as Mavinga whacks Ruidiaz in the back. Michael Bradley has a discussion with the ref, but it’s hard to see why he’s doing that except that he’s Michael Bradley. | |
| 15 min: Seattle defender Kim Kee-hee inflicts a bit of on Alejandro Pozuelo by stepping on the Spaniard’s ankle. | |
| Toronto maintain possession and win a corner that looks a bit dangerous but is cleared. | |
| 13 min: Seattle’s talisman Ruidiaz gets the ball to the left just outside the box and sends a cross to the far side that bends a bit too much and goes out of play. | |
| 12 min: Now Toronto gets a bit of possession in the Seattle box (OK, fellow refs -- “area”), and Benezet his a square pass to Osorio near the spot. He only has a narrow slot between defenders to shoot and puts it into Frei’s hands. | |
| 10 min: Michael Bradley floats a ball into the box. It’s headed upward and rather fortunately arcs gently into the hands of Stefan Frei. The Seattle crowd loves that, but it’s not the best sign for the Sounders defense. | |
| 9 min: THERE’S the crowd noise. Jordan Morris picks up a pass and goes 3v4, then beats his defender with a burst of speed and unleashes a quick shot on goal. Westberg covers rather easily, but that’s a nice bit of inspiration for a Seattle team that has been pinned back for a while. | |
| 8 min: A patient buildup from Toronto now, again working it wide to marauding right back Auro. | |
| A bit of pressure forces another rushed Seattle clearance. This is good from the visitors. | |
| 7 min: Toronto is putting on some pressure now, forcing Leerdam to escape to the outside and clear, only for TFC to regain possession. | |
| 6 min: Our commentators have mentioned the noise many times already, but we’re not hearing much on the broadcast. Some singing and a little bit of percussion, as you’d expect. | 6 min: Our commentators have mentioned the noise many times already, but we’re not hearing much on the broadcast. Some singing and a little bit of percussion, as you’d expect. |
| 4 min: Our first shot on goal is from Toronto’s Benezet, and it’s rather speculative from outside the box. Toronto worked the ball nicely down the right and switched fields well but may have rushed things a bit. | 4 min: Our first shot on goal is from Toronto’s Benezet, and it’s rather speculative from outside the box. Toronto worked the ball nicely down the right and switched fields well but may have rushed things a bit. |
| 3 min: Seattle has a good spell of possession and wins a corner. | 3 min: Seattle has a good spell of possession and wins a corner. |
| J.R. in Illinois asks why Seattle doesn’t have a grass surface, pointing out that the argument of “it’s too rainy” doesn’t stand up when English clubs make do with the same amount of precipitation. It’s a good question, here and in Portland. Maybe someone will spring for retractable fields someday. | J.R. in Illinois asks why Seattle doesn’t have a grass surface, pointing out that the argument of “it’s too rainy” doesn’t stand up when English clubs make do with the same amount of precipitation. It’s a good question, here and in Portland. Maybe someone will spring for retractable fields someday. |
| 1 min: Lodeiro starts us with a tone-setting tackle at midfield. | 1 min: Lodeiro starts us with a tone-setting tackle at midfield. |
| The crowd will compare favorably to any soccer gathering in the world today. The Pacific Northwest not only has large crowds but also the best tifo displays. | The crowd will compare favorably to any soccer gathering in the world today. The Pacific Northwest not only has large crowds but also the best tifo displays. |
| (This picture is just a taste. Much bigger displays have been on the broadcast.) | (This picture is just a taste. Much bigger displays have been on the broadcast.) |
| Kickoff is in ... now. | Kickoff is in ... now. |
| Neither team is supposed to be here. | Neither team is supposed to be here. |
| In the West, LAFC ran away with everything -- until Seattle upended them in the conference final. In the East, Toronto struggled through a middling season but dumped out both East-leading NYCFC and defending champion Atlanta United on the road in the thrilling new MLS single-game playoff format. | In the West, LAFC ran away with everything -- until Seattle upended them in the conference final. In the East, Toronto struggled through a middling season but dumped out both East-leading NYCFC and defending champion Atlanta United on the road in the thrilling new MLS single-game playoff format. |
| Debate the fairness of crowning a champion through league play or Cup play all you want. After the game. | Debate the fairness of crowning a champion through league play or Cup play all you want. After the game. |
| Each of these teams claims a place in pushing MLS forward. Toronto came into the league in 2007 and quickly established a reputation for having some of the largest and liveliest crowds in the league. | Each of these teams claims a place in pushing MLS forward. Toronto came into the league in 2007 and quickly established a reputation for having some of the largest and liveliest crowds in the league. |
| Seattle joined MLS in 2009 and took things up a notch. Previous attempts to put MLS teams in NFL stadiums had looked dreary, with pockets of fans scattered throughout vast stands. Seattle was different. They sometimes cover part of the stadium and limit ticket sales to just under 40,000, but for some games, the whole stadium is available -- and loud. Atlanta United has duplicated that success on the other side of the country. | Seattle joined MLS in 2009 and took things up a notch. Previous attempts to put MLS teams in NFL stadiums had looked dreary, with pockets of fans scattered throughout vast stands. Seattle was different. They sometimes cover part of the stadium and limit ticket sales to just under 40,000, but for some games, the whole stadium is available -- and loud. Atlanta United has duplicated that success on the other side of the country. |
| Toronto starting lineup | Toronto starting lineup |
| The irony here is that this Canadian club features two of the most debated players in recent U.S. history, midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, the latter of whom is on the bench after a late race to get fit for this final. Defender Omar Gonzalez had the misfortune of being credited with an own goal in the USA’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago that kept them from World Cup 2018. At the time, he was playing in Mexico, but he joined Toronto this summer. | The irony here is that this Canadian club features two of the most debated players in recent U.S. history, midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, the latter of whom is on the bench after a late race to get fit for this final. Defender Omar Gonzalez had the misfortune of being credited with an own goal in the USA’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago that kept them from World Cup 2018. At the time, he was playing in Mexico, but he joined Toronto this summer. |
| The leading scorer is Alejandro Pozeulo, from Spain via several seasons in Belgium. | The leading scorer is Alejandro Pozeulo, from Spain via several seasons in Belgium. |
| Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was long one of those players followed via long distance by U.S. soccer geeks. He has spent almost all of his life and professional career in France but represented the U.S. at youth lineup and moved to Toronto this season. | Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was long one of those players followed via long distance by U.S. soccer geeks. He has spent almost all of his life and professional career in France but represented the U.S. at youth lineup and moved to Toronto this season. |
| Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado have been lining up in the midfield with Bradley for a few years now. | Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado have been lining up in the midfield with Bradley for a few years now. |
| Nicolas Benezet has only played eight games this season, starting five. Tsubasa Endoh also has played less than half of TFC’s games so far. | Nicolas Benezet has only played eight games this season, starting five. Tsubasa Endoh also has played less than half of TFC’s games so far. |
| Justin Morrow played both of the last two MLS Cups vs. Seattle on the left side. He’s joined on defense by Gonzalez, young Brazilian Auro Jr. and French player Chris Mavinga. | Justin Morrow played both of the last two MLS Cups vs. Seattle on the left side. He’s joined on defense by Gonzalez, young Brazilian Auro Jr. and French player Chris Mavinga. |
| Seattle starting lineup | Seattle starting lineup |
| The tip of the spear is a strong one. Forward Raul Ruidiaz, who has been nicknamed “The Flea” and “the Peruvian Messi,” has been a consistent scoring threat in his first full season with Seattle. He’s also connected to a country that has had a strong taste of success recently -- Croatia, from which his mother’s family hails. | The tip of the spear is a strong one. Forward Raul Ruidiaz, who has been nicknamed “The Flea” and “the Peruvian Messi,” has been a consistent scoring threat in his first full season with Seattle. He’s also connected to a country that has had a strong taste of success recently -- Croatia, from which his mother’s family hails. |
| Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is a staple in Seattle. | Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is a staple in Seattle. |
| Two more midfielders, Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, are on the U.S. national team. These days, we’re not sure if that’s a compliment. | Two more midfielders, Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, are on the U.S. national team. These days, we’re not sure if that’s a compliment. |
| The rest of the midfield is from Trinidad and Tobago (Joevin Jones) and Sweden (Gustav Svensson). | The rest of the midfield is from Trinidad and Tobago (Joevin Jones) and Sweden (Gustav Svensson). |
| Goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who used to play for Toronto, has been on this stage a couple of times now. | Goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who used to play for Toronto, has been on this stage a couple of times now. |
| Korean defender Kim Kee-hee anchors the backline alongside Panamanian defender Roman Torres, who has been to a couple of MLS Cups along with Frei and converted the winning kick from the mark in the first Seattle-Toronto MLS Cup matchup in 2016. | Korean defender Kim Kee-hee anchors the backline alongside Panamanian defender Roman Torres, who has been to a couple of MLS Cups along with Frei and converted the winning kick from the mark in the first Seattle-Toronto MLS Cup matchup in 2016. |
| Kelvin Leerdam, a Dutch player born in Suriname, provides some scoring punch from right back. | Kelvin Leerdam, a Dutch player born in Suriname, provides some scoring punch from right back. |
| Australian Brad Smith, who played a few games for Liverpool in the mid-2010s, is on the left. | Australian Brad Smith, who played a few games for Liverpool in the mid-2010s, is on the left. |
| What time is kickoff? | What time is kickoff? |
| Never a simple question when you’re talking about a U.S. soccer broadcast, which mimics other U.S. sports by having a pregame show for its pregame show. | Never a simple question when you’re talking about a U.S. soccer broadcast, which mimics other U.S. sports by having a pregame show for its pregame show. |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald is plugged into the TV scene and says 3:08 p.m. Eastern time, which is surprisingly quick. But national anthems here tend to take 20 minutes, so you never know. | The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald is plugged into the TV scene and says 3:08 p.m. Eastern time, which is surprisingly quick. But national anthems here tend to take 20 minutes, so you never know. |
| Good afternoon to the East Coast, good morning to the West Coast, good caffeinated overnight to Australia and much of Asia, and good evening to those in Europe who watched Liverpool beat Manchester City and are hoping for a closer game here. | Good afternoon to the East Coast, good morning to the West Coast, good caffeinated overnight to Australia and much of Asia, and good evening to those in Europe who watched Liverpool beat Manchester City and are hoping for a closer game here. |
| Funny thing about that -- MLS is a league of salary cap-enforced parity, and yet we have the same two teams in the final for the third year in the last four. | Funny thing about that -- MLS is a league of salary cap-enforced parity, and yet we have the same two teams in the final for the third year in the last four. |
| Should be a fun one in any case. | Should be a fun one in any case. |
| Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Graham Ruthven’s lookahead to today’s final. | Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Graham Ruthven’s lookahead to today’s final. |