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| MLS Cup final: Seattle Sounders 3-1 Toronto FC – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Minute-by-minute report: The Seattle Sounders defeated Toronto FC before a home crowd for their second MLS Cup championship in four years | |
| The Seattle Sounders are an MLS success story, setting a new standard for club ambition and supporter fervor. They won a few US Open Cups, but the grand prize eluded them for nearly a decade. | |
| Until today, they still hadn’t scored a goal in MLS Cup even though they won the trophy once. Even when the goal finally happened, it was an own goal -- no matter what the statisticians say. | |
| They were overshadowed by LAFC, which ran away with the Supporters Shield this season, but this is a club with quality. The quirks of MLS sometimes turn up some fluke champions, but the Sounders are as worthy a champion as the league has ever had. | |
| And Seattle will be a fun place to be for the next week. | |
| Thanks as always for following along today. See you next time. | |
| The Canadian club will feel aggrieved, claiming a foul in the buildup to the first goal after dominating possession for a half and more. But they can only blame themselves for creating very little out of all that possession. It was a comfortable day for former Toronto keeper Stefan Frei apart from one superb save, and Toronto simply capitulated after conceding the goal. | |
| Then a superb finish from Victor Rodriguez gave Toronto an even longer path back. Then Toronto made the fatal mistake of letting Ruidiaz sneak past them. | |
| For the second time in four years, the Sounders are MLS champions. | |
| A cross, a header from the spot, and you have to wonder if he could’ve made a difference had he been fully healthy. | |
| 90 min+2: Seattle make a final defensive substitution, mostly to provide Ruidiaz with a ceremonial farewell. | |
| 90 min: The goal was Route 1. Literally. A long pass up the middle. Mavinga is far too casual with it, and Ruidiaz simply slips past him. | |
| We’ll have five minutes of stoppage time. | |
| Well, that’ll do it. After an injury brings action to a fault for an eternity, Toronto make an absolute mess of things, letting Ruidiaz take the ball off a defender for a breakaway and a chip. | |
| The defender was Mavinga, who has had a simply awful game. | |
| 87 min: The second-best chance of the game for Toronto, as a ball is lobbed into defender-turned-forward Omar Gonzalez, who collides with Frei and sandwiches a defender in the process. | |
| ABC informs us that the first Seattle goal has been credited to Leerdam. The commentators disagree, as would anyone who was actually watching. The ball was going well wide until it hit Morrow. | |
| 86 min: There is absolutely nothing to suggest Toronto will get back into this match. | |
| I say this hoping I will jinx things and set up a grandstand finish. | |
| 85 min: Jordy Delem is now replacing Seattle-born Jordan Morris, who gives a hug to a teammate and strides off the field with the speed of an electric car whose battery has run down to zero. | |
| 83 min: Same thing now from Toronto that we saw all game. Possession. Nothing resembling a chance. Toronto have only had one half-decent chance all game, the shot by the since-withdrawn Benezet in the first half. | 83 min: Same thing now from Toronto that we saw all game. Possession. Nothing resembling a chance. Toronto have only had one half-decent chance all game, the shot by the since-withdrawn Benezet in the first half. |
| 81 min: The U.S. president isn’t here, but you can’t escape politics these days: | 81 min: The U.S. president isn’t here, but you can’t escape politics these days: |
| 80 min: Good attack from Seattle, but the AR’s flag stops it. | 80 min: Good attack from Seattle, but the AR’s flag stops it. |
| Toronto have managed nothing at all for a long time. | Toronto have managed nothing at all for a long time. |
| Here’s the goal that may clinch it: | Here’s the goal that may clinch it: |
| 78 min: How do you get instructions to your captain in a loud stadium? Send a note with your substitute. Richie Laryea enters for Toronto and hands a piece of paper to Michael Bradley while the ball goes around them, in play. | 78 min: How do you get instructions to your captain in a loud stadium? Send a note with your substitute. Richie Laryea enters for Toronto and hands a piece of paper to Michael Bradley while the ball goes around them, in play. |
| Let’s give credit to referee Allen Chapmen here for a second. Toronto clearly fouled Lodeiro as he was laying the ball off to Rodriguez. The ref let play continue, and Rodriguez ripped the ball to the lower right corner from the top of the box. | Let’s give credit to referee Allen Chapmen here for a second. Toronto clearly fouled Lodeiro as he was laying the ball off to Rodriguez. The ref let play continue, and Rodriguez ripped the ball to the lower right corner from the top of the box. |
| 75 min: Seattle didn’t commit many numbers forward on that corner, but they’ve managed to maintain possession. | 75 min: Seattle didn’t commit many numbers forward on that corner, but they’ve managed to maintain possession. |
| Mavinga hobbles back on, but Toronto are preparing another substitution. | Mavinga hobbles back on, but Toronto are preparing another substitution. |
| 74 min: Toronto haven’t recovered from surrendering the goal. They may be forced into another substitution, with Mavinga limping off just as Seattle take the corner. | 74 min: Toronto haven’t recovered from surrendering the goal. They may be forced into another substitution, with Mavinga limping off just as Seattle take the corner. |
| 73 min: A mess in the Toronto defense forces Westberg into an awkward save with his own defender running straight at him. The result is another Seattle corner. | 73 min: A mess in the Toronto defense forces Westberg into an awkward save with his own defender running straight at him. The result is another Seattle corner. |
| 71 min: Altidore also holds the ignominious distinction of playing 70 Premier League games for Sunderland and Hull while only scoring two goals. | 71 min: Altidore also holds the ignominious distinction of playing 70 Premier League games for Sunderland and Hull while only scoring two goals. |
| Elsewhere, he has been very successful. He blasted his way onto the MLS scene as a teenager before going to the Netherlands and scoring at will. | Elsewhere, he has been very successful. He blasted his way onto the MLS scene as a teenager before going to the Netherlands and scoring at will. |
| 68 min: Jozy Altidore scored against Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup when the USA pulled off a historic upset. Since then, he has been alternately cheered and vilified by U.S. supporters. | 68 min: Jozy Altidore scored against Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup when the USA pulled off a historic upset. Since then, he has been alternately cheered and vilified by U.S. supporters. |
| He’s on now for Toronto, to a chorus of boos. | He’s on now for Toronto, to a chorus of boos. |
| But Seattle remain on the front foot and force a save from Westberg. | But Seattle remain on the front foot and force a save from Westberg. |
| 67 min: Lodeiro and Morris combine on Seattle’s right flank and think they’ve won yet another corner for the Sounders. They have not. | 67 min: Lodeiro and Morris combine on Seattle’s right flank and think they’ve won yet another corner for the Sounders. They have not. |
| 65 min: Attendance announcement: 69,274 fans have packed the stadium. Most of them are quite happy right now but will be fretting as Toronto’s attack gets more dangerous. | 65 min: Attendance announcement: 69,274 fans have packed the stadium. Most of them are quite happy right now but will be fretting as Toronto’s attack gets more dangerous. |
| Jozy Altidore is tying his shoes. And still tying them. That’s a long camera shot of someone tying his shoes. | Jozy Altidore is tying his shoes. And still tying them. That’s a long camera shot of someone tying his shoes. |
| 64 min: Now Toronto must press forward and leave some holes at the back. Frei finds himself under pressure with the ball at his feet before passing to the only defender in sight. | 64 min: Now Toronto must press forward and leave some holes at the back. Frei finds himself under pressure with the ball at his feet before passing to the only defender in sight. |
| 62 min: Toronto introduce Nick DeLeon, whose superb goal knocked out Atlanta United in the semifinals. | 62 min: Toronto introduce Nick DeLeon, whose superb goal knocked out Atlanta United in the semifinals. |
| Tsubasa Endoh is the player to depart. | Tsubasa Endoh is the player to depart. |
| 61 min: ABC reminds us of what Justin Morrow would surely like to forget -- he missed from the spot for Toronto in 2016 against Seattle, leaving the door open for Torres to net the winner. | 61 min: ABC reminds us of what Justin Morrow would surely like to forget -- he missed from the spot for Toronto in 2016 against Seattle, leaving the door open for Torres to net the winner. |
| 60 min: Seattle’s Victor Rodriguez, once on Barcelona’s books and a La Liga veteran, goes into the game to replace fullback Brad Smith, which seems a touch odd. | 60 min: Seattle’s Victor Rodriguez, once on Barcelona’s books and a La Liga veteran, goes into the game to replace fullback Brad Smith, which seems a touch odd. |
| That was unusual. | That was unusual. |
| We did mention before the game that Kelvin Leerdam was good at getting forward down the right flank. He finds some space in the box and fires. It hits the unfortunate Justin Morrow and promptly nestles in the lower left corner. | We did mention before the game that Kelvin Leerdam was good at getting forward down the right flank. He finds some space in the box and fires. It hits the unfortunate Justin Morrow and promptly nestles in the lower left corner. |
| In their sixth half of action against Toronto in MLS Cups, the Sounders have finally scored, even if it took a Toronto defender to do it. | In their sixth half of action against Toronto in MLS Cups, the Sounders have finally scored, even if it took a Toronto defender to do it. |
| 56 min: Same as the first half -- a lot of Toronto possession with no incisive play to make it matter. | 56 min: Same as the first half -- a lot of Toronto possession with no incisive play to make it matter. |
| 54 min: A new approach for Toronto, eschewing the flanks to let Pozuelo beat 6-7 Seattle players before his final pass is played out to safety. | 54 min: A new approach for Toronto, eschewing the flanks to let Pozuelo beat 6-7 Seattle players before his final pass is played out to safety. |
| 53 min: They’re getting snarky in Canada ... | 53 min: They’re getting snarky in Canada ... |
| 51 min: And Benezet will surely maintain his lead in that mysterious Player Index after taking a hard shot from his preferred spot at the upper right corner of the box (from Stefan Frei’s perspective). Another solid block from the green wall. | 51 min: And Benezet will surely maintain his lead in that mysterious Player Index after taking a hard shot from his preferred spot at the upper right corner of the box (from Stefan Frei’s perspective). Another solid block from the green wall. |
| 50 min: Toronto’s Benezet has just claimed the lead from Seattle’s Torres in the MLS stat breakdown called the Audi Player Index. Is any bonus money at stake there? | 50 min: Toronto’s Benezet has just claimed the lead from Seattle’s Torres in the MLS stat breakdown called the Audi Player Index. Is any bonus money at stake there? |
| 49 min: Jordan Morris has switched sides to the right, which may not be for the best if he can’t do more with it at the end of one of his runs than he did there. Promising run but obvious discomfort as he tried to figure out what to do next. | 49 min: Jordan Morris has switched sides to the right, which may not be for the best if he can’t do more with it at the end of one of his runs than he did there. Promising run but obvious discomfort as he tried to figure out what to do next. |
| 48 min: A nice Toronto attack, and the ball is laid back to Delgado, whose shot is well-blocked. | 48 min: A nice Toronto attack, and the ball is laid back to Delgado, whose shot is well-blocked. |
| 47 min: Seattle doing something it didn’t do through the entire first half -- maintain possession. It’s in their own half, but it’s something. | 47 min: Seattle doing something it didn’t do through the entire first half -- maintain possession. It’s in their own half, but it’s something. |
| Before we start the second half, let’s see the other save that has kept this match scoreless: | Before we start the second half, let’s see the other save that has kept this match scoreless: |
| First order of business for MLS offseason: Avoiding a player strike. | First order of business for MLS offseason: Avoiding a player strike. |
| Stats favoring Toronto: 83% pass completion, 65.1% possession edge | Stats favoring Toronto: 83% pass completion, 65.1% possession edge |
| Stats favoring Seattle: 8-2 corners | Stats favoring Seattle: 8-2 corners |
| The Seattle PA is featuring another Seattle musician -- Jimi Hendrix. | The Seattle PA is featuring another Seattle musician -- Jimi Hendrix. |
| Macklemore is one of the Sounders’ co-owners. Call them the Watford of the Pacific Northwest. | Macklemore is one of the Sounders’ co-owners. Call them the Watford of the Pacific Northwest. |
| I have no earthly idea what to make of this ... | I have no earthly idea what to make of this ... |
| Terrific pressure from Toronto, but aside from forcing one terrific save from Frei, they haven’t done much with it. Seattle look dangerous going the other way but just can’t keep the ball. | Terrific pressure from Toronto, but aside from forcing one terrific save from Frei, they haven’t done much with it. Seattle look dangerous going the other way but just can’t keep the ball. |
| 45 min: CHANCE and as I type that, Ruidiaz nicks the ball away from Omar Gonzalez and forces Westberg into a point-blank save. | 45 min: CHANCE and as I type that, Ruidiaz nicks the ball away from Omar Gonzalez and forces Westberg into a point-blank save. |
| Toronto have had the better of play, but Seattle has had as much of a chance of scoring as the visitors. | Toronto have had the better of play, but Seattle has had as much of a chance of scoring as the visitors. |
| 45 min: As we’ve been reminded many times now, Seattle have yet to score against Toronto in all these MLS Cups. The Sounders lifted the trophy in penalties once but have not yet done anything in regulation. | 45 min: As we’ve been reminded many times now, Seattle have yet to score against Toronto in all these MLS Cups. The Sounders lifted the trophy in penalties once but have not yet done anything in regulation. |
| 43 min: Toronto hail right back Auro Jr., who has been causing all sorts of problems. | 43 min: Toronto hail right back Auro Jr., who has been causing all sorts of problems. |
| 41 min: Lodeiro neatly plays the ball away from danger with his stomach, which is especially impressive considering the ball was under him. Looked like a pilates class for a moment. | 41 min: Lodeiro neatly plays the ball away from danger with his stomach, which is especially impressive considering the ball was under him. Looked like a pilates class for a moment. |
| Here’s why we’re scoreless ... | Here’s why we’re scoreless ... |
| 40 min: Now Seattle are defending for their lives. Multiple lunging tackles just to get the ball out of immediate danger and into slightly less immediate danger. | 40 min: Now Seattle are defending for their lives. Multiple lunging tackles just to get the ball out of immediate danger and into slightly less immediate danger. |
| 39 min: Toronto with some possession that would be threatening if the Sounders hadn’t put most of their team and probably a few players from the Seattle Seahawks in their own box. Quite a few bodies back there, neatly camouflaged against the green field. | 39 min: Toronto with some possession that would be threatening if the Sounders hadn’t put most of their team and probably a few players from the Seattle Seahawks in their own box. Quite a few bodies back there, neatly camouflaged against the green field. |
| 38 min: A kind word from Twitter ... | 38 min: A kind word from Twitter ... |
| And a tweet from Seattle’s favorite sons ... | 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. | 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. | 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 ... | 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. | 34 min: And another. |