The Seattle Sounders inability to create any type of meaningful shots on goal stopped the Rave Green from claiming a second consecutive MLS Title against Toronto FC. The home side had revenge on their mind all season and it was always going to be highly unlikely they were going to lose a second consecutive rematch in their backward.
That’s not to say Seattle did not have a chance of winning. Despite Toronto’s first-half dominance, the score was 0-0 and the title was up for grabs. Seattle played a disciplined defensive first half and fended off numerous Toronto offensive attacks. As good as Seattle was on defense they were that bad in the midfield.
The Seattle midfield was too spread out on the wings and were unable to string consecutive passes. In turn, Seattle was playing defense the whole game and never put Toronto on its back heels. This gave Toronto midfielder Sebastian Giovinco space to control the game.
Seattle’s inability to put any pressure on Giovinco and his midfield mates took its tool in the 67 minutes when Toronto forward Jozy Altidore chipped the ball into the back of the Seattle gaol coursey of Giovinco thru lead for the 1-0 lead.
Giovinco made it two assists for the night when he fed Armando Cooper who scored Toronto’s second goal of the game in stoppage time.
In summation, Seattle did not play it the best game in the midfield and questions will be asked why they did not change middle formation by putting more players in the middle of the pitch.
- Sounders FC falls in MLS Cup after appearing in the match for the second consecutive season. This year’s rematch marked the third time in league history that the same two teams met in MLS Cup in consecutive seasons, with Seattle winning via penalty kicks last season.
- Seattle now has a 14-11-6 record all-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and its streak of six consecutive series wins was snapped.
- Sounders FC extended its Audi MLS Cup Playoffs record shutout streak to 714 minutes, now 340 minutes more than the previous record set by New England in 2002.
- The streak was snapped in the 67th minute tonight on Jozy Altidore’s game-winning goal, marking the first postseason goal surrendered by Seattle since the first leg of the 2016 Western Conference Championship against Colorado. Stefan Frei’s postseason record individual shutout streak ended at 624 minutes.
- After taking over in July of 2016, Sounders FC Head Coach Schmetzer has compiled a 29-13-17 record in MLS regular-season and postseason action, including a 7-2-2 record in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Sounders FC is 7-4-3 all-time against Toronto FC in MLS competitions, with this being the second postseason meeting between the two sides.
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