The MLS cup is back as it will be a rematch of last year’s final. Toronto FC will be facing the Seattle Sounders for the second straight year as this should be a very entertaining game. In 2016, Seattle ended up beating Toronto in penalty kicks (5-4) as they’ve since had the bragging rights. Will Toronto be able to get those bragging rights this time around?
The Sounders will be playing this game on the road yet again as the Finals will be held at the BMO Field in Toronto. The game will be played on December 9th 2017 at 4.00 PM Eastern time as Allen Chapman will officiate the game.
Toronto will come into this one with no suspensions to worry about as Jozy Altidore is their only banged up player. He is currently officially questionable to start this game but in the end, he will likely make it . Toronto FC will once again strongly rely on their dynamic duo upfront composed of Altidore and ex-Juve man Giovinco. They have been very solid this season as the American striker scored 16 goals and added 6 assists in the MLS this season.
The small Italian wizard was not too shabby himself as he scored 17 goals and added 6 assists on the season. Seattle will have to watch out as Toronto really have a deadly duo upfront but they will also have to watch out for Victor Vazquez who dished out 16 assists this season and was second in this category only to Sacha Klejstan. Seattle boss Brian Schmetzer should also have a pretty healthy squad as he too does not have any suspensions to worry about and the only player that is out for this one is Brad Evans. Seattle will surely rely on American star Clint Dempsey as well as Nicolas Lodeiro and Will Bruin. Seattle’s team might not be as star-studded compared to Greg Vanney’s side but they play a very fluid game as this should be an interesting final.
Looking back at the regular season, Toronto were the best team and by far in the MLS. They set numerous records including best single-season points record (69) as they also finished in the top 3 all-time for the points per game ratio and the goal differential ratio. They had a great campaign as they surely want to finish it off in the best possible way: with revenge over Seattle in the MLS Cup final. Seattle had a pretty strong campaign too as they finished second in the Western conference standings (tied on points with first placed Portland with 53 points each). An interesting note is the fact that Toronto (37 goals against) and Seattle (39 goals against) were the two best defenses in MLS this season. Does defense really win championships? This seams to be the case in the MLS this season.
This will be a mouth-watering affair between two American greats (Dempsey and Altidore) as this duel will also see Giovinco taking on another offensive wizard in Nicolas Lodeiro. There will be a ton of talent on the field as the Toronto fans will be cheering on their side. This rematch seems to a great one on paper as the finish should be exciting. If Toronto wins, they will be the first ever Canadian team to win the MLS cup. If Seattle wins, they will be the first side since the LA Galaxy (2011-12) to win back-to-back titles.
Jean-Luca Mascaro (@CalcioNews89)
