Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
In a MLS season like no other, paused and re-started multiple times and at a few moments on the brink of collapse, it seems anti-climactic yet appropriate that two of the best teams survived the slog and made it to the Final. Both the Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew were two teams that had MLS Cup credentials before the season began, during the MLS is Back Tournament and once again when the playoffs started. Their paths were by no means linear, and the Sounders particularly stared a playoff exit directly down the barrel. However, it’s hard to argue these two teams don’t deserve the chance to play for the Cup.
By any definition, what the Seattle Sounders have built is a dynasty. In a league with artificially enforced parity, to make four MLS Cup Finals in five years should not be possible. To make nine finals in 11 seasons of existence would be amazing by the standards of any big club in any league, and the Sounders have done this without some of the noise some of their big club counterparts have garnered. They haven’t smashed records like LAFC, Atlanta United or Toronto FC; they haven’t spent the same amount of cash either. They haven’t necessarily played the best or most attractive soccer either. But they have found a consistency so many teams in this league, good or bad, cannot find. Every team faced adversity this year, some more than others. Atlanta United lost their best player on the first day of the season pre-pandemic. Toronto FC played half its schedule holed up in hotel rooms in Orlando and East Hartford, CT. Seattle has been dealing with the possibility that Brian Schmetzer could walk away when this season ends. Through it all, and through being down 2-0 with 15 minutes to go in a Conference Final, the Sounders have consistently found a way to get the job done in spite of it.
Five years ago, Gregg Berhalter took the Crew to MLS Cup in his first year as manager. He had built a consistent squad that didn’t get back to the Final after that inaugural run but still was a consistent top half team in the East despite small market limitations. In 2017, it looked like former owner Anthony Precourt was going to move the team to Austin until a fan lead movement called #SaveTheCrew created a public movement which ended with the team being sold to local ownership. Through that turmoil, Berhalter left to manage the US, and with new ownership and front office in place, the Crew hired Caleb Porter to rebuild. After a tough first season, his second saw the Crew spend $8 million on Lucas Zelarayan, an Argentine DP bought from Tigres in Mexico and he brought his former Akron Zip star Darlington Nagbe in to solidify the midfield. While the Crew’s schedule wasn’t arduous by normal league standards, they earned their playoff home games and dispatched the Red Bulls, Nashville and the Revolution to reach the Final.
When they meet in the Final, both teams will see themselves on the other side of the pitch. Both have superstars in creative positions and lethal MLS finishers up top. Both have solid back lines and they each have a goalkeeper that can be counted on to make one key save. This Final will be decided in the midfield. Columbus has a great double pivot in Darlington Nagbe and Artur, the Sounders have reliable midfielders in Cristian Roldan and Joao Paulo as well. Since these teams are so even in so many key spots, perhaps the benches will determine which way this game swings. Seattle might have a slightly stronger bench with players like Gustav Svensson, proven MLS scorer Will Bruin, and other wild cards like Jordy Delem, Brad Smith who are both fullbacks that can be swapped in or out depending on the game. The Crew’s biggest difference maker on the bench could be Youness Mokhtar who has started from time to time, as well as MLS hands like Fanendo Adi and Krisztian Nemeth. With starting XI’s so even, whose bench is stronger might well decide the destination of the Cup.
Around pro sports, the best teams have tended to win after the pandemic interrupted competition. Juventus still won the Scudetto. Liverpool still won the Premier League. Bayern Munich won the Champions League. The Lakers won the NBA title. Both of these teams in MLS Cup would be worthy of this list, and there is not much between them. This MLS postseason has thrown up wild results and wild games, and this game should be no different. It has the drama and storylines that a great Final needs, even if the flashiest names might not be there, at least from the East.
For the neutral, this Final has all of the ingredients needed to be a classic.
