November 13, 2019

On Sunday, November 10, the Seattle Sounders FC (Football Club) defeated Toronto FC 3-1 to win the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup final at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The 2019 MLS title was the second for the Sounders, who had previously faced Toronto in the MLS Cup final in 2016 (a win) and 2017 (a loss). After a scoreless first half, Seattle thrilled the hometown crowd of 69,724 fans with goals from Kelvin Leerdam, Víctor Rodríguez, and Raúl Ruidíaz. Rodríguez, who entered the game as a substitute in the 61st minute, was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP).

On Nov. 10, 2019, members of the Seattle Sounders celebrate the go-ahead goal scored by Kelvin Leerdam (in the center of the group hug) in the 57th minute of the MLS Cup final at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. Seattle beat Toronto FC 3-1 to win the MLS title. Credit: © Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Toronto—their bright red kits contrasting sharply against Seattle’s “rave green” uniforms—controlled the tempo in the first half and appeared the stronger of the two clubs. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei proved stingy in the net, however, ruining Toronto’s best scoring opportunities, including a strong hand save in the 36th minute. Seattle missed out on early scoring chances too, but the team finally broke through in the 57th minute when Leerdam’s shot ricocheted off two Toronto defenders and into the net. Rodríguez then entered the game, scoring in the 76th minute. Ruidíaz iced the game with a third Sounders goal before the clock ticked 90:00. Forward Jozy Altidore headed in a late consolation goal for Toronto in stoppage time.

Seattle’s MLS Cup victory capped an exciting season in which the team finished second to Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, the Sounders knocked off FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake before shocking LAFC in the conference final, 3-1. Los Angeles had won the Supporters’ Shield as the MLS team with the best regular season record (an outstanding 21-4-9). Toronto finished fourth in the bruising Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the club beat D.C. United, top-seeded New York City FC, and the defending champion Atlanta United FC in the conference final.

December 12, 2018

Last Saturday, on December 8, Atlanta United FC defeated the Portland Timbers 2-0 to win the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup championship. It was the first title for Atlanta, which was playing just its second MLS season since entering the league in 2017. Striker Josef Martínez put Atlanta up 1-0 with a goal in the game’s 39th minute, and defender Franco Escobar added a second goal early in the second half to elate the MLS record crowd of 73,019 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Martínez, who also assisted on Escobar’s goal, was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Atlanta’s Josef Martínez eludes Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to score the first goal of the MLS Cup final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Dec. 8, 2018. Credit: © Ira L. Black, Getty Images

In the first half, Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella made a great save on a chopping shot by Atlanta midfielder Miguel Almirón, but Martínez found the net shortly thereafter. Four minutes after Martínez’s goal, Atlanta veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan prevented the equalizer, diving to stop a sharp header by Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse. Portland found few chances to score as the game wore on, and their best shots missed high or wide. Tight midfield defense was the story of the match for both sides, who together totaled just 17 shots and only 7 on target.

The massive and boisterous crowd chanted “United! United!” after Atlanta went up 2-0, and the fans erupted in cheers at the game’s conclusion as the home team met in a jubilant group hug on the pitch. Atlanta team captain Michael Parkhurst was particularly thrilled to put his hands on the coveted MLS Cup trophy. It was the fifth MLS final for the veteran defender: Parkhurst was on the short end with the New England Revolution in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and lost the final again with the Columbus Crew in 2015. The city of Atlanta has warmed quickly to its new MLS team. United drew an MLS record 901,033 fans for its 17 home games during the 2018 regular season—an average of 53,000 fans per match.

Atlanta’s MLS Cup victory capped an exciting season in which the team finished a close second to the New York Red Bulls for the Supporters’ Shield as the MLS team with the best record. In the playoffs, United took out New York City FC before downing the mighty Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference championship. Portland finished fifth to eke out a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but the Timbers gained steam in the playoffs, defeating FC Dallas, the Seattle Sounders, and top-seeded Sporting Kansas City to reach the MLS Cup final.

December 13, 2017

Last Saturday, on December 9, Toronto FC (Football Club) defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 to win the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup championship. It was the first title for Toronto—also known as TFC or the Reds—which had lost to Seattle in the 2016 MLS Cup final. Forward Jozy Altidore put TFC up 1-0 with a goal in the game’s 67th minute, and midfielder Víctor Vázquez tapped in a last-minute rebound to further elate the crowd of 30,584 fans crammed into BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. Altidore was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP).

TFC team captain Michael Bradley grips the MLS championship trophy amidst jubilant teammates after Toronto’s 2-0 MLS Cup victory over the Seattle Sounders on Dec. 9, 2017, at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. Credit: © Vaughn Ridley, Getty Images

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei—last year’s MLS Cup MVP—made save after save before allowing Altidore’s difference maker in the second half. Of TFC’s 22 shots, 11 were on target. Team captain Michael Bradley helped the Reds dominate the center of the field, as did 2015 MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco, who took seven shots and assisted on Altidore’s goal. Seattle managed just seven shots as a team, leaving Toronto goalkeeper Alexander Bono with little to do but cheer on his teammates.

Toronto’s dominant MLS Cup victory capped one of the greatest seasons in league history. TFC went 20-9-5 during the regular season, easily winning the Supporters’ Shield as the MLS team with the best record. Tough playoff wins over the New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew SC preceded TFC’s capture of the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in the MLS Cup final. The team also won its sixth Canadian Championship, that country’s top professional tournament, in 2017. Seattle finished the regular season 14-9-11, good enough for second in the Western Conference. The Sounders enjoyed playoffs wins over Vancouver and Houston on their way to the MLS Cup final.

December 15, 2016

On Saturday, December 10, Seattle Sounders FC (Football Club) won its first Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup, defeating Toronto FC 5-4 on penalty kicks after the game ended in a scoreless tie. It was the first championship for the Sounders, who won despite being the first team in history to finish an MLS Cup final with zero shots on target. The Sounders managed three shots total (the fewest in MLS Cup history), but it was their cool and luck in the penalty shootout that brought the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy home to Seattle for the first time.

At BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Román Torres hoists the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy shortly after his penalty kick won the MLS Cup for Seattle Sounders FC on Dec. 10, 2016. Credit: © Dan Poss, Seattle Sounders FC Communications

The Sounders’ victory disappointed most of the 36,045 fans crammed into BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario—a buzzing scene all season that saw the hometown Reds finish third in the Eastern Conference. Toronto forward Jozy Altidore led the Reds’ romp through the playoffs, scoring in every match until being shutout in the final by Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei—a worthy recipient of the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player award. Altidore and Toronto star Sebastian Giovinco pressed the Reds’ attack, taking 10 of their team’s 19 shots.

Seattle finished fourth in the Western Conference before taking down the top two teams in the west—FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids—during a dominant playoff run. The Sounders’ offense sputtered in the final, however, and the championship fell on the strong shoulders of Panamanian defender Román Torres during the fourth penalty shootout in MLS Cup history. After the high tension of back-and-forth hitting, saving, and missing, the entire season came down to a penalty kick by Torres—delivered deftly up and to the right of Toronto goalie Clint Irwin, hitting the back of the net to win the title for Seattle.