Toronto FC caps season with MLS Cup win
SPORTS
TORONTO — When fans look back at Toronto FC’s 2017 championship season, they will recall Jozy Altidore’s goalscoring heroics, Sebastian Giovinco’s magic moves, captain Michael Bradley’s unflinching leadership and Greg Vanney’s cerebral coaching skills.
Toronto capped off a recordbreaking 69-point, 20-win regular season with a dominant 2-0 MLS Cup final win Saturday over the Seattle Sounders.
“This is what it’s all about. Lifting trophies,” said Bradley.
But while TFC kept rolling, there was no shortage of real-life trauma behind the scenes, including injuries, births, deaths and suspensions.
Giovinco set up both goals in the final. He split the Seattle defence in the 67th minute to set Altidore loose. And then deep in stoppage time he found Armando Cooper.
The Panamanian substitute, who played just 152 minutes in the final 16 games of a disappointing season, sidestepped keeper Stefan Frei with a beautiful move only to see his shot thud off the goalpost. Victor Vazquez was Johnny-onthe-spot, knocking the ball in for the insurance goal Saturday.
Bradley and Altidore suffered through a torrent of abuse in Atlanta, New York and Columbus after the failed U.S. World Cup qualifying campaign. While both shrugged it off, it must have hurt.
Keeper Clint Irwin was the essence of class after losing his starting job to Alex Bono after suffering an injury in the home opener.
Other players kept their lip buttoned as they watched from the bench or the stands.
Credit Vanney, his coaching staff and the front office. Toronto has become a model, winning franchise. The team is looked after on and off the field. Players want to come here.
“They enjoy one another,” said Vanney. “That’s really a special thing to have.”
Added Altidore: “When I say this is a special place, I mean it,”
In an era where selfish social media pronouncements, hard-tofathom salaries and me-first attitudes distance some pro athletes from supporters, Altidore and Bradley have consistently gone out of their way to praise and connect with TFC fans.
They understand what the fan base has gone through — and what the BMO Field faithful means to the team.
“It gives you this feeling like there is only one possible outcome. And that’s that we win,” Bradley said of the fan support
It’s ironic that Bradley was overshadowed when he signed with Toronto the same day as Jermain Defoe in January 2014. While the England striker lasted one season, Bradley became the engine of the team. The U.S. captain shines very brightly in the Toronto lockerroom. But he showed his human side Saturday.
He admitted he has to dial down his single-mindedness at times “to make sure I don’t wear guys out.” But the message got through to his teammates. “With this team there was never one moment when I looked around and felt like guys were losing focus or were forgetting about what we were trying to do. Everything was about getting back here (to the final) ... every single guy laser-focused to give ourselves another chance,” he said.
Bradley, who deserved MVP consideration this season, played every minute of every game he appeared in. On Saturday, he was simply immense in the final.
“His bald head was everywhere,” marvelled Altidore.
“I really don’t have words to say about Michael because he embodies this team completely,” said Nick Hagglund. “Who we are, what we’re about, how we walk out onto a field starts with him. He has led us incredibly over these last four years. There’s no one that takes the wins and the losses more personally than him. He came her to win championships and he just did that. An amazing leader, an amazing captain. I’d walk into any battlefield with him any day.” The statistics show Toronto’s dominance in the final. Toronto outshot Seattle 22-7 (11-2 in shots on target), had 56.9 per cent possession and won 70.7 per cent of duels, the highest duel success rate of any team in any MLS game this season, according to Opta Sports. “We are the best team in MLS,” said Vazquez. The Spanish playmaker led all players Saturday with 103 touches. Only four players this season had at least 100 touches, four chances created and a goal in an MLS game this season. Vazquez did it twice in 2017.
“Playing with Seba and Jozy is easy,” he said.