Altidore the hero as Toronto avenges last year’s defeat
TORONTO — Jozy Altidore scored in the 67th minute and Victor Vazquez added a stoppage-time goal Saturday as Toronto FC completed a record-breaking season with a 2-0 win over Seattle in the MLS Cup final, avenging a penalty shootout loss to the Sounders in last year’s championship game.
Toronto dominated in a performance brimming with confidence and intent before 30,584 on a warmer-than-expected late afternoon at BMO Field. Seattle was on the back foot almost from the get-go.
It had been one-way traffic for Toronto, but the home side — as in last year’s final — was unable to beat Seattle’s superb ‘keeper Stefan Frei. That changed midway through the second half after a Sounders turnover deep in the Toronto end was sent back the other way at pace. Sebastian Giovinco split the defence with a pass and Altidore chipped the ball over an onrushing Frei.
Altidore, who had scored the winning goal last time out despite rolling his ankle in the Eastern Conference final against Columbus, headed toward the southwest corner for a repeat celebration that saw him swallowed up by jubilant teammates.
Altidore was named the game’s most valuable player for his performance.
“This is the greatest city in the world,” Altidore said after receiving his MVP award on the field.
“This is for you guys, we love you guys,” he added as the crowd chanted: “Jozy, Jozy.”
The Sounders had not conceded a goal in 609 minutes, a run that dated back to a 2-0 loss in Philadelphia on Oct. 1. Seattle had posted shutouts in 12 of its previous 18 games, including the last six.
Seattle’s post-season shutout run was even longer — an MLS playoff-record 714 minutes dating back to the second leg of the 2016 Western Conference final against the Colorado Rapids.
Frei, whose personal shutout streak in the post-season ended at an MLS-record 624 minutes, had posted five straight playoff shutouts.
Vazquez made it 2-0, knocking the ball in the 94th minute after Armando Cooper’s shot hit the goalpost. The south stand lit up immediately as supporters lit flares to celebrate.
Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said he would not fault his team’s effort, adding: “We’re capable of playing better soccer, put it that way.”
Saturday’s win completed an unprecedented treble for Toronto, adding the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy to the Supporters’ Shield symbolic of the best regular-season record — in this case the league’s best regular season ever — and the Voyageurs Cup as Canadian champions.
While Toronto enjoyed a record-breaking regular season, the playoff road to the final proved to be a grind. TFC came into the game just 4-3-2 since midSeptember, outscoring the opposition 14-13.
Normal service resumed Saturday.
Toronto dropped centre back Eriq Zavaleta to the bench, switching to a 4-4-2 from its more normal 3-5-2 formation. That made room for both Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado in the diamond-shaped midfield, with captain Michael Bradley shielding the backline.
Seattle stuck with its 4-2-3-1 formation with centre back Roman Torres returning from suspension. That set up a domino effect with Gustav Svensson moving from defence to holding midfielder and Nicolas Lodeiro advancing to an attacking midfield role. Joevin Jones dropped back to fullback, consigning Cameroon defender Nouhou to the bench.
It was the Frei show in the first half as the Seattle ‘keeper made save after save to keep the Sounders, struggling to keep up with a vibrant Toronto attack, in the game.
Toronto outshot Seattle 19-7 (3-0 in shots on target) in last year’s final and Frei faced 12 shots (six on target) in the first half alone Saturday.