HOW THE MLS CUP WAS WON

Countdown to glory took surprising turns

Toronto FC clinched Major League’s Soccer first-ever domestic treble on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. Here’s how:

2nd MINUTE: A run by striker Jozy Altidore wins Toronto FC the first corner kick of the game. Midfielder Victor Vazquez takes it, a low ball into defender Chris Mavinga at the six yard box. The defender volleys it high over his shoulder to Drew Moor at the back post, but the unmarked defender can’t get his header on target. An early, clear-cut chance for the Reds goes to waste.

10th MINUTE: Toronto goes on the attack again. Captain Michael Bradley puts a long ball into Altidore from midfield. The striker, with his back to the net at the top of the 18-yard box, chests the ball down to midfielder Jonathan Osorio, whose shot with the outside of his foot forces Sounders’ goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make a diving save toward the bottom right hand corner of his net.

11th MINUTE: After a one-on-one situation in Toronto’s half saw last man back Bradley strip Seattle striker Clint Dempsey of a breakaway, Vazquez plays a cross-field ball to Sebastian Giovinco, who was making a run into the right side of the box. Giovinco’s first touch got away from him, and he couldn’t get the second touch over Frei’s leg. Replays catch Greg Vanney mid-celebration; both the coach and Giovinco finished the play with their head in their hands in disbelief. 23rd MINUTE: At the top of Seattle’s box, Altidore lays a ball off to Giovinco on his left. The Italian takes three touches before shooting from close range, forcing Frei to push the ball over the crossbar with one hand. Toronto has eight shots at this point — four on net, three off target and one blocked — to Seattle’s zero. 30th MINUTE: Sounders’ defender Joevin Jones puts an easy shot on Reds goalkeeper Alex Bono’s net; the Sounders went 150 minutes without a shot on target from the beginning of last year’s MLS Cup final. 41st MINUTE: Osorio plays Vazquez in at the top left-hand side of Seattle’s box. The Spaniard puts a low, hard shot across Frei’s net — forcing the keeper into another diving save.

HALFTIME

48th MINUTE: A Justin Morrow cross from the left side goes through the box and finds Steven Beitashour on the right. The defender tries to curl a shot into the top corner but it goes high over the crossbar.

60th MINUTE: Bradley connects with a bouncing ball about 25 yards out; Frei has to use his chest to save a rocket off the outside of the captain’s boot. 62nd MINUTE: Sounders striker Will Bruin plays Dempsey down the right side. The American flicks the ball past Moor but can’t beat Mavinga, who uses the outside of his left boot to make a perfectly timed last minute tackle.

67th MINUTE: Toronto finally catches a break — literally. A tic-tac-toe out of Toronto’s half, from Bradley to Morrow to Vazquez, lands with Giovinco in the centre circle. With two touches, the Italian turns and puts at ball past Sounder defender Chad Marshall, sending Altidore on a breakaway up the middle of the pitch with two opponents on his tail. Another two touches and Altidore put the ball over a helpless Frei, into the back of the net.

71st MINUTE: Sounders’ midfielder Jordan Morris replaces Victor Rodriguez as the visitors try to add potency to their attack with the game’s first substitution.

85th MINUTE: Armando Cooper comes on for Jonathan Osorio in midfield as Toronto makes its first substitution. 90th MINUTE: Sounders defender Cristian Roldan bodychecks Giovinco as he carries the ball into the box. Referee Alan Chapman waves off the Reds’ shouts for a penalty.

91st MINUTE: Defender Nouhou Tolo replaces Jones for Seattle.

93rd MINUTE: Midfielder Benoit Cheyrou replaces Delgado for Toronto. 94th MINUTE: Giovinco plays substitute Cooper into the box. He pushes the ball past Frei but, in front of an open net, the Panamanian can only hit the post. The rebound lands at Vazquez’s feet, though, and he puts Toronto up 2-0.

96th MINUTE: The final whistle blows. TFC wins its first MLS Cup.