Altidore goal helps propel Toronto FC to 1st MLS Cup

Jozy Altidore’s second-half goal helped propel a relentless Toronto FC to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday to claim their first Major League Soccer (MLS) championship after a gut-wrenching loss in last year’s final. The victory capped a superb season for the Reds, adding the MLS Cup to the Supporters’ Shield that goes to the club with the best regular-season record and the Voyageurs Cup as Canadian champions.

Everything they accomplished this season, however, including a regular season points record, mattered little beyond getting back to the final and avenging their loss on penalties to Seattle last year.

“This trophy has been an obsession for the last 364 days not just for me but every single guy on our team, every coach, every member of our staff,” Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley told reporters.

“To get back here, to give ourselves another crack at it has been, honestly there is no other word for it, other than obsession.”

The victory did more than exorcise the demons from a year ago, it also went some way toward restoring the pride of a franchise whose reputation had been one of failure rather than excellence.

Toronto, who played their first season in 2007, did not reach the postseason until 2015 – the longest playoff drought in league history.

“It has been a long time, a long journey to get here and heartache along the way as we saw last year but it’s been an incredible journey,” said Toronto coach Greg Vanney, who had also lost three previous finals with the Los Angeles Galaxy.