Seattle tops Toronto on penalties for MLS Cup

The Seattle Sounders claimed their first Major League Soccer Cup by beating Toronto FC 5-4 on penalties after their title game ended 0-0 after extra-time on Saturday night.

After Toronto’s Justin Morrow hit the crossbar, Seattle defender Roman Torres coolly hammered home the decider as the Sounders finally celebrated victory following seven seasons of near misses.

With zero shots on goal after 120 minutes it looked as if the Sounders, who have reached the playoffs in each of their eight years in the league, would come up short yet again but found the target when it mattered most.

Brad Evans, Andreas Ivanshitz, Joevin Jones and Nicolas Lodeiro also scored in the shootout for Seattle while Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei capped an evening of spectacular saves by denying Morrow and Toronto captain Michael Bradley.

For TFC and their fans, it was a crushing result to a contest they had dominated for 120 minutes, but could not breach a Seattle defense that had conceded just three goals in five playoff matches.

Frei, who spent five seasons with TFC, returned to torment his former teammates earning MLS Cup most valuable player honors after shutting out a high-powered Toronto attack that had produced 17 goals in five playoff contests.

The Seattle ’keeper’s biggest save, however, did not come in the shootout but deep into extra time when the Swiss dove across the net at full stretch and with his left hand tipped away a looping header from Jozy Altidore.

“That was one of the great saves that I have seen in a big moment because that goal to me ends the game,” said Toronto coach Greg Vanney. “We win if we do that. He saved the game for them.