Seattle, Toronto prepared for MLS Cup showdown
Having played in two World Cups for the United States and finishing on the losing side of the Coppa Italia final when he was with Roma, Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley is no stranger to the big occasion.
But he’s also savvy enough to know that pre-game plans don’t always pan out, so when he leads his team onto the field for Saturday night’s MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders, he’ll be keeping an open mind.
“There’s no blueprint for these games, for big games,” he said. “You never know what to predict, you have to be ready no matter how things go to react and to not let anything faze you and to go for it.”
Toronto FC has certainly done that throughout these MLS Cup playoffs, setting an MLS record with 17 goals scored through their first five games. But while Jozy Altidore and former MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco have captured most of the headlines in that regard with nine goals between them, what takes place in the middle of the field may have a bigger impact on which team lifts the trophy.
That’s where Bradley will go head to head with Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso and Cristian Roldan, and he knows just how important that battle will be, acknowledging that their play dictates how much freedom Seattle stars such as Jordan Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro will have.
“I think ultimately what goes on in the center of the field in these games goes a long way to dictating who wins,” Bradley said. “So it’s important for us to feel like in all areas in the center part of the field we’re taking good care of things.”
While Toronto coach Greg Vanney said the attacking nature of both teams could produce “one of the most exciting MLS Cup finals yet,” Seattle counterpart Brian Schmetzer said the matchup between Giovinco and Lodeiro could produce fireworks.
“Defenders have to be on their toes,” he said. “Nico makes sharp, quick turns. Giovinco does the same. They’re a little different, though. Giovinco is a scorer. Nico has scored his fair share of goals, but Nico can put in those final passes.”
Lodeiro agreed with his coach’s assessment to a point. Though they have both scored four playoff goals so far, for the Uruguayan, that’s where the similarities end.
“We’re completely different players,” he said through an interpreter. “The only way we’re alike is that we’re short.”
High five: Altidore is the first player in MLS history to score in five consecutive matches in the same postseason. His five-goal total is tied for fifthmost in a single postseason, three behind the record of eight, set by Carlos Ruiz of the LA Galaxy in 2002.
Hat trick hopeful: Toronto midfielder Will Johnson is aiming to join a select group of players that have won the MLS Cup with three different teams. After previous victories with Real Salt Lake (2009) and last year with the Portland Timbers, Johnson can become the fifth player to pull off the hat trick.
Morris code: It took less than a season for Morris to have a game that will live on in Sounders lore no matter Saturday’s outcome.
Morris’ goal in the second-leg of the Western Conference final against Colorado assured Seattle a spot in the championship game. Morris played that game on Nov. 30 despite illness, suffered a knee injury on the deciding goal and was playing with a slight hamstring strain suffered three weeks earlier.
Morris scored in both legs of the conference finals against Colorado and had an assist in the semifinals against FC Dallas. He’s been a consistent scoring threat in the playoffs and what Seattle hoped it was getting when Morris signed with his hometown team last winter.