Seattle wins Cup on penalty kicks
SOUNDERS 5, TORONTO FC 4
toronto» Roman Torres scored in the sixth round of penalty kicks to give the Seattle Sounders their first MLS Cup title, 5-4, over Toronto FC after 120 scoreless minutes Saturday night.
It was the first MLS Cup final to fail to produce a goal in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreaker.
While Toronto’s Michael Bradley and Alvaro Fernandez for Seattle had both seen their shots saved, the game went to sudden-death spot kicks. Toronto’s Justin Morrow could only clatter his shot off the crossbar, setting the stage for Torres to win it with a high shot down the middle of the goal.
Former Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei was named the game’s most valuable player.
Seattle became the first team in MLS Cup final history to fail to produce a shot on target throughout the game. Additionally, the Sounders’ three shots overall were the fewest in an MLS title game, the first to feature two expansion franchises. Toronto was the first Canadian MLS Cup finalist.
After a fairly subdued 90 minutes of regulation, extra time produced a number of opportunities, but even with Toronto enjoying a 7-0 shot advantage in the 30minute period, no breakthrough could be found.
Seattle’s lone chance to score in extra time came from a defensive error. Toronto’s Steven Beitashour saw Brad Evans’ cross deflect goalward off his leg in the 112th minute, but Clint Irwin bravely dove on the ball to take it away from Torres.
Toronto coach Greg Vanney removed former MLS most valuable player Sebastian Giovinco in the 103rd minute in favor of Tosaint Ricketts. The gutsy call almost paid off.
Following Ricketts’ cross five minutes after coming on, it looked as if Altidore was going to give Toronto the lead in the 108th minute with a looping header, but an athletic save from Frei kept it scoreless.
Leaping to his left, he scooped the ball off the line with his left hand, allowing his defense to clear the ball to safety.