Sounders gain first title in PKs
After 120 minutes with no goals, Seattle tops Toronto FC in shootout
TORONTO — Roman Torres scored in the sixth round of penalty kicks to give the Seattle Sounders their first MLS Cup title, 54 over Toronto FC after 120 scoreless minutes Saturday night.
It was the first MLS Cup final without a goal in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreaker.
After Toronto’s Michael Bradley and Alvaro Fernandez for Seattle both had their penalty kick attempts saved, the game went to sudden-death spot kicks.
Toronto’s Justin Morrow, a former Eathquakes defender, could only clatter his shot off the crossbar, setting the stage for Torres to win it with a high shot down the middle.
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 30-minute period, no breakthrough could be found.
Seattle’s lone chance to score in extra time came from a defensive error.
Toronto’s Steven Beitashour, another former Earthquakes, 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.
A minute earlier, Ricketts had had a great chance of his own when a defensive clearance fell to him 16 yards out, but with Frei flatfooted he could only drive his right-footed shot wide of the right post.
At the end of regulation, Toronto had a chance to win it in stoppage time when Nick Hagglund headed a Bradley corner kick toward Altidore in the 6-yard box, but Frei reacted bravely to punch the ball clear to end the threat and send the final to extra time.
Before that the game was in Toronto’s control, with the home side unleashing 12 shots, three of which hit the target. Seattle couldn’t even muster a shot until the 76th minute, when Osvaldo Alonso’s effort from 25 yards out was charged down by Bradley.
Brandon Clarke had 18 points and nine rebounds, and the host Spartans tied a program record with 30 assists in the win. Cody Schwartz added 17 points for the Spartans (5-4), who had their second 100point game in a season for the first time since 197071. San Jose State was 13 of 25 from 3-point range and 39 of 71 overall from the field.
Santa Clara 75, Cal State East Bay 50: Nate Kratch scored 19 points with 8-for-11 shooting to lead the host Broncos (4-6) over the Division II Pioneers. Santa Clara got a jumper from Matt Hauser with 4:45 left in the opening half to spark a 12-3 run that gave the Broncos a 38-28 advantage at the break. Micah
Quentin Snider scored 15 points, V.J. King added 13, and the 11th-ranked Cardinals (9-1) overcame a cold shooting start to give Hall of Famer Rick Pitino his 400th victory as Louisville’s coach.
Xavier 77, Utah 69: J.P. Macura scored 18 points, and the 13th-ranked Musketeers(8-2)outrebounded the visiting Utes (6-2) 33-28, the country’s top rebounding team coming into the game.
Arizona 79, Missouri 60: Rawle Alkins had 19 points and nine rebounds for the 20th-ranked Wildcats (8-2), while Kobi Simmons had 19 points and Kadeem Allen added 17 points and seven rebounds in the road win. Kevin Puryear had 11 points for Missouri (5-4).