Sounders 7-2-2 in overall series

Toronto, a side that has spent the last two years refining its roster and remaking club culture, made more subtle changes after filling holes with Beitashour, goalkeeper Clint Irwin, defender Drew Moor, and midfielder Will Johnson in the offseason and adding offensive options in Armando Cooper and Tosaint Ricketts at mid-season.

Toronto started the year the hard way, with eight straight road games due to stadium renovations. Greg Vanney’s team then failed to make the most of the home- dominated second half of the season, complicating its playoff run somewhat.

There were five points separating the sides during the regular season with Toronto (14-9-11) second in the East and Seattle (14-14- 6) fourth in the West.

But the Sounders’ season was essentially split in two. Seattle was ninth in the West with a 6-12-2 record on July 26 when Schmid, the team’s only head coach, stepped down.

Seattle has gone 12- 3- 4 since under former assistant Schmetzer, whose interim tag was removed Nov. 2.

The addition of Lodeiro from Argentina’s club Boca Juniors in late July played a big part in the turnaround. As did the August return of Torres after almost a year on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

Still, Seattle has had to do without star striker Clint Dempsey since late August due to an irregular heartbeat.

Toronto is also on a roll, having lost just three times since mid-July ( 12- 3- 5). Along the way, with the help of Montreal in a pulsating Canadian playoff rumble, it has arguably re- energized men’s soccer in Canada.

The final is a matchup of two of the league’s best followed teams.

Seattle, which shares its home with the NFL Seahawks, led MLS by averaging 42,636 fans a game. Toronto, whose stadium has been upgraded to the tune of $ 150 million the last two years, ranked third at 26,583.

Toronto entered the league in 2007 and, for a while, was the poster child for fan fervour. Seattle, which arrived on the scene in 2009, soon took over that mantle, although TFC fans have rediscovered their love for their club.

While two teams argue over who has the best fans, Seattle has won overwhelmingly in the standings over the years.

Toronto missed the playoffs for its first eight seasons and was thumped 3- 0 by Montreal in its playoff debut last year.

In contrast, Seattle wasted no time finding the playoffs. The Sounders have qualified for the post- season in each of their eight seasons, but never made it past the conference semifinals until this year.

The teams tied 1-1 in their lone meeting this season, at BMO Field on July 2.

The game wasn’t much of a marker, given it was Toronto’s fifth in 15 days and Vanney fielded a makeshift lineup that featured perhaps just four starters due to injuries and the crowded schedule. A slumping Seattle came into that game having lost five of its last six.

Morris’ tying goal in the 61st minute, only the Sounders’ 14th in their first 16 games, ended a 248-minute Seattle scoring drought dating back a month.

Seattle leads the overall series between the two with a 7-2-2 record, outscoring Toronto 18-10. The Sounders are 3-1-1 all-time at BMO Field.

Both teams will wear their primary kit with Toronto all in red and Seattle in its so- called Rave Green outfit before a sellout of 36,000.