Sounders, Crew seek title
Seattle going for third title in the past five seasons
Having played in three of the previous four MLS Cup finals, the Seattle Sounders know what to expect on this stage.
The difference this time around? The opponent won’t be wearing red.
“Well, we’re not playing Toronto for one,” Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan said. “That is a bit strange.”
The Sounders will attempt to win their third title in the past five seasons on Saturday night when they face the Columbus Crew in Ohio. An unpredictable season that began in late February will end with two of the most consistent teams through all the chaos playing for the title.
Along the way, Seattle and Columbus navigated a three-month league stoppage, a tournament in Florida, the restart of games in home markets and finally the playoffs.
It’s been a season defined by the COVID -19 pandemic and all the changes and hardships caused by the virus. Even the final match of the year will be impacted by COVID -19 as Columbus will play without starting midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos after both tested positive this week.
Columbus coach Caleb Porter said he learned during the middle of practice Thursday that the Crew would be down both players.
“I just feel for them,” Porter said. “Obviously, they ’re healthy, so that’s first and foremost the most important thing. But I just feel for them on a personal level, a human level that they can’t be a part of an MLS Cup that they so deserve to be a part of. A big reason we’re here in this position is those two guys.”
Seattle is trying to become the league’s first repeat champion since the L.A. Galaxy in 2011-12. Seattle had the chance to repeat three years ago in Toronto but fell short.