Home Sweet Home: Sounders beat Toronto 3-1 in Seattle for 2nd MLS title
Nov 10, 2019, 2:15 PM | Updated: 4:36 pm
The Sounders experienced a pair of big firsts on Sunday: They hosted the MLS Cup in Seattle for the first time in their 11-year history, and they scored their first goal in a championship game.
Sounders 3, Toronto FC 1: Full recap story | Stats
That resulted in the team’s second MLS Cup title as they rode a trio of second half goals to a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC in front of an announced attendance of 69,274 – the biggest crowd ever for a sporting event at CenturyLink Field.
After a scoreless first half that included some game-saving stops by goalkeeper Stefan Frei and a close chance by Raúl Ruidíaz, the Sounders became the aggressor when the teams returned from their locker rooms.
Sounders defender Kelvin Leerdam, who had five goals during the 2019 regular season and therefore wasn’t one of the bigger scoring threats entering the day, scored the first Seattle goal ever in an MLS Cup final in the 58th minute – thanks to some help in the form of Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow’s leg.
What a moment!
Kelvin Leerdam's goal sends @CenturyLink_Fld into a frenzy! 🎉#SEAvTOR | #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/sswdrgMzZv
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 10, 2019
The Sounders didn’t wait long to find the back of the net once more. Víctor Rodríguez delivered a beauty of a goal in the 76th minute to put Toronto into desperation mode.
WHAT. A. GOAL.
Víctor Rodríguez smashed it into the bottom corner 😤#SEAvTOR | #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/wrIr40ZEcs
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 10, 2019
The clincher, however, came in 90th minute when Ruidíaz won a foot race for a breakaway goal that gave the Sounders an insurmountable 3-0 advantage.
The goal that sealed the trophy 🏆@RaulRuidiazM iced the match with a cheeky finish! #SEAvTOR | #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/SkO0YYyrkz
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 10, 2019
Toronto star Jozy Altidore, who came into the game as a substitute due to a lingering quad strain, scored in stoppage time, but it was far too little, too late
Frei had four saves in the victory, while Rodríguez was named the MLS Cup MVP.
For a full recap story on the Sounders’ win, click here.
A day we'll never forget 💚
Your #MLSCup Highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3V0yGC0CSp
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 11, 2019
