MLS Cup preview: History beckons for Toronto FC, Seattle
One way or another, history will be made Saturday night at BMO Field. One of two cities will, mercifully, have reason to celebrate an MLS Cup title for the first time since entering the league.
Toronto FC, with its collection of stars who have been scoring goals at will during these playoffs, will meet a Seattle side that, in addition to some dizzying attacking options, boasts a backline sturdy as they come in MLS.
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It's far more complex than a simple high-powered offense against an impenetrable defense - to brand it as such would be a disservice to the two clubs' virtues across the entire pitch - but one thing is for sure: if you want star power, you've come to the right place.
Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley meet Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, and Ozzie Alonso. The biggest and brightest stage will be littered with some of the league's best players, just the way it should be.
Buckle up and get ready for the ride.
Injuries and suspensions
Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney confirmed earlier this week that his side has no injury concerns heading into the match, as Giovinco shook off the cramp that forced him out of the second leg of the Eastern Conference final - and had Reds fans everywhere on the verge of hyperventilating.
Brian Schmetzer, meanwhile, has had to monitor a knee sprain that has hampered midfield lynchpin Alonso since the second leg of the Western Conference final, though the bench boss said firmly on Friday that the 31-year-old will be in the lineup. Erik Friberg's status is less certain, however, as the Swede is dealing with a calf problem that is threatening his participation.
Projected lineups
Toronto FC: Clint Irwin; Nick Hagglund, Drew Moor, Eriq Zavaleta; Justin Morrow, Will Johnson, Michael Bradley, Armando Cooper, Steven Beitashour; Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore
Seattle Sounders: Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Roman Torres, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan; Nicolas Lodeiro, Andreas Ivanschitz, Jordan Morris; Nelson Haedo Valdez
What to watch
Can Jozy Altidore keep beasting?
Giovinco gets much of the attention, and for good reason - the Italian magician is the best player this league has ever seen. Brilliant as he's been this post-season, though, he hasn't even been the Reds' standout performer.
No, that distinction falls on the enormous shoulders of Altidore, who has gone supernova during the playoffs, turning into a one-man wrecking crew. In truth, the American striker's been on a tear since returning from injury in the summer, but he's hit another level over the past month, and leads MLS with five goals and four assists in the post-season.
Only Ante Razov (four goals, six assists in 2000) and Carlos Ruiz (eight goals, two assists in 2002) have ever hit double digit production in the history of the MLS playoffs, but Altidore has every chance to join the exclusive group.
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Not given the credit he deserves as a playmaker because of his sheer strength and imposing physique, Altidore has made a habit of dropping into the hole, collecting the ball and running at defenders, combining his pace, power, and technique to become an almost unstoppable force; just ask the Montreal Impact, who had no answer for the 27-year-old in their wildly entertaining Eastern Conference final.
Altidore will face stern resistance in the form of Alonso, Chad Marshall, and human tank Roman Torres, but on current form, there's no reason why he can't once again be the deciding factor in helping the Reds to a historic win.
Can Toronto FC shut down Lodeiro?
The Uruguayan is, without doubt, the catalyst for the Sounders, tearing apart opposing defenses on the regular since moving from Boca Juniors in July.
His ability to play any of the three attacking positions behind the main striker make him exceedingly difficult to mark, as he'll drift around, find pockets of space and either look to spring his teammates - typically Morris - or have an effort on goal himself.
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Toronto FC captain Bradley, who has settled nicely into the No. 6 role since the arrival of Armando Cooper - the Panamanian international's willingness to attack allows Bradley to sit deeper and orchestrate - will need to by vigilant for 90 minutes to keep Lodeiro under wraps. His midfield partner, most likely Will Johnson, will need to chip in, too.
Some love for the left-backs
The focus on the central areas outlined above could open space on the flanks, where both clubs have left-footed outlets who are crucial to their team's attacking play. Justin Morrow has been ever-present for the Reds this season, wearing out the grass up and down the left wing, and combining well with Giovinco, who typically drifts out wide to the American full-back's wing.
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Across the park, Joevin Jones offers a similar threat; the 25-year-old Trinidadian has three assists in the post-season, and when he is able to overlap either Lodeiro or another teammate down the flank, the Sounders look an altogether more frightening attacking side. Toronto FC struggled to contain Montreal's pace in wide areas in the last round, and while Seattle's threat is far from identical, Schmetzer and his staff surely took note of that, and could look to exploit those same spaces.
Weather forecast
Gloves, long sleeves, and tights. They'll all be on display.
The frigid Toronto temperature has been one of the most ballyhooed topics heading into the match, with the potential for swirling winds coming off the lake, and even a few flurries.
Yes, it's going to be cold - literally freezing, in fact, as the forecast suggests it should be in the minus-five degree (Celsius) range during the match. Uncomfortable for the players? Sure. Will it change the way the game is played? Don't count on it.
Prediction
Toronto FC 3, Seattle 1
Seattle might very well be able to keep Giovinco quiet. Or Altidore. Or maybe Bradley has a poor night. Perhaps super-sub Tosaint Ricketts is a non-factor off the bench, and maybe Morrow has no space to operate down the left wing.
Some of those things could certainly happen. But all of them, together?
Toronto FC simply has too many weapons, and too many ways to beat you. Sprinkle in the spark the Reds figure to get while playing at home, and Toronto FC should be poised to end nearly a decade of suffering with its first MLS Cup.