Forward Jordan Morris scored a highlight-reel equalizing goal in the 61st minute, helping the Seattle Sounders battle Toronto FC to a 1-1 draw in their Saturday evening road matchup at BMO Field.
Morris leveled the contest with his sixth goal of the season just one minute after Seattle had conceded the game’s opening goal to Toronto’s Jordan Hamilton, allowing the Sounders to salvage the road point and move their record to 5-9-2 on the season.
TFC narrowly missed three chances to grab the lead in the first half, the first coming in the 19th minute on a long-distance attempt from Hamilton that sailed just high of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Toronto’s Jay Chapman had an even better look just two minutes later after he sprung free unmarked in the Seattle penalty box and had a clean look on goal off a cross from Nick Haglund. But Chapman’s header went just wide of Frei and the Seattle goal.
Reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco almost set up a goal for Toronto as the game approached halftime after he lobbed a pinpoint pass into the Seattle penalty box, but Hamilton collided with teammate Tsubasa Endoh before either could manage a shot, keeping the game scoreless through the first half.
Toronto would grab the lead in the 60th minute after a shot from Giovinco took a deflection off of Frei and landed directly in front of Hamilton, who cashed his shot into the empty net to afford the hosts the 1-0 advantage.
Morris would equalize almost immediately, however, after he collected a long pass from Joevin Jones in front of the Toronto goal. The Homegrown rookie then unleashed a gorgeous curling strike past TFC ‘keeper Alex Bono, leveling the contest at 1-1.
The Sounders came within inches of notching the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute after a cross from Morris took a deflection off substitute Nelson Valdez and appeared to be headed into the Toronto goal. But Toronto’s Mark Bloom cleared the ball of the line at the last second, ensuring the contest would end in the 1-1 deadlock.
The Sounders played without forward Clint Dempsey (rest) and defender Brad Evans (calf), but both are expected to return to the lineup against the LA Galaxy on July 9. Center back Chad Marshall was also subbed out early in the 51st minute, replaced by rookie center back Tony Alfaro.
The Sounders now return to Seattle to take on English Premier League side West Ham United in an international friendly at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday before returning to MLS play against the Galaxy on July 9.
