Baldomero Toledo will be the head official for the Seattle Sounders’ 2017 home opener against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, March 19 (4 p.m. PT; FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS), the Professional Referee Organization announced on Tuesday. He will be joined by assistants Frank Anderson and Gianni Facchini and fourth official Dave Gantar.
Toledo is in his 14th season as an MLS referee and has officiated two MLS Cup Finals (2008, ’10) and a U.S. Open Cup Final (2016).
Toledo was in charge of four Sounders matches last season: A 1-0 home win over the Montreal Impact on April 2, a 1-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy on July 9, a 1-1 road draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 10 and a 2-1 home win over Real Salt Lake on Decision Day. He issues 15 total yellow cards over those four matches, with four going to the Sounders and 11 to opponents.
Toledo refereed the Earthquakes’ 1-0 win over the Impact in Week 1 and the Portland Timbers’ 1-0 win over the Galaxy in Week 2. He sent off the Impact’s Hassoun Camara and the Galaxy’s Jelle Van Damme, each for second yellow cards.