For the first time in club history, the Seattle Sounders will host the MLS Cup final as they take on Toronto FC for the third time in four seasons. Here is everything you need to know:
Matchday Guide
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 12:08 p.m. PT on Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ABC and Univision.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 10-4-2 all-time against Toronto, including a penalty kick shootout win at BMO Field in the 2016 MLS Cup final. In their only meeting during the 2019 MLS regular season, the Rave Green picked up a 3-2 win over TFC at CenturyLink Field on April 13.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Seattle advanced to MLS Cup with an exhilarating 3-1 win over LAFC at Banc of California Stadium in the Western Conference Final. Falling behind 1-0 in the 17th minute, Raúl Ruidíaz leveled the score five minutes later, while Nicolás Lodeiro notched the winner in the 26th minute. Ruidíaz then added an insurance tally in the 64th minute. Toronto knocked off Atlanta United 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the score level at 1-1, substitute Nick DeLeon stamped TFC’s ticket to MLS Cup with a screamer to the top corner in the 78th minute.
SEATTLE’S SON: Since taking the helm midway through the 2016 regular season, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has steered his hometown club to the MLS Cup final in three of four seasons.
LODEIRO THE LEGEND: Lodeiro has become synonymous with success in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. In his first two seasons with Seattle, the midfield maestro guided the Sounders to back-to-back finals, lifting the club’s first-ever MLS Cup in 2016. From just three starts in the 2019 postseason, Lodeiro has tallied two goals and four assists.
RED-HOT RUIDÍAZ: Speaking of in-form attacking players, Ruidíaz has recorded three goals and three assists en route to the final.
RUBBER MATCH: Seattle and Toronto traded off MLS Cup titles in 2016 and 2017, both of which were played at BMO Field. This time, however, the decisive third match will be played at CenturyLink Field, giving the Sounders an opportunity to pull ahead of their Eastern Conference counterpart.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Sounders are 5-2-1 all-time at home against TFC.
CLOSE ‘EM DOWN: Three of TFC’s nine goals in the postseason have come off shots from outside the box.
VETERAN SAVVY: Six players on the Sounders roster featured in both the 2016 and 2017 MLS Cup finals against Toronto.
