The Seattle Sounders will host Toronto FC on Saturday in a rematch of the 2016 MLS Cup Final (TICKETS). Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about the match:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 12 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field.
TIME CHANGE: A reminder that the match has been moved up an hour to 12 p.m. PT after being originally slated for a 1 p.m. start.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on ESPN.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2017 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 2-2-4 (10 points, 7th place West), TFC: 4-1-4 (16 points, 2nd place East).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 7-2-2 all time against Toronto FC, including a 3-1-1 mark at home.
RECENT MEETINGS: The Sounders and TFC played to a 1-1 draw at BMO Field on July 2 last year after a Jordan Morris goal canceled out the opening tally from Jordan Hamilton just one minute earlier. The teams then met more memorably in the 2016 MLS Cup Final again in Ontario, with the Sounders capturing their first league title in penalty kicks after the match ended scoreless.
COMEBACK KIDS: The Sounders overcame a late three-goal deficit at home last Saturday to salvage a point against the New England Revolution in an epic 3-3 comeback draw. It was the first time in Sounders history the club has come from three goals down to earn a result, and the second time this season Seattle has come from two goals down to earn a draw (March 11 at Montreal).
PERSONNEL SHIFT: The Sounders started the same exact lineup on Saturday as they did against the LA Galaxy on April 23 with Morris moving to the left wing and forward Will Bruin starting up top in head coach Brian Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 formation. The Sounders have scored six goals in their last two games since making the adjustment.
STUNNING STATS: Despite falling behind 3-0 last week, the Sounders put up multiple mind-boggling stats against the Revolution. Seattle completed 742 passes with an 89 percent accuracy, had 75 percent possession and 25 total shots.
BANGED UP: Chad Marshall (lower back) and Oniel Fisher (left hamstring) missed their second straight games last weekend, while Roman Torres (left hamstring) entered as a substitute for his first appearance since leaving April 8’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Morris did not train on Monday and continues to battle an aggravated ankle injury he suffered on March 19 against the New York Red Bulls.
NATIONAL TEAMERS ON DISPLAY: U.S. stars will align on Saturday as the Sounders’ Morris and Clint Dempsey will face off against TFC’s Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. Dempsey, Altidore and Bradley have combined for nearly 400 caps, while Morris is beginning to cement a permanent role at the international level. Saturday’s match will also be vital opportunities for fringe USMNT players in Seattle’s Cristian Roldan and TFC’s Marky Delgado, each of whom have been on head coach Bruce Arena’s radar, to make their marks ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup.
ASSIST MEN: Saturday’s match will also feature the league’s top two assist leaders in TFC’s Victor Vazquez and the Sounders’ Joevin Jones, who have six and five helpers, respectively.
DYNAMIC DUO: Toronto FC is led offensively by Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, two of the league’s best forwards. They have combined for 10 goals and four assists through nine matches this season, and Giovinco leads MLS with 43 shots.
MIDWEEK AFFAIR: TFC defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 on Wednesday before traveling to Seattle. Giovinco’s brace led TFC to its third-straight victory and helped Toronto collect all nine points in its three-game home stand.
3-5-2: Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney operates a rare 3-5-2 formation, with outside wingbacks responsible for bombing forward while also tracking back defensively. Normal defensive stalwart Drew Moor has been out with a cardiac arrhythmia, which has forced Vanney to move wingback Justin Morrow to the back line along with Nick Hagglund and Eriq Zavaletta.
