3 reasons why the Seattle Sounders will win 2017 MLS Cup
The Seattle Sounders land in Toronto with plenty of fond memories.
It was in Canada's largest city that the Rave Green won the 2016 MLS Cup. One year later, Seattle returns to the shores of Lake Ontario to defend its title against Toronto FC.
Here are three reasons why Seattle will repeat in 2017:
Form is crucial
The 2017 regular season saw Toronto clinch the Supporters' Shield and break the MLS record for most points in a single campaign (69) while Seattle finished second over in the West with 53 points. But the post-season is a whole other beast, and Seattle has been in much finer playoff form.
The Sounders easily brushed the Vancouver Whitecaps aside in their first playoff round, while Toronto had to work much harder to advance. Sebastian Giovinco saved the day in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls with an away goal that proved the difference as the Red Bulls then went into BMO Field and won 1-0. Toronto barely squeaked by the Columbus Crew with a 1-0 aggregate win in the conference final, while Seattle walloped the Houston Dynamo 5-0 over the two legs.
Seattle has outscored Toronto and hasn't lost in the post-season. The players have also kept cooler heads throughout, while Toronto FC has had players ejected and let emotions boil over. Seattle has been the best team in these playoffs, while Toronto has struggled.
They've done it before
Playing away from home is tricky, but Brian Schmetzer's side has nothing to fear; they've been here before, after all. There's little that Toronto supporters can do to get under Seattle's skin and the cold is a factor that most of the team has already dealt with. The surface at BMO Field is even better this year, too.
The narrative around Toronto FC is that the team must rise to the occasion in its hunt for redemption, but for the Sounders, it's just about going into a familiar (cold) stadium and dealing with the exact same factors that won them their last MLS Cup trophy. The external factors that can unsettle a team won't be at play here.
They've shown tremendous growth
Last season, the Sounders took on a better Toronto FC team and resorted to forcing penalties to win the MLS Cup. They failed to record a shot on target but contained the Reds' attack for 120 minutes, with Stefan Frei pulling off the save that ultimately highlighted the night. But Seattle is a much better team this year.
Clint Dempsey's return from a heart condition gives Seattle a player who can score and boasts considerable big-match experience. He leads the team with 15 goals, but his reintroduction also allowed Nicolas Lodeiro to move to right-wing, a position that has seen him record 12 assists.
Related: Is Clint Dempsey the X-factor Seattle needs to beat Toronto FC once again?
Lodeiro's spacing in particular will be a matchup to watch - his preference to cut inside could draw Michael Bradley's attention away from Dempsey, which might in turn force Greg Vanney to deputize Justin Morrow as defensive cover rather than focusing solely on pushing forward. It's a tactical battle that demonstrates Seattle's new attacking weaponry, but don't forget about Joevin Jones on the left. His move from left-back to left-wing has seen him record 11 assists.
Injuries to Ozzie Alonso and Jordan Morris only served to strengthen Brian Schmetzer's side, too: Swedish international Gustav Svensson averages 2.7 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per match to Alonso's 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions. Add Will Bruin up top and Seattle has leveled the playing field a bit more: there's no reason the Sounders can't take the match to Toronto this time, so the expectation will be to win without resorting to a shootout ... or at the very least, testing Alex Bono's goal.
It's clear Toronto FC is the better team on paper, but in practice, Seattle boasts more than enough quality to compete. That quality, coupled with strong form and a trip to a familiar, if still cold and hostile ground, should have the Sounders feeling confident ahead of this final bout.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)