Toronto FC must get past Sounders to claim MLS Cup

The Seattle Sounders are the only thing standing in the way of Toronto FC and the MLS Cup. A closer look at the Western Conference champions.

Who are the Sounders?

Record: 14-14-6 - 48 points (fourth in Western Conference)
Manager: Brian Schmetzer (Former coach Sigi Schmid and the Sounders mutually parted ways in late July. He was the only manager in the team's eight-year history.)
Goals For: 44
Goals Against: 43 
Playoff Run: Beat Sporting Kansas City in Knockout Round 1-0; beat FC Dallas in Conference semis 4-1 on aggregate; beat Colorado Rapids in Conference finals 3-1 on aggregate
Goal Scorers: Jordan Morris (12), Clint Dempsey (8), Nicolas Lodeiro, Christian Roldan, Chad Marshall (4 each)
Team Stats: 44 goals (13th in MLS), 40 assists (15th in MLS), 43 goals against (7th in MLS)
MLS Titles: 0

Matchup with Toronto FC

The Sounders and Toronto FC battled to a 1-1 draw in their one and only matchup this season from BMO Field on July 2.  

Toronto opened the scoring in the 60th minute thanks to a goal from Scarborough native Jordan Hamilton. That lead was short lived as Seattle's leading scorer Jordan Morris potted his sixth of the season just a minute later. Both teams would have chances to take the lead, but failed as the clubs settled for a draw. Toronto and Seattle weren't playing their best soccer at the time, as the result moved the Sounders to a 5-9-1 record while TFC went to 5-6-5.

Manager Sigi Schmid, who parted ways with the team later that month, admitted TFC was the better team on that day.

"Certainly on the day I think Toronto was the better team," he said following the draw.

The contest was without some of the league's best players as the Sounders played without veteran forward Clint Dempsey (forward) and defender Brad Evans (calf) while TFC had their captain Michael Bradley (knee) and striker Jozy Altidore (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Toronto should be considered the favourite in the MLS Cup. TFC netted 51 goals (seventh in the MLS) and allowed 39, a differential of 12 which was 11 better than the Sounders. Their differential was actually third best in the league.

The Sounders will be in tough to stop Altidore and Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco who have five and four goals respectively this postseason, tied for first in the MLS. Furthermore, TFC hosts the MLS Cup at BMO Field in front of their enthusiastic fans.

Catch the MLS Cup between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC live on December 10 at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN 1/3/4.