MLS Cup 2017
![]() | |||||||
Event | MLS Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
Date | December 9, 2017 | ||||||
Venue | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | ||||||
MLS Cup MVP | Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) | ||||||
Referee | Allen Chapman[1] | ||||||
Attendance | 30,584 | ||||||
Weather | Cloudy 1 °C (34 °F) 56% humidity[2] | ||||||
MLS Cup 2017 was the 22nd edition of the MLS Cup, the championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), contested between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC on December 9, 2017. The soccer match was hosted at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, for the second consecutive year and third time overall. Both teams made their second appearance in the MLS Cup, in a rematch of the 2016 edition.
After a goalless first half, Toronto FC took the lead in the 67th minute through a
Due to Toronto's win, the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League berth reserved for the MLS Cup champions instead went to New York Red Bulls, the US based team (excluding other qualifiers) that finished with the highest aggregate regular season points in 2017 and 2018. Toronto was ineligible to qualify through the berth, which belongs to the United States Soccer Federation, but participated in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League after winning the Canadian Championship. Toronto also qualified to host and play in the inaugural Campeones Cup against Campeón de Campeones winners Tigres UANL.
Road to the final
The MLS Cup is the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), a professional club soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2017 season was the 22nd in MLS history and was contested by 22 teams in two conferences in the east and west. Each club played 34 matches during the regular season from March to October, facing each team in the same conference at least twice and teams in the other conference at least once.[3][4] The playoffs, running from October to December, were contested between the top six clubs in each conference and included four rounds: a one-match knockout round for the lowest-seeded teams, two rounds of home-and-away series, and the one-match final.[5]
The two finalists, Toronto and Seattle, faced each other in the
Toronto FC
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Sebastian_Giovinco_2015-05-23_Toronto_FC_%28edited%29.jpg/180px-Sebastian_Giovinco_2015-05-23_Toronto_FC_%28edited%29.jpg)
After their MLS Cup loss, Toronto FC looked to return to the cup as well as compete for the
Toronto faced the
Seattle Sounders FC
The Sounders entered the season as defending MLS Cup champions, their first title after years of early playoff exits.
Seattle faced their Canadian rivals, the
Summary of results
- Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
Toronto FC | Round | Seattle Sounders FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st place in Eastern Conference
Source: MLS
Qualified for playoffs |
Regular season | 2nd place in Western Conference
Source: MLS
Qualified for playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | MLS Cup Playoffs | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New York Red Bulls | 2–2 (a) | 2–1 (A) | 0–1 (H) | Conference Semifinals | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2–0 | 0–0 (A) | 2–0 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Columbus Crew SC
|
1–0 | 0–0 (A) | 1–0 (H) | Conference Finals | Houston Dynamo
|
5–0 | 2–0 (A) | 3–0 (H) |
Venue
BMO Field was confirmed as the host of MLS Cup 2017 after Toronto FC won the Eastern Conference Championship on November 29, 2017, leaving them as the highest remaining seed.[35] The stadium was renovated and expanded prior to the 2016 season and hosted MLS Cup 2016.[36][37] Capacity for the 2017 cup was the standard capacity of BMO Field at about 30,000 seats, compared to the extra 6,000 seats available at the 2016 cup which had been reused after a temporary installation for the Grey Cup and NHL Centennial Classic.[38]
On December 1, a round of tickets was released to season seat holders and quickly sold out. Additional tickets were released to the general public on December 4, which were sold out in less than an hour and appeared on secondary markets for well above face value shortly after.[39]
Broadcasting
The MLS Cup final was broadcast in English by
For ESPN, Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman, and Julie Stewart-Binks called the match, with pre-game and post-game coverage conducted by Max Bretos, Kasey Keller, and Alejandro Moreno.[41][42] For TSN, Luke Wileman and Steven Caldwell called the match, with pre-game and post-game coverage conducted by James Duthie, alongside Terry Dunfield and Kristian Jack.[43] For UniMás and Univision Deportes, Raul Guzmán, Marcelo Balboa, and Diego Balado called the match.[44]
Viewership and ratings
The ESPN broadcast registered a 0.7
Match
Summary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Stefan_Frei_2.jpg/180px-Stefan_Frei_2.jpg)
Despite forecasts with cold and snowy conditions,[48] the match kicked off in cloudy weather at a temperature of 1 °C (34 °F), reported to be −7 °C (19 °F) with wind chill.[49] The Sounders were without injured captain Osvaldo Alonso,[50] and also chose to start Joevin Jones at left back in place of Nouhou Tolo.[51] Toronto switched to a 4–4–2 diamond formation, a departure from the 3–5–2 formation used during the regular season and playoff, as Greg Vanney attempted to counter Seattle's strong central players.[52]
Toronto spent most of the first half in possession, making several attacking runs and being the more dominant team. They were unable to score, however, due to a series of saves from Seattle's Stefan Frei,[50] who tied an MLS Cup record for second most saves in a half at six saves, behind Pat Onstad's seven at the 2003 final.[52][53] He made a diving stop to deny Sebastian Giovinco in the 10th minute and a push on the ball from Giovinco in the 23rd minute.[49] Jones took Seattle's first shot of the match in the 30th minute, ending the club's 150-minute streak without a shot on target between the two MLS Cup finals.[49][52] In the final moments of the half, Frei saved a shot from Víctor Vázquez and the Sounders nearly scored an own goal after Joevin Jones made a clearance that veered towards the goal.[54][55] The Sounders were largely unable to challenge the Toronto goal, with the exception of several counterattacks through the middle of the field.[52]
Toronto continued its control of possession and attacking chances early in the second half, with Frei making two key saves on shots from
Details
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Toronto FC
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Seattle Sounders FC
|
|
![]() |
|
MLS Cup Most Valuable Player
Assistant referees
|
Match rules
|
Post-match
Toronto FC became the first Canadian team to win the MLS Cup, and the first MLS team to complete a domestic treble, after winning the Canadian Championship and Supporters' Shield earlier in the season.[57] Toronto received a US$275,000 cash prize as winners, while Seattle was awarded $80,000.[58] Due to Toronto's win, the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League berth reserved for the MLS Cup champions will instead go to the US based team (excluding other qualifiers) that finishes with the highest aggregate regular season points in 2017 and 2018.[59] Toronto was ineligible to qualify through the berth, which belongs to the United States Soccer Federation, but qualified for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League after winning the 2017 Canadian Championship.[60][61] Toronto was also qualified to host and play in the inaugural Campeones Cup, a new competition staged between the winners of the MLS Cup and the Mexican Campeón de Campeones.[62] Toronto played against Tigres UANL on September 19, 2018, and lost 3–1.[63]
The day after the final, The Seattle Times mistakenly ran pre-scheduled advertisements on its website that promoted a victory parade and rally for the Sounders, which were later removed.[64] As part of a pre-match wager between the mayors of the two cities, Seattle City Hall was lit in red on December 13.[65] Toronto FC celebrated their victory with a parade two days after the final on December 11, traveling from Maple Leaf Square to Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto. The parade was attended by several thousand fans, as well as Toronto Mayor John Tory, who declared the day as "Reds Day".[66] It was the second victory parade held in the city in as many weeks, as the Toronto Argonauts had won the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup in November.[67]
References
- ^ "2017 MLS Cup crew announced". Professional Referee Organization. December 2, 2017. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ "Weather History for Toronto, Canada". Weather Underground. The Weather Company. December 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ "MLS releases 2017 regular season schedule". Major League Soccer. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Pentz, Matt (January 12, 2017). "Major League Soccer releases full 2017 regular-season schedule". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (October 24, 2017). "A guide to the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs: Teams, dates, seeding, format". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Sounders return to MLS Cup after 3-0 rout of Dynamo". CBS Sports. Associated Press. December 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ "2017 MLS Cup: Seattle visit Toronto for third Cup rematch in MLS history". MLSsoccer.com. December 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Quillen, Ian (November 21, 2017). "History suggests there won't be a 2016 MLS Cup rematch this year". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (May 6, 2017). "Sounders lose MLS Cup rematch 1-0 at home to Toronto FC". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Armstrong, Laura (March 28, 2017). "Fans, TFC players have a growing bond". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (February 24, 2017). "TFC looking to avenge Major League Soccer Cup loss". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Boehm, Charles (February 27, 2017). "2017 Season Preview: Toronto FC". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Molinaro, John (January 27, 2017). "Defence to remain a guiding principle for Toronto FC in 2017". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (March 1, 2017). "New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC early favorites to win 2017 MLS Cup: Complete odds". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Platt, Oliver (March 1, 2017). "Toronto FC is the team to beat in MLS this season". SB Nation. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Molinaro, John (July 1, 2017). "It was just one of those nights for TFC in Dallas". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "MLS Preview: Sounders begin title defense without Dempsey". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Toronto FC breaks MLS season points record held by 1998 Galaxy". ESPN. October 22, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Molinaro, John (November 5, 2017). "Toronto FC falls to Red Bulls, still reaches East Final on aggregate". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (November 17, 2017). "TFC's Jozy Altidore avoids longer suspension over halftime tunnel fight with Red Bulls players". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (November 29, 2017). "Toronto FC to host MLS final after 1-0 win over Columbus in eastern final". Global News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Goff, Steven (December 9, 2016). "In MLS Cup, Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders embrace cold weather and hot expectations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Pentz, Matt (February 21, 2017). "Best in the West? Sounders' new challenge is marathon, not sprint". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ Pentz, Matt (January 24, 2017). "Nelson Valdez, Andreas Ivanschitz, Erik Friberg, Tyrone Mears among Sounders with contract options declined for 2017". The Seattle Times. p. C4. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Miles, Todd (December 1, 2017). "3 biggest reasons the Sounders are back in the MLS Cup". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (March 25, 2017). "Sounders give extended look to several non-starters in 'friendly' against Club Necaxa". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (August 11, 2017). "Sounders enter first-place showdown with Sporting KC healthy and riding 7-game unbeaten streak". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Brennan (September 23, 2017). "Sounders' 13-match unbeaten streak comes to end with 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Pentz, Matt (September 27, 2017). "Sounders romp over first-place Vancouver for first win in a month, move into tie for 2nd in West". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Defending MLS champion Seattle Sounders claim No. 2 playoff seed in West". USA Today. Associated Press. October 22, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Calkins, Matt (November 2, 2017). "Clint Dempsey rises to the occasion with clutch goals for Sounders in playoff win over Vancouver". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Roepken, Corey (November 22, 2017). "Sounders beat Dynamo 2-0 in first leg of West final". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Bell, Arch (December 1, 2017). "Inconsistencies in attack and the lineup prove to be Houston's downfall". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Wahl, Grant (November 30, 2017). "Sounders Finish Off Dynamo to Set Up MLS Cup Rematch vs. Toronto FC". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Goff, Steven (November 29, 2017). "Tonight, the first MLS Cup finalist will be decided — and the site of MLS Cup". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Larson, Kurtis (May 5, 2016). "'A whole new stadium': Take a look at renovated BMO Field ahead of Toronto FC home opener". National Post. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Keating, Steve (December 10, 2016). "Sounders beat Toronto FC on penalties to win MLS Cup". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Armstrong, Laura (November 29, 2016). "TFC knows the score, and 1-0 would be just fine". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (December 5, 2017). "BMO Field sold out again for Toronto FC finals game". Metro. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ "2017 MLS Cup set for December 9, live on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports" (Press release). Major League Soccer. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "ESPN Presents 2017 MLS Cup". ESPN MediaZone (Press release). ESPN. December 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Nwulu, Mac (December 4, 2017). "ESPN/ESPN2 Audience for 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Up 38 Percent". ESPN MediaZone (Press release). ESPN. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Toronto FC Chases MLS CUP Redemption, Live this Saturday (Dec. 9) at 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN" (Press release). Bell Media. December 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- Univision Communications. December 7, 2017. Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Boehm, Charles (December 10, 2017). "MLS Cup 2017 television ratings on ESPN rise 75 percent over 2015 edition". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
- ^ Harris, Christopher (December 12, 2017). "2017 MLS Cup final viewership drops 43% across ESPN and Univision Deportes". World Soccer Talk. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- The National Post. The Canadian Press. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ Bondy, Filip (December 7, 2017). "MLS Cup Caught Between A Rock And A Cold Place". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Bob (December 9, 2017). "Toronto FC defeat Seattle Sounders to win the MLS Cup – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b Petterson, Joel (December 10, 2017). "Toronto F.C. Wins M.L.S. Cup, and a Little Redemption". The New York Times. p. SP2. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (December 9, 2017). "Joevin Jones to start at left back in final game of Sounders career as club goes with veteran lineup". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Parker, Graham (December 9, 2017). "Jozy Altidore has last laugh to seal MLS Cup glory for Toronto FC". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- Radio-Canada. December 9, 2017. Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b Armstrong, Laura (December 9, 2017). "Minute by minute: How TFC won the MLS Cup". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Sounders FC falls 2-0 to Toronto FC in 2017 MLS Cup". Seattle Sounders FC. December 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Whalley, Mike (December 9, 2017). "MLS Cup final - Toronto defeat Seattle 2-0 - Live". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Toronto beats Seattle to win MLS Cup". BBC Sport. December 9, 2017. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (December 9, 2017). "MLS Cup win worth $275,000 in bonus cash for TFC". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Stejskal, Sam (September 22, 2017). "How CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers are determined in MLS". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Straus, Brian (April 6, 2017). "MLS clubs have resolution over qualifying for future CCL after format change". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Molinaro, John (July 24, 2017). "Champions League ambitions a sign of culture change at TFC". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Peterson, Anne M. (March 13, 2018). "Toronto FC to host first Campeones Cup as MLS, Mexico's Liga MX form partnership". Toronto Star. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Shoalts, David (September 19, 2018). "Mexico's Tigres get a little payback, defeat Toronto FC in Campeones Cup". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Jones, Alexandra (December 11, 2017). "Seattle paper shows MLS 'victory' ads for Sounders". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Seattle City Hall illuminated in red to honor mayor's MLS Cup friendly bet with Toronto". KOMO 4 News. December 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Toronto FC victory parade, fan rally take over downtown". CBC News. December 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ McKenna, Ryan (December 11, 2017). "Chanting fans pack downtown Toronto to celebrate TFC's MLS Cup championship". The National Post. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
External links
- MLS Cup 2017 (full match) on YouTube