Nine months of blood, sweat and toil in the MLS comes down to one 90 minutes on Saturday evening when Toronto FC host Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup final for the second year in a row.
Seattle upset the odds to land the title last year and they will be out to defend it here while revenge will be the buzz word around BMO Field as far as the home side are concerned. We should be in for a cracking conclusion to the Major League Soccer season.
Toronto FC
It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the men in red in this play-off campaign. Injuries and suspensions have made life tricky but having won the Supporters’ Shield in the regular season they knew they would have home advantage in this final if they made it this far and here they are. Now they will be looking to make that advantage count.
Toronto have firepower right through their ranks but their ability to keep clean sheets is the most impressive thing and they will be looking for another one to end what has been a remarkable campaign for the Canadian outfit. If they can keep a clean sheet they will be very confident of scoring this year.
Seattle Sounders
You have to give a lot of credit to the Seattle Sounders for making it back to the MLS Cup final to defend their title. They were average for the first half of the season but they lit up in the second half of it and we always say with these play-offs it is not about how you begin the campaign it is just making sure you are in them and then anything can happen.
Seattle are not as tight at the back as Toronto FC but they have shown in this play-off series that they can be tough to break down and much like their opponents in this game they are capable of scoring through a number of options. It will be interesting to see if the Sounders can impose themselves on the Toronto defence.
Team News
Toronto FC have a doubt over Jozy Altidore who left the second leg of the Conference final with an ankle injury. He is questionable for this match but is expected to be given as long as possible to prove himself.
Seattle Sounders will be without one of their more influential players too with Ozzie Alonso definitely out injured. He has a quad strain so will not feature. Roman Torres is back from suspension.
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Betting
We saw a very tight and at times nervy final between these two last season and I’m expecting no different this time around either. I’m not necessarily suggesting we will see a 0-0 and penalties but I do think goals will be at a premium.
We’ve seen both sides in this play-off series be tough to break down and both be happy to set up to invite the opposition on before counter attacking so there could very well be a cancelling of styles here which might make for a tough battle. I’m more than happy to take under 2.25 goals in this final where defences may play a bigger role than everyone watching would like.
Tips
HALF WON – Back Under 2.25 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with BetVictor
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