When the teams for the MLS playoffs were confirmed, every neutral supporting was hoping to see Toronto FC face off against Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup Final, as they did last year. Toronto FC won the MLS Supporters Shield in the regular season, finishing top of the table by some distance. Seattle Sounders on the other hand are the defending MLS Cup champions from last season and will be looking to make it two titles in a row with victory on Saturday. Which team has what it takes to come out on top?
MLS – BMO Field, Toronto – 9th December – 21:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 5/2 at Ladbrokes |
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Toronto FC
Seattle SoundersToronto FC Form
Toronto FC comfortably topped the Eastern Conference this season and with several games still to play, they knew they would be in the playoffs.
They amassed a total of 69 points from their 34 games and only lost 5 matches throughout the regular season. They were 12 points clear in the overall table and finished with an impressive +37 goal difference.
However, things got tight in the playoffs and Toronto FC were required to use the away goals rule to progress beyond New York Red Bulls, thanks to the goal they scored in the 2-1 loss on the road. The Conference Final also proved extremely tough and Toronto FC won the home leg 1-0, having held Columbus Crew to a 0-0 draw away. Toronto FC have scored only 1 goal in their last 3 games but have also kept two clean sheets.
Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders were forced to finish second in the Western Conference thanks to their head-to-head record with Portland Timbers. Both teams finished on 53 points, in what was a very tight Conference this season. This made Seattle Sounders 16 points worse off than Toronto FC in the regular season and they entered the playoffs at the Conference Semi-final stage, holding Vancouver Whitecaps to a 0-0 draw away from home before finishing the job with a 2-0 win in-front of their own fans. The Conference Final proved to be a much easier tie and Seattle Sounders breezed through against Houston Dynamo, defeating them 2-0 away and then winning the home leg 3-0 to take the tie 5-0 on aggregate. Seattle Sounders have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 6 MLS games.
Team News
Toronto FC are sweating on the fitness of striker Jozy Altidore. The American has 15 goals to his name and has struck up a good partnership with Sebastian Giovinco and that would be sorely missed if he failed to start the match. Seattle Sounders will be without defender Brad Evans and have doubts over midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, who has a muscle strain.
Top Betting Tips
The MLS Cup Final was played at BMO Field, the home of Toronto FC last year and will be again this season. The match was incredibly tight and we expect more of the same in this one, with neither team wanting to fall behind. Under 2.5 goals is 4/6 with Ladbrokes. Clearly the match being played at BMO Field hands an advantage to Toronto FC, who have enjoyed an excellent home record this season. They will not want to lose at home in the final like they did 12 months ago and have shown enough this season to suggest they can get the win.
Toronto FC to win 1-0 is 5/1 with Ladbrokes. Once again, Sebastian Giovinco has been the main man for Toronto FC going forward and if he is at his best, they should get over the line in this game. The Italian is 7/2 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.