TORONTO FC CLAIMED their maiden MLS Cup crown on Saturday, capping a magical Major League Soccer season with a 2-0 triumph over Seattle Sounders in Toronto.
Former Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore fired Toronto into the lead in the 67th minute and Victor Vazquez sent the crowd at BMO Field into a frenzy when he sealed the win in the fourth minute of second-half injury time.
Toronto, who endured a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to the Sounders in the title match in Toronto last season, became the first Canadian club to win the MLS title.
They added the league’s ultimate prize to the Supporters’ Shield they won as the team with the best record in the league. With their Canadian Championship they completed a historic MLS treble.
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“This has been the dream for four years, since the day I got here,” said Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley. “And for the last year, the dream has become an obsession.
“For this group of guys to work every single day having to remember last year, to get back here, to play that game in this atmosphere with that on the line — it’s unbelievable.”
Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, the hero for the Sounders in last year’s triumph, again threatened to derail Toronto’s challenge with save after save.
But Frei, who hadn’t surrendered a goal in this season’s MLS Cup playoffs, finally succumbed in the 67th as Sebastian Giovinco’s pass found Altidore, who eluded Roman Torres and fired over Frei.
The eighth post-season goal of Altidore’s career saw him named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player. Vazquez converted from close range in the waning moments after a shot from Armando Cooper bounced off the right post.
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The man talks a lot of sense. People started playing GAA to play the sport not to train for 11 months and play only a handful of games. GAA needs to full address the fixture issue and to bring in a closed season.
There is a closed season Johnny, except it’s for inter-county teams.
The GAA needs to tighten up the inter-county championship season. How does it take almost 5 months to play a hurling championship in which there are realistically (and I use the term loosely) 8 potential winners? Start it in May and have it finished in August at the absolute latest (I think it could easily be played out in 3 months but let’s not get too drastic here).
League: Feb – Apr.
Champ: May – Aug.
Club: Aug – Nov when All-Ireland club champs take place.
3rd level: played through the winter as usual
Yes. Clubs should play during the championship.Must be frustrating for non county players to sit on their hands when the weather is good and conducive for good games.
No need for the long breaks between matches, finish the club championships before Christmas
Every year people talk about what a shame it is to have the provincial club championships on in November/ December in terrible playing conditions, pitches, weather etc. Barring a radical change in the county season however, there is no alternative time to play them. Thus, moving the all- ireland series to December would result in the best club teams in the country having to play in the worst possible conditions, reducing the quality of the games and the standards of the competition.
could be finished sooner. championship in cork county can be held up for weeks an weeks if a team you are due to play has an intercounty player, even if they are a panel member an not likely to even play. season is far too long, you need time for family, work, partner, kids etc.