GOALNEWS JANUARY 2020 | Page 4

Seattle was in the three of four finals years and won two, in 2016 and 2019. For the first time (in any sports) Seattle fans witnessed a final in their home. The city gives them a feel of belonging, they feel they’re at home, the players, the team, like Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris. Their captain Lodeiro received the trophy from Don Garber. A championship title doesn’t care for a price tag: Seattle spent 12 million a year on its roster and Toronto 22 million, the most expensive roster in the league. No doubt, Toronto is definitely one of the best if not the best team in the league, but in Seattle’s home Toronto didn’t display the same great game as they did to dethrone the ferocious Atlanta in their own den, at the semifinal in the Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia. It was the first time an MLS FINAL was broadcasted on national television. On November 10, 2019 – Sunday – 3 pm televised by ABC and Univision directly from Seattle. How they got there: The Seattle Sounders, 2016 MLS champion, as a visitor, eliminated Los An- geles FC, a team with the best season cam- paign and a Supporters’ Shield winner. Toronto, 2017 MLS champion, eliminated Atlanta United FC, the 2018 MLS champion, in their own home at Mer- cede3s Bens stadium. The turns a championship competition makes: Toronto lost eight games in June and then won and made their way to the final. Seattle was an incognito mode all season along. They never had a full squad to put in the field due to injuries, national team player's duties, and etc. Goalnews 4 72,000 tickets sold, while 69274 was the official number in attendance. The absentees didn’t lose only their tickets but also a high octane game. The weather was good, the city was in party mood. A loss for the fans who forgo the game. The ambient was totally that of a final, the full stadium was push- ing their team to war screaming “Seattle” in one side while the other side answered “Sounders”.