TORONTO — The Seattle Sounders may be the only team to fail to record a shot on goal in MLS Cup final history, but they leave BMO Field with their first title all the same.
Having survived 120 scoreless minutes thanks to a breathtaking extra-time save from Stefan Frei, the Sounders saw defender Roman Torres convert the winning spot kick as they triumphed 5-4 in penalties over Toronto FC.
Each team went 4-for-5 in the initial set of penalties — Jozy Altidore, Benoit Cheyrou, Will Johnson and Drew Moor converted for TFC, while Brad Evans, Andreas Ivanschitz, Joevin Jones and Nicolas Lodeiro fired home for Seattle. Each goalkeeper made one stop, as Frei denied Michael Bradley and Clint Irwin stoned Alvaro Fernandez.
As the shootout went to sudden death, Toronto's Justin Morrow rang the crossbar. With the MLS Cup on the line, Torres calmly roofed his shot to stun most of the 36,045 fans at BMO Field and trigger euphoria on the Seattle sideline.
Roman Torres wins MLS Cup for Seattle!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6W1fB6eBBZ
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) December 11, 2016
After 90 minutes of Toronto dominance failed to produce a goal, the home side thought it had the winner early in extra time. Substitute Tosaint Ricketts got down the right flank in the 109th minute and hit a service to Altidore, whose looping header was seemingly destined for the far corner.
But Frei reached back, got his fingertips to the ball and remarkably scooped it out of harms way inches before it would have crossed line.
Turned out to be pretty important. #MLSCup https://t.co/g544fbC0qs
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 11, 2016
While Torres got to enjoy the trophy-clinching moment, it was Frei's stop that set the stage for the Sounders to finally bring an MLS Cup back to Seattle.