TUKWILA, Wash. — The 2016 MLS Cup between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, Dec. 10 (5 p.m. PT; FOX, TSN, UniMas, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM) will feature some of the best combinations of players the league has to offer.
Nicolas Lodeiro and Sebastian Giovinco. Jordan Morris and Jozy Altidore. Osvaldo Alonso and Michael Bradley.
The latter, though, is contingent upon the health of Alonso, who was diagnosed with a slight knee sprain after the Sounders’ Western Conference Championship win over the Colorado Rapids last Sunday. He is one of three remaining Sounders (along with Brad Evans and Zach Scott) from the team's inaugural MLS season in 2009, and as head coach Brian Schmetzer mentioned on Thursday, it’s going to take quite a lot to keep Alonso out of his first MLS Cup Final.
“If I were a betting man...he would play,” said Schmetzer on Friday. “He would cut off his right arm so his left knee is ready to play.”
Perhaps one of the most intriguing matchups will be Altidore, who has scored in an MLS record five consecutive postseason games, against the Sounders’ two imposing center backs in Roman Torres and Chad Marshall.
“That’s going to be one of the highlights of the game,” said Schmetzer. “Jozy Altidore is a tremendous player. Chad and Roman are really, really good players. Giovinco is a national team guy in my opinion for Italy. Lodiero is a national team guy for Uruguay. There are some really good storylines here about the matchups on both sides.
“I’m getting excited more the closer the game gets.”
