Category: Soccer

How to Watch Brazil vs. South Korea, International Friendly Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Brazil is in danger of recording its longest winless streak in almost two decades unless it beats South Korea at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Tite’s side last recorded a win when it defeated Peru 3-1 in the Copa America final …

Brazil is in danger of recording its longest winless streak in almost two decades unless it beats South Korea at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Tite’s side last recorded a win when it defeated Peru 3-1 in the Copa America final in July and have gone five matches without a victory since then, while South Korea is undefeated over its last nine matches.

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Brazil vs. South Korea

Date: Tuesday, November 19

Start Time: 8:30 AM ET

TV Channel: beINSports

Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Brazil drew five matches in succession between November 2003 and May 2004, but not since the summer of 2001 have the Selecao gone six consecutive games without a win. The challenge of South Korea may seem an easy task to offset that drought on paper, but the Asian representatives have unearthed a fearless streak since Paulo Bento took over as coach in August 2018.

The Taegeuk Warriors have lost once in 21 matches under their Portuguese manager. It was a narrow 1-0 loss to Qatar, this year’s eventual Asian Cup champions in the tournament’s quarterfinals. That result aside, South Korea has won 12 times and drawn on eight occasions with Bento in the hot seat, including an extra-time victory over Bahrain in January.

Lionel Messi’s solitary strike handed Brazil a 1-0 defeat against Argentina in its last outing on Friday. The South American heavyweights have lost two and drawn three of their last five games, the only comfort being that those results each came under friendly circumstances.

However, there will be little solace for Tite should his side fail to beat South Korea in what will be its last fixture of 2019. Bento’s men are preparing to take part in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship on home soil in December, and a result in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday will have far greater significance to them.

Tottenham Hotspur ace Heung-min Son is set to captain South Korea. He’s hoping to get back on the scoresheet after his side ended its last two games scoreless against rivals North Korea and Lebanon.

Brazil is still without injured Neymar, and Tite started with a Premier League front three of Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and Willian in Friday’s slim defeat to Argentina. Real Madrid starlet Rodrygo Goes, 18, could make his full Brazil debut after coming off the bench to make his first senior appearance in that game. The same goes for Aston Villa striker Wesley.

The pressure is on Brazil to ensure it ends 2019 on a high note, where anything but victory could see the Selecao extend its barren run to a level not seen in almost 20 years.

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WATCH: USWNT stars call out male counterparts to get behind push for equal pay

U.S. Women’s National Team stars Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger are calling for their male counterparts to get behind their push for equal pay.

U.S. Women’s National Team stars Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger are calling for their male counterparts to get behind their push for equal pay.

The USWNT received class status on Nov. 8 in its gender discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation, which opens the door for any athlete who was a part of the women’s team national team camp or a game since Feb. 14, 2014, can now join the class-action suit.

But Harris and Krieger believe that in order for the equal pay fight to succeed, the members of the U.S. Men’s National Team need to be a part of the battle. In March, several of the men’s players spoke with Yahoo! Sports saying they support the women, and the USMNT players association released a statement in July which aimed to dispel a factsheet released by the U.S. Soccer Federation that claimed that the women have actually been paid more than the men.

“I think at the end of the day, we need men to step up, and we need these men to see our value and to see our worth and take a stance and say, ‘You know what? This is not okay. We need to make a change and our children need to make a change.’ And I think that is right now the (…) thing that’s missing,” Harris said, speaking to PowerPlays.news, which is a newsletter about sexism in sports which reporter Lindsay Gibbs launched in late October.

Mediation talks between US Soccer and the women broke down in August and a new trial date is set for May 2020, but Harris insists that she and the cause for equal pay needs, “boys and teenagers and adult men to really value and appreciate these women who are giving so much.”

How to Watch Argentina vs. Uruguay, International Friendly Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

How to Watch Argentina vs. Uruguay Live Online.

Uruguay and Argentina are set to play a friendly in extraordinary conditions. The scheduled match that will take place in Israel was under threat of cancellation due to recent conflict, but will be played as planned. Both teams are coming off of a win during this international break and will be aiming to keep their good form going heading into the new year. 

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Argentina vs. Uruguay

  • Date: Monday, November 18
  • Start Time: 2:15 PM ET
  • TV Channel: beINSports
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Uruguay topped Hungary 2-1 last week with Edinson Cavani and Brian Rodriguez finding the net. They dominated the match from start to finish, controlling 64 percent of possession time and attempting 20 shots in the process. La Celeste is unbeaten in five matches since this summer’s Copa America, winning three times and drawing twice during that span. 

Lionel Messi scored the lone goal in his side’s 1-0 win over rivals Brazil in Saudi Arabia. It was the 69th international goal of his illustrious career. Just like their opponents, the Argentinians too are unbeaten since CONMEBOL’s showcase tournament this summer. 

While sports may not be the biggest concern surrounding this friendly, it still means something. This very well may be the most high-profile soccer match ever played in this area of the world. A sell out happened soon after tickets went on sale, with over 30,000 tickets sold.

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5 things we learned from USMNT vs. Canada

Gyasi Zardes did enough, and Gregg Berhalter gets a sigh of relief, but there are still questions after the USA’s 4-1 win over Canada.

Correction: This article originally stated the last match against Canada was a friendly. It was a CONCACAF Nations League Match.

The USMNT actually went and took care of business against Canada on Friday night, winning their CONCACAF Nations League match 4-1 in Orlando.

Gyasi Zardes bagged a brace, with Jordan Morris and Aaron Long each grabbing a goal for the USMNT. Canada’s Steven Vitoria got a consolation goal in the second half off a corner kick, but it wasn’t enough.

It was a much needed win for a USMNT that embarrassingly lost to the Canadians just a few weeks ago, a match that had people (including me!) grumbling that USA coach Gregg Berhalter wasn’t the right man for the job.

Do I still feel that way? Yep! Sure do. But this was a good result for Berhalter and will calm things down with a grumpy American fanbase.

Here are five things we learned, with some highlights tossed in for good measure.

1. USA didn’t embarrass themselves

This is the biggest takeaway from the game, and what will keep Gregg Berhalter’s seat from getting too hot in the near future. The Americans came out and competed early, going at the Canadians with energy and bagging a quick goal in the second minute when Jordan Morris capitalized on a ragged little set piece play that somehow worked.

The USMNT didn’t look … great, exactly, but they played well enough to take advantage of their chances. They got two goals off set pieces, which is what good USMNT squads have done in the past. Here’s the other set piece goal from Long.

Basically: They won, and they really needed to win. Sometimes analysis doesn’t get much more complicated than that.

2. Gyasi Zardes did enough to stay in the conversation

Zardes scored two goals, ran the lines well, and looked tough to deal with for the USMNT. For right now, it’s clear he’s doing what Berhalter wants from his striker.

Watching him take rough touches can be frustrating, especially for people who want to see what Josh Sargent can do, but Zardes understands Berhalter’s system.

Zardes runs all day, and gets in good spots. He took his chances on Friday. It ain’t always pretty, but if that’s what Berhalter wants, we’re going to have to wait to see Sargent.

3. Sergiño Dest is SAUCY

Dest became cap-tied to the United States with the game last night, which might be the most important thing that happened. The young Ajax right back was dazzling for much of the game, going at Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies time and time again.

It was awesome.

Davies was similarly fantastic, and he and Dest looked like they were playing an entirely different game from the other 20 guys on the field. They’re both 19 years old (born just a day apart, weirdly!) and already look heads and shoulders ahead of everyone else in this game. Watching these two go at each other for the next decade plus is going to be so fun.

4. Weston McKennie should be better

This wasn’t McKennie’s best game for the USMNT. This wasn’t even close to his best game. He was fine, but for someone I expect to see at the level of Dest/Davies, he didn’t do enough.

This could be tactical — Berhalter may have given him a command to hang in the midfield and shore things up (probably smart given how overrun the USMNT has been in midfield at times), but he wasn’t able to get forward and put his mark on the game.

5. We need to see the full team

It’s so hard for me to judge anything about this side because I haven’t seen our top team out there yet. I want to see what McKennie can create when he’s paired with Tyler Adams, and what our attack can look like with Pulisic and Morris running off the striker.

The most important thing about the addition of Dest is it might force Berhalter to drop this whole ridiculous Tyler Adams as hybrid RB-CM thing he seemed hellbent on implementing, and just play the best center midfield we have. Jackson Yueill showed us on Friday he isn’t the answer. Wil Trapp has showed us that already. Michael Bradley is on the tail end of his career.

When Adams is healthy, I want to see what this team can do.

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How to Watch Panama vs. Mexico, CONCACAF Nations League Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Panama vs. Mexico Live Online.

The Mexican national team has a chance to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Nations League playoffs when it travels to Panama for its third group stage match tonight. El Tri has predictably made light work of the competition thus far, including a 3-1 win over this same Panama team at home last month. If they can go away from home in a tough environment and pick up three points, the road to winning another CONCACAF competition will open up for Mexico. 

Panama vs. Mexico

  • Date: Friday, November 15
  • Start Time: 9:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: TUDN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

The most impressive thing about Mexico easily pushing through the group stage of this new tournament is that Tata Martino has taken the chance to incorporate some younger players into his already stacked squad. Established stars like Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Hector Herrera all get to rest with their European clubs while some new faces get to prove they belong on the international level.

Jose Juan Macias, a 20-year-old forward who plays for Club Leon, has been the newcomer to shine given the chance. He has three goals through the opening two matches and looks to be setting himself up for a bigger role with the team in the future. 

For now, it’s all about clinching a playoff spot for Martino’s young squad. Mexico has proven to be an unstoppable juggernaut in the region and Tata’s introduction as manager has only magnified that. Despite a slip-up against top competition, Mexico’s stranglehold on CONCACAF has only become more firm since the Argentinian took over at the beginning of the year. 

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How to Watch USA vs Canada, USMNT Lineup, U.S. vs. Canada Live Stream, CONCACAF Nations League Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch USA vs Canada Soccer Live Online.

The United States Men’s National Team will face an important test on Friday evening when it welcomes Canada to Orlando in the teams’ second consecutive Concacaf Nations League clash. The rising Canadians upended the USMNT 2-0 in Toronto merely a month ago, a shocking result that left U.S. players and fans bitterly disappointed. This time, the USA will be without their talisman, Christian Pulisic, as he recovers from an injury suffered over the weekend, leaving coach Gregg Berhalter to look elsewhere to get his squad back on track.

USMNT vs. Canada

  • Date: Friday, November 15
  • Start Time: 7:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: TUDN, UniMas
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Canada and the U.S. are two teams on two different trajectories. Despite missing the previous eight World Cups – and only qualifying once in its entire history – this Canadian team oozes confidence. Its win against the USMNT in October was proof of that. The win marked the first time Canada had defeated the Yanks in 34 years, with the previous victory taking place during the tune-up for its lone World Cup appearance. The scene at the final whistle reflected the team’s pent-up desire to unseat its neighbors, as players piled onto each other and shouted in excitement, which is typically reserved for finals or massive upsets. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. hasn’t managed to turn the corner nearly a year into Berhalter’s tenure. It’s true that the head coach has been limited by injuries to some of his best players. Most recently it’s Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen, but also John Anthony Brooks and Tyler Adams. And yes, the USMNT managed a run to the Gold Cup final over the summer. However, a better word for it might be ‘scraped together’ given the lackluster string of performances and results since then haven’t been promising. Getting dominated by Mexico, drawing against Uruguay’s B-squad, and losing to Canada are hardly signs of progress. 

Despite that, Earnie Stewart – the US Soccer Federation Sporting Director – insists that Berhalter’s job isn’t in danger, while also acknowledging that the game against Canada is a must-win. The winner of Group A will advance to the Concacaf Nations League semifinals and be a lock to qualify for the final stages of World Cup 2022 Qualification in Concacaf, also known as the Hex. The US must win against Canada to have any shot at advancing, while the third team in their group, Cuba, is no match for either squad and currently sports a 0-0-3 record with a 14 goal differential.  

For USMNT fans, only a win will suffice. There has long been complaints about Berhalter’s player selection, as his reliance on the MLS pool is seen as antithetical to improvement. For the players’ part, the grinding attitude that defined previous U.S. teams have been noticeably absent, with most teams looking comfortable in possession against the USMNT, while bossing U.S. players off seemingly every ball. All of these elements will be picked apart tonight, but the most important thing for the USA is clear: walk away with three points.

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How to Watch Brazil vs. Argentina, International Friendly Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Brazil vs. Argentina Live Online.

Brazil and Argentina take their rivalry east on Friday when the South American heavyweights will face off at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The friendly encounter loses a lot of its meaning when two rivals as fierce as these collide. Brazil makes the trip having won each of its last two meetings vs. Los Albiceleste.

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Brazil vs. Argentina

  • When: Friday, Nov. 15
  • Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: beINSports
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free) 

Lionel Scaloni’s side last defeated Brazil in June 2017—its only win against Brazil in its last six meetings—when Gabriel Mercado scored the only goal for a team then coached by Jorge Sampaoli.

Incumbent manager Scaloni has lost in both run-ins since and has failed to even see his Argentinian side score against Brazil. Tite’s men triumphed 2-0 in the Copa America semifinals in July before going on to lift this year’s crown on home soil.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi was mostly ineffective in the latter and failed to make the necessary impact despite starting in a front three that also included Sergio Aguero and Lautaro Martinez.

Scaloni will hope Martinez, in particular, can make the difference this time around after the Inter Milan striker started his season with eight goals in 16 games. Manchester City talisman Aguero has also been recalled to the squad after netting nine times in the Premier League this term.

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar won’t be featured for Brazil on Friday, as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. 

However, Rodrygo Goes looks ready to make his senior Brazil debut after scoring five goals in six appearances for Real Madrid this season. The 18-year-old has pounced on the trust Zinedine Zidane has placed on him and recently scored his first hat trick for Los Blancos.

Aston Villa-based duo Wesley and Douglas Luiz may also make their senior Brazil debuts after earning call-ups. Real Betis defender Emerson could make his full bow, while goalkeepers Daniel Fuzato and Santos are also uncapped.

Both teams enter this international break with a pair of friendly fixtures on the agenda. Argentina next faces Uruguay in Tel Aviv on Monday, before Brazil takes on South Korea in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

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How to Watch UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers, Portugal vs. Lithuania, France vs. Moldova Live Stream, Schedule, US TV Channel, Start Time

Watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers Live Online.

France, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, England and the Netherlands can each secure automatic qualification to Euro 2020 when the qualifying phase resumes on Matchday 9. Cristiano Ronaldo and the defending champions are still in danger of missing out on second in Group B, but a win over Lithuania on Thursday could be enough if Serbia fails to beat Luxembourg.

UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers

  • Date: Thurs. Nov. 14 – Sat. Nov. 16
  • TV Channel: TUDN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Current world champions and Euro 2016 runner-up France remains second in Group H. While level on points with Turkey, who leads via head-to-head, France will qualify as long as it beats Moldova at home. Didier Deschamps’ side can still be knocked out of the top-two running by third-place Iceland, who travel to Turkey on Thursday in need of a win if its to snatch an automatic spot.

Germany and the Netherlands are engaged in another close fight for the summit in Group C. De Oranje holds the head-to-head advantage over Germany with the pair level on points, while Northern Ireland holds a glimmer of hope to finish top two, currently three points behind in third.

Ronald Koeman takes the Netherlands to Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday, while Germany hosts Belarus, each needing just one more point to cement their places in first and second, respectively.

England has suffered one loss in qualifying and need one point at home to Montenegro to guarantee a top-two finish, while a win would ensure they take the top spot. However, third-place Kosovo hopes a result away to the Czech Republic can cause one last shift in Group A.

Croatia plays its final match of the qualifying campaign at home to Slovakia on Saturday. One point would be enough to ensure the team finishes first in Group E. Gareth Bale’s Wales team is currently fourth in the pool and four points below second-place Hungary, who it has to beat at home if it’s to prolong an automatic qualification chance.

Spain has already wrapped up its Euro 2020 fate and looks set to finish first in Group F, but it’ll host bottom-dweller Malta on Friday in what promises to be a fairly one-sided fixture.

Matchday 9 TV Schedule

Thursday, November 14:

Turkey vs. Iceland, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Portugal vs. Lithuania, 2:30 p.m ET (TUDN)

France vs. Moldova, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

England vs. Montenegro, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

Czech Republic vs. Kosovo, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Albania vs. Andorra, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Serbia vs. Luxembourg, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Friday, November 15:

Finland vs. Liechtenstein, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Armenia vs. Greece, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

Norway vs. Faroe Islands, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

Switzerland vs. Georgia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Denmark vs. Gibraltar, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra7)

Spain vs. Malta, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Romania vs. Sweden, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra6)

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Saturday, November 16:

Cyprus vs. Scotland, 9:00 a.m. ET (TUDN)

Azerbaijan vs. Wales, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

Slovenia vs. Latvia, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

San Marino vs. Kazakhstan, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Russia vs. Belgium, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Northern Ireland vs. Netherlands, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Germany vs. Belarus, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Croatia vs. Slovakia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Israel vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra7)

Austria vs. North Macedonia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra6)

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Megan Rapinoe points out her own privilege in powerful speech

“I’m not going to act like my whiteness has nothing to do with me standing before you now,” she said.

When Megan Rapinoe stepped up to the stage to accept her Glamour Women of the Year honor on Monday night, she had former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick on her mind.

The USWNT star has had an incredible year where she’s enjoyed personal and professional success, but knows that it didn’t happen in a vacuum.  As a part of her speech,  Rapinoe took a moment to acknowledge Kaepernick’s sacrifices and the unjust system that still keeps him unemployed.

So while I’m enjoying all of this unprecedented—and, frankly, a little bit uncomfortable—attention and personal success, in large part due to my activism off the field, Colin Kaepernick is still effectively banned from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of known and systematic police brutality against people of color, known and systematic racial injustice, and known and systematic white supremacy. I see no clearer example of that system being alive and well than me standing before you right now. It would be a slap in the face to Colin, and to so many other faces, not to acknowledge, and for me personally, to work relentlessly to dismantle that system that benefits some over the detriment of others, and frankly is quite literally tearing us apart in this country.

In the fall of 2016, Rapinoe joined Kaepernick by kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic racial inequality. Since then, Rapinoe has helped lead the fight for equal pay in women’s soccer and garnered the attention of President Trump.

Rapinoe didn’t just stop at mentioning Kaepernick in her speech though. She went on to acknowledge her own white privilege and the black and brown activists upon whose shoulders she stands.

I’ve gained this incredible platform in such a short period of time, but I’m not going to stand on it alone. I refuse to do that. There’s going to be ladders on every side, all over the place. And I’m not going to act like it wasn’t Colin Kaepernick, Tarana Burke and the #MeToo Movement, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi of Black Lives Matter, the women of Time’s Up, Harvey Milk, Gloria Steinem, Audre ‪Lorde, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, and the injustices that so many others face that have put me in this very position. And I’m not going to act like my whiteness has nothing to do with me standing before you now.

In a world where many like to pretend that race doesn’t matter or that privilege, specifically white privilege, is a non-issue, Rapinoe’s words have a powerful, lasting impact.  This is how one becomes a good ally.

As an athlete and an activist, Rapinoe has never shied away from acknowledging and challenging the position she occupies in the world.  In her powerful speech, she made it clear she’s not going to stop anytime soon.

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5 biggest takeaways from Seattle Sounders’ MLS Cup win

Here’s everything we saw and learned from Seattle’s win over Toronto in MLS Cup.

Seattle Sounders FC won MLS Cup on Sunday afternoon, outlasting Toronto FC in a 3-1 win that saw the game break open in the second half. Every goal came after the 57th minute, as what started as a cagey affair soon turned into a thrilling, up-and-down match.

Let’s get to five things we learned from the game.

1. Seattle was deep, and depth is often the difference maker

For the first 55 minutes of MLS Cup, the two teams played each other basically to a stalemate. Toronto had more of the ball, but didn’t seem willing to throw too many men forward, and attack after attack fizzled out.

Seattle needed something to switch things up. First, they got a somewhat lucky deflection goal from right back Kevin Leerdam. (See what happens when you commit numbers forward?)

What blew the game open, however, was the introduction of Victor Rodriguez. Rodriguez came in during the 61st minute for Brad Smith (who didn’t have his best game) and broke it open with a phenomenal goal that doubled Seattle’s lead.

Rodriguez has struggled with injuries all season, but the fact that Seattle can turn to a Barcelona-trained attacker with years of La Liga experience off the bench shows how deep this squad is. The Sounders don’t have a Zlatan or a Rooney. They have a bunch of very good players, and that’s why they’re so successful.

2. Brian Schmetzer should be getting more attention than he is

Well the other reason that Seattle is so successful is that the team has a hell of a coach. Brian Schmetzer coached the Seattle Sounders back before they were in MLS, then served as an assistant for Sigi Schmid when the team entered the top flight of American soccer. He got the interim job when the late Schmid stepped down, and promptly won MLS Cup. He’s now been in three finals in four years, winning two of them.

Schmetzer doesn’t command the attention of other coaches in this league, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that, on resume alone, he might be the best.

The final was an example of his brilliance. The team was organized, defended well, but took their chances as the game moved forward. They shut down Toronto’s most potent attacker, Alejandro Pozuelo, and then relied on the pace of Jordan Morris and Ruidiaz going forward to wreak havoc when Toronto started to chase the game.

3. Toronto needed to force the issue in the first half, and it didn’t

Toronto FC couldn’t get a full 90 minutes from Jozy Altidore, though he did come in as a substitute and grab a late, headed consolation goal.

Without Altidore, Toronto only had one real target man in the attacking third — Pozuelo. With Seattle keyed in on him and tackling hard to keep him uncomfortable, Toronto needed other players to stress the issue and take chances. That … didn’t really happen.

When Auro pushed up from right back for Toronto, he was giving Brad Smith fits on that wing, and I assumed Toronto would start getting him to bomb forward and get men in the box. With the speed of Seattle’s Jordan Morris on that left wing, however, Auro was hesitant to commit too much.

That’s probably the right call, but Toronto had total control of the game for about twenty minutes at the end of the first half, and mustered one or two shots that didn’t really trouble Sounders keeper Stefan Frei. I know finals are cagey, but there were chances for Auro, Michael Bradley, or Marky Delgado to take chances and get in the box. They didn’t.

4. That crowd was an all-timer

Holy smokes, 70,000 people at CenturyLink Field was special. That final had real atmosphere, which is all MLS can ask for.

While the TV numbers will undoubtedly be disappointing for the league, and I thought there was an odd lack of marketing around the final, MLS’ move to a single-elimination format for the playoffs has made the tournament more exciting. Diehards may grumble that it leaves more up to chance, but this tournament has always been ridiculous, and might as well lean into it.

5. Ruidiaz is special

While watching this match, I couldn’t help but keep focusing on Ruidiaz, Sounders’ diminutive striker who, at 5-foot-7, still manages to physically dominate just about anyone who comes at him. He may not be the brand that Zlatan is, but Ruidiaz is a breathtaking player, all piss and vinegar and energy. Watching him occupy the Toronto defenders was incredible to watch.

And what a final goal:

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