Overview
The 2016 MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer's 2016 season, took place on December 10, 2016. The game was contested between the Eastern Conference playoff winner, Toronto FC, and the Western Conference playoff winner, Seattle Sounders FC. The event is the culmination of the league's postseason and is commonly referred to as the MLS Cup. The match was hosted at BMO Field in Toronto.
Match summary
After 90 minutes and a period of extra time, the game remained a 0–0 stalemate. Neither side was able to convert during regular or extra time, with both defenses and goalkeepers playing a major role. The championship was therefore decided by a penalty shootout, in which Seattle prevailed 5–4. Seattle goalkeeper made a decisive stop during the shootout that helped secure the victory for his club.
Route to the final and context
Both clubs reached the MLS Cup by winning a series of playoff matches in their respective conferences earlier that month. The MLS postseason pits top teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences against each other in knockout rounds to determine the two finalists. The 2016 final marked a high-profile meeting between two clubs with strong regular-season performances and large local followings.
Significance and aftermath
Seattle's victory in the shootout gave the club its first MLS Cup title, an important milestone in the franchise's history. For Toronto FC, the defeat was a bitter result coming at their home stadium, but the club would return the following season: the same two teams met again in the 2017 MLS Cup, with Toronto FC winning 2–0 to claim the title. The back-to-back finals between these clubs are often cited when discussing rivalries and narratives in Major League Soccer.
Notable facts
- The 2016 match was the 21st edition of the MLS Cup.
- It was decided by a penalty shootout after a goalless game.
- The two clubs faced one another again in the next season's final, producing consecutive championship meetings.