Seattle Sounders fullback Kelvin Leerdam is no stranger to big games.
The 27-year-old Utrecht, Netherlands, native spent his first nine years as a professional playing in the Eredivisie, the Netherlands’ top flight, and played in UEFA Europa League matches against some of Europe’s best teams and players. Earlier this year, he helped Vitesse win its first Dutch Cup in its 125-year existence, starting and going 88 minutes in front of 46,000 fans at De Kuip in Rotterdam.
“People won’t forget that group, it was a big accolade for the club,” Leerdam said of his Vitesse side that defeated AZ Alkmaar in April. “This one was special. You work the whole year together to try to win the title, and to be that group to win it for the first time for this team, it’s a big moment for everybody. This was history for the club and for the players.”
Now Leerdam will try and win his second trophy in two leagues in the same calendar year when the Sounders visit Toronto FC on Saturday in MLS Cup 2017 (1 p.m. PT; ESPN, UniMás, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Despite Seattle looking to repeat as champions, Leerdam said last week that most of the pressure is on TFC, which is looking to avenge last year’s loss and solidify its status as the league’s best team ever following its record regular season.
The composed and savvy Leerdam, though, has led the Sounders to 12 shutouts in their last 18 matches since he transferred in July, conceding only eight times total in that stretch, and he’s approaching Saturday’s match with the same mentality as any other.
“It’s the same game I’ve played my whole life,” he said. “Of course there’s something on the line, but for me that’s every game. Every game you play to win…This time, though, there is something that you can really win, something you can touch, something you can feel.”
