The Seattle Sounders are hosting Toronto FC on Saturday (12 p.m. PT; ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) in one of the more anticipated matchups of the season: a rematch of the 2016 MLS Cup Final.
TFC is again spearheaded by their trio of stars in Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, but Greg Vanney’s team still has plenty of talent in support. The Sounders bunkered down on that freezing Ontario evening at BMO Field last December and won in penalty kicks, but Seattle’s offense has ripped of six goals in its last two games since moving forward Will Bruin into the starting lineup and slotting Jordan Morris on the left wing.
If the Sounders want to earn a crucial three points on Saturday for their third win of the season, they must limit passes between Altidore and Giovinco, get in behind Bradley and not allow any dangerous free kicks.
LIMIT ALTIDORE AND GIOVINCO’S COMBINATIONS
The dangerous attacking duo is arguably the best in MLS and for good reason. They have already combined for 10 goals and four assists this year and are a constant threat around goal.
Where they are most dangerous, though, is their uncanny abilities to play off each other and utilize the attention the other inevitably draws. They are so incredibly in-sync with each other’s movements and runs that give-and-go combinations often appear premeditated. If Altidore passes the ball to Giovinco at the top of the 18-yard-box, Altidore is not waiting to see what Giovinco is going to do next. Altidore is already sprinting in behind the back four expecting Giovinco to dink the ball to him.
Here is a look at Altidore’s second goal against the Houston Dynamo last week.
Altidore barely has the ball off his left foot when he continues his stride toward goal as the Dynamo defenders get caught ball-watching, trying to keep Giovinco in front of them and waiting to see what he’s going to do next. The problem is that the ball is already over their heads and on Altidore’s chest by the time the defense can recover.
What makes this especially difficult for defenses is that it’s not just Giovinco’s passing ability to Altidore of which they have to be cognizant. The same can be said for Altidore feeding Giovinco, a true No. 9 setting up a sprinting second striker in space.
Let’s take a look at Giovinco’s goal against Atlanta United on April 8. Victor Vazquez (No. 7) has the ball on the left side of the field in the attacking third. Giovinco has checked toward the ball, while Altidore has slipped into space between the center backs and visibly has his hands out calling for the ball.
Vazquez finds Altidore, who immediately draws the attention of the defenders around him as they collapse. That leaves plenty of room for Altidore to cheekily flick a perfect ball through for Giovinco, who began his run even before the ball reached Altidore.
Are these easy and simple passes Altidore and Giovinco are making? Hardly. But for players of their quality, they can produce a touch of brilliance at a moment’s notice.
GET IN BEHIND BRADLEY OFFENSIVELY
The Reds have had a solid, if not spectacular, 4-1-4 start to the season which has them fifth in the league in PPG, but they are certainly a team that can be breached. Part of this is due to how susceptible they are on the counterattack. Toronto runs a somewhat rare 3-5-2 formation with two wingbacks in Raheem Edwards and Steven Beitashour patrolling the flanks on both ends of the field.
Here is how TFC will likely line up on Saturday:
Bradley is a true No. 6 and at times acts like a fourth defender when he’s not primarily building from the back. The problem with this setup, as teams who have had success against TFC have evidenced, is that if attacks can get in behind Bradley and between that rather average three-man back line, there are goals aplenty to be found.
Let’s look at Ola Kamara’s goal in Toronto’s 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew SC on April 15. Columbus has stolen the ball off a throw-in and it falls to Federico Higuain (no. 10), who is already headed up field. Higuain is ahead of Bradley (No. 4) while Kamara (far left) is in a full sprint toward goal.
Higuain slips in Niko Hansen on the right side and he is clear in on goal as Bradley tries to recover. TFC defenders Eriq Zavaleta and Nick Hagglund are outnumbered as Hansen drives in while Justin Meram (No. 9) and Kamara are charging on goal.
Almiron has space to dribble here if he wants, but with no one in his passing line, he decides instead to slot a beautifully weighted ball in between the center backs to a streaking Hector Villalba, who finds the back of net.
Sounders Clint Dempsey and Nicolas Lodeiro love running at defenders and Morris loves receiving through balls in space to put his speed on display. Expect Seattle to attack that area.
DO NOT ALLOW FREE KICKS AROUND THE BOX
There may not be a more dangerous free-kick taker in MLS than Giovinco. Since he joined TFC in 2015, eight of his 44 goals have come directly from free kicks and only Didier Drogba (6) has more than two free-kick goals in that time.
His eight free-kick goals are the second-most among all players since 2003 (when MLS began tracking the statistic), behind only Atlanta’s Jeff Larentowicz and FC Dallas’ Javier Morales, who each have nine.
And if you need any further proof, here is Giovinco’s effort against the Chicago Fire on April 21.
If there’s a free kick within 30 yards of the net, expect Giovinco to go for goal.
