Toronto FC won two trophies before the 2017 MLS Cup on Saturday. They had won the coveted Canadian Championship and they cruised to the Supporters’ Shield title, recording the most regular season points of any MLS team ever. But the MLS Cup was the silverware they always wanted.
They got it on Saturday, beating the Seattle Sounders 2-0 at BMO Field, almost a year to the day after losing on penalties to the Sounders on that same field. Here’s how they did it:
1. Toronto’s tactical switch
Manager Greg Vanney shocked the MLS world by playing a 4-4-2 diamond formation, eschewing the 3-5-2 that had mostly gotten them there.