Sounders, TFC in MLS Cup rematch

TORONTO, Canada (AP):

Toronto FC needs to beat the defending champion Seattle Sounders to cap their record-breaking regular season with an MLS Cup crown.

In a rematch, Toronto will host the Sounders in today's MLS Cup. Seattle won last year's game in a penalty shootout after neither team could score in regulation or 30 minutes of extra time.

The memory of Sounders players celebrating on his home field remains painful for Toronto striker Jozy Altidore.

"It was not great, so it's good that we have a chance to hopefully reverse that feeling," Altidore said.

Led by Altidore, fellow US international Michael Bradley and 2015 league MVP Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto set a league record with 69 points this season. That is one better than the 1998 Los Angeles Galaxy. Toronto won 20 of 34 games, matching the 2014 Sounders for most victories in the league's post-shootout era, and scored 74 goals, tied for the second-highest total.

Bradley said he and his Toronto teammates are "all excited that it's Seattle again" in the decisive game.

"This was all we wanted, to give ourselves another crack," Bradley said.

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Seattle has steamrolled its opponents in the play-offs after finishing second in the Western Conference during the regular season. The Sounders had shutouts in all four postseason games so far.

"You want a final like this each and every year," Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said. "It's two powerhouse teams with fantastic quality."

Here are some other things to watch in the MLS Cup: An injured Altidore was replaced in the final minutes after scoring the goal that helped Toronto beat Columbus in the second leg of the Eastern Conference final. He hurt his right ankle in a collision with Crew defender Harrison Afful. After practice on Thursday, the striker insisted that he would be ready to go against Seattle. "I'll play," Altidore said. "It's good."

The Sounders are trying to join three other teams to repeat as MLS Cup champions. DC United won the first two titles in league history in 1996-97. Houston repeated in 2006-07 and the Los Angeles Galaxy won consecutive titles in 2011-12, beating Houston both times. That Seattle and Toronto each managed to return to the final is remarkable considering that the 2015 finalists Portland and Columbus both missed the play-offs the following season.