Toronto FC made their MLS debut in 2007, while the Seattle Sounders joined the league in 2009. The fact both have made it to the MLS Cup final is impressive, even if Toronto FC’s ineptitude came to define the team’s early years.
Seattle and Toronto’s paths to the final have been extremely different. The Sounders have consistently been a playoff team in MLS, but only secured their spot this year in the last game of the regular season.
There was a lot of turnover at the start of the year — Chad Barrett, Lamar Neagle, Marco Pappa and Obafemi Martins all left the club.