It's that time again: with MLS Cup 2019 now just days away, it's our experts are making their predictions. The Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC will do battle in the league's title game for the third time in four years on Sunday (3 pm ET | ABC, Univision, TUDN, TSN, TVAS) and the winner will lay claim to their second league championship in club history. Who will it be? Six MLSsoccer.com panelists made their picks:
MATT DOYLE - Seattle Sounders: Seattle are 25-6-4 when Lodeiro and Ruidiaz start, and even against a full-strength Toronto side that'd be enough to make them favorites. Against a TFC side without Jozy and with a limited Omar? C'mon.
BOBBY WARSHAW - Seattle Sounders: Seattle, because I don’t want fish thrown at me on the streets.
CALEN CARR - Seattle Sounders: Finals aren’t always the prettiest and Seattle’s best players (Lodeiro/Ruidiaz) also happen to be two of their hardest workers. TFC need to collapse on those two which may open things up for Jordan Morris to make the difference in-behind. Seattle win at home.
TOM BOGERT - Seattle Sounders: Toronto have defied the odds this postseason without Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez, full marks to them. Can they do it once more at Seattle? I don't think so, though nothing would surprise me at this point. Seattle to hoist the cup in front of 70,000 parting fans at CenturyLink Field. I like Bobby's reasoning better, though.
ANDREW WIEBE - Seattle Sounders: I’m not trying to get name dropped after the final whistle. That was a joke. Lodeiro and Ruidiaz are killers, the Sounders have more game-changing secondary stars and role players and they’ve won 11 straight home playoff games. Toronto stay in the game, but fall just short. Sounders, 2-1.
BEN BAER - Seattle Sounders: Jozy may play in this game, but whatever contribution that is, it won’t be enough for TFC. They got past Atlanta thanks to a couple of stunning strikes from long-distance strikes and that trend isn’t one you can count on to continue. Lodeiro and Ruidiaz will be too much. 2-0 Sounders.
