Two clubs in opposing conferences of MLS will do battle today in a league match between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC. The first-division clash scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET will be held at CenturyLink Field in Seattle and can be live streamed here.
From an American perspective, today’s confrontation between Seattle and Toronto is littered with scintillating narratives. Clint Dempsey’s return to MLS is yet to pay the dividends many expected from the U.S. men’s national team star. He has just one goal in 10 league appearances. All eyes, however, will not be focused on his attempt to return to form.
All eyes are on Michael Bradley.
The former Roma midfielder is set to debut for Toronto FC in the club’s season opener this afternoon. The 26-year-old is excited for the new challenges that await both he and his teammates (h/t to Armen Bedakian on MLS’s official website). “The first stretch of the season, you’ll see that everybody’s kind of finding their way,” Bradley said. “No team is going to play perfectly. It’s about knowing how to play together, how to stick together, how to compete and how to still get points as you’re kind of finding your way,” he added.
“It’s 25-30 guys checking egos at the door and now being committed to each other and to the team and to doing whatever it takes to make sure that this group is successful. That’s why we’re all here, that’s why we’re all excited and that’s going to be our challenge.”
Will Bradley and Toronto FC rise to the challenge in their season debut, or will Dempsey steal the show in this highly anticipated battle?
Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Tired of the American narrative? Keep an eye on Jermain Defoe. The English striker was one of the three high-priced talents brought in by Toronto during the offseason. He’ll look to earn every bit of his million-dollar salary in his MLS debut.
Seattle Sounders’ Projected Lineup (4-1-2-1-2): Frei; Gonzalez, Traore, Marshall, Yedlin; Alonso; Pappa, Dempsey, Neagle; Martins, Cooper
Toronto FC’s Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Cesar; Morrow, Caldwell, Henry, Orr; Rey, Bradley, Osorio, Jackson; Defoe, DeRosario
| # | Club | PTS | GP | PPG | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | HG | HGD | RG | RGD |
| 1 | Houston Dynamo | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Chivas USA | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | FC Dallas | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Real Salt Lake | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Union | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Portland Timbers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Colorado Rapids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Chicago Fire | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 14 | Montreal Impact | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 15 | LA Galaxy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sporting Kansas City | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 17 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -3 |
| 18 | D.C. United | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | New England Revolution | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 |

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