FULL-TIME: The Crew beat the Sounders 3-0 to win their second-ever MLS Cup. The Sounders started flat, getting badly outplayed in the first half and going into halftime down 2-0. They looked better in the second half, but couldn’t find a goal and eventually conceded late. The Sounders have now failed to score in seven of their eight halves of MLS Cup play.

CREW 3, SOUNDERS 0: Lucas Zelarayan added a second goal, taking a feed from Derrick Etienne to place it in the top corner.

HALFTIME: The first half went about as poorly as the Sounders could have imagined. Despite possessing about 66% of the ball, the Sounders were out shot 8-2 and went into halftime down 2-0. The goals both came on the right side. The first came on a cross to Lucas Zelarayán, who volleyed home Harrison Afful’s pass. About 10 minutes later, Zelarayán set up Derrick Ettienne Jr, who bent his shot around Stefan Frei.

CREW 2, SOUNDERS 0: Derrick Etienne Jr. added a second goal, putting away a feed from Lucas Zelarayán after a poor clearance by Shane O’Neill.

CREW 1, SOUNDERS 0: Lucas Zelarayan gave the Crew an early lead, volleying in a cross from Harrison Afful.

LINEUPS: The Sounders are going with the same lineup that got them here, leaving Kelvin Leerdam and Gustav Svensson on the bench in favor of Alex Roldan and Joevin Jones, essentially. This is the same lineup that played in each of the previous three playoff rounds.

The Crew were forced to make a couple changes, inserting Derrick Ettiene for Pedro Santos and rookie Aiden Morris for Darlington Nagbe.

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The Seattle Sounders are on the verge of legendary status. What stands in their way is a familiar foe in Caleb Porter and his Columbus Crew side. The Sounders have a chance to become just the fourth back-to-back MLS Cup winners in league history. Should the Crew win, it’ll be their second MLS Cup in franchise history.

You don’t need reminding how the Sounders reached the final. They accomplished an incredible comeback against Minnesota United in the Western Conference final. The Crew handled their business against the New England Revolution by beating Bruce Arena’s team 1-0.

90 minutes, and maybe 30 more, stands in the way. Go Sounders.

Liveblog

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle:

OUT: Danny Leyva (M) - right quad strain

Columbus:

OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury

OUT: Darlington Nagbe (M) - undisclosed injury

OUT: Pedro Santos (M) - undisclosed injury

Officials:

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Kathryn Nesbitt

4th Official: Alex Chilowicz

VAR: Drew Fischer

How to Watch

Match date/time: Saturday, December 12th at 5:30pm

Venue: Mapfre Stadium - Columbus, OH

Online Streaming: Fubo TV (affiliate link)

National English TV: FOX (Strong, Holden)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson, Webber)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

National Spanish TV: UníMas

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at Columbus Crew; watch with us

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