Jozy Altidore scores as Toronto FC edge Sounders for first MLS title

Toronto FC defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-0 to win its first-ever MLS title in a rematch of last year's final.

Jozy Altidore scored in the 67th minute and Victor Vazquez added a stoppage-time strike in the MLS Cup final on Saturday to cap a storybook campaign that saw TFC break the league record for points in the regular season.

The Sounders stunned the Eastern Conference champions in the 2016 final with a 5-4 shootout victory after the match finished 0-0.

But Greg Vanney's men earned their revenge in front of a packed BMO Field crowd, and it was the hosts who had the first big chance in the 10th minute when Jonathan Osorio received a layoff and forced a fine save from Stefan Frei with a shot on the edge of the area.

Sebastian Giovinco threatened seconds later when he was released down the right channel, but Frei got enough of his toe poke to push the ball wide of the post.

Giovinco tested Frei again in the 23rd minute with a left-footed shot from an angle after beating a defender, though the Seattle keeper did well to tip his looping effort up and over the crossbar.

Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP Photo

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Marco Delgado forced a save from Frei with a well-struck hit from outside of the box in the 35th minute, the swerve on the ball providing an uneasy moment for the keeper.

And it was Frei to the rescue six minutes later, when he fantastically kept out a fizzing Vazquez attempt, palming the midfielder's low, driven shot around the post while at full stretch.

Seattle defender Joevin Jones nearly put one past his keeper in the 44th minute -- his hurried clearance of a dangerous low cross coming dangerously close to handing the hosts their opener before half-time.

Toronto continued its dominance immediately after the break, with Steven Beitashour shaping his left-footed attempt tantalizingly over the bar from distance after just two minutes of play.

TFC had a penalty shout just before the hour mark when Kelvin Leerdam appeared to trip Justin Morrow inside the box, but referee Allen Chapman awarded a goal kick after the ball rolled out of play.

Michael Bradley called Frei into action seconds later with a one-hopper from distance that the Seattle man spilled, but saw the ball cleared by a covering defender before Altidore could pounce.

Frei was even better minutes later, getting down quickly to touch Giovinco's venomous attempt around the post for a corner kick.

But Altidore finally broke through in the 67th minute. From a counter-attack, the United States international received a through ball from Giovinco, held off a defender and calmly slotted past a sprawling Frei to give the home side a much-deserved lead. 

Seattle upped the pressure after the goal, pouring players forward in search of the equalizer, but it couldn't muster any quality chances before Vazquez capped the night with a stoppage-time goal to seal Toronto's first league title.