1. Toronto FC 0-0 Seattle Sounders (5-4 Seattle Sounders on penalties), December 10, 2016
Now it might seem a little inverted to put what was clearly one of the darkest times in team history in the top slot of a list of the top matches in club history, but hear me out. Losing this game in the most heartbreaking of fashions did wonders for this team. Without this loss, the MLS Cup championship of 2017 would not have been possible. Without this loss, the domestic treble would not have happened. This loss meant everything.
After Justin Morrow smashed the crossbar into oblivion and Roman Torres slid the winner past Clint Irwin, the change in demeanour almost set in instantly. You knew instantly that this team would be back and back swinging. For a while, the decision by Greg Vanney to replace Sebastian Giovinco with Tosaint Ricketts late in extra time tainted this match. It acted as a “what if?” moment that made the result almost difficult to accept as what should have happened. After reflection, however, this loss, and its crushing nature, was the best thing to ever happen to TFC.
The way Michael Bradley, in particular, rallied the troops and still commanded their respect the next season even after mishitting his penalty showed the kind of unique focus this team had on not only getting back to MLS Cup, but avenging this gut-wrenching loss. Would TFC have been very good in 2017 had Jozy Altidore’s header fallen over Stefan Frei’s extended arm into the net? Likely, yes. Would they have come out with the drive, determination and flat out anger that they did in 2017? Likely, no.
This match is the best in Toronto FC history not because of a moment or its glory. This is the best match of all time because of just how gloriously awful it was. So awful that it brought out the best of an entire soccer team for an entire year just so they would never have to go through something like it again.