By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (December 1, 2017) Just as he did a week ago in helping the Seattle Sounders to
a convincing road win in the first leg of the Western Conference Finals,
Seattle forward Will Bruin did in his former team netting a goal and an assist
as the defending MLS Cup champions defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-0 and advanced
to a second straight MLS Cup title game.
Bruin, traded in the offseason to Seattle re-energized his
career, and once again claimed his dominance as one of the top scorers in MajorLeague Soccer. His goal in the 73rd minute and Seattle’s third of
the game marked his third goal in as many games against his former team.
Seattle took the lead in and the series for all intents and
purposes in the 22nd minute on a perfectly weighted touch pass to Victor
Rodriguez from Bruin.
Tomas Martinez was flagged for a red card in the 66th
minute just nine minutes after Clint Dempsey had pushed Seattle to a 2-0 lead.
Playing a man down, the Houston Dynamo defense could not contain
the Seattle offense as Harry Shipp found Will Bruin racing into the box and
tapping home a chip shot to seal Seattle’s win.
Bruin added two goals and an assist in four playoff starts
in 2017 and returns to the title game for the third time in his career. The St.
Louis native’s first two appearances came as a member of the Houston Dynamo.
Seattle finished off the Western Conference Finals the same
way they had their previous four matches at Century Link Field. shutting out
with a goal differential of plus 15.
Sounders keeper Stefan Frei extended his scoreless minutes
streak to 557 most in MLS history.
Frei summed up the Sounders playoff attitude saying
“Bringing home a trophy (MLS Cup title) is our focus.”
The defending champions travel to Toronto FC for a rematch
of the 2016 title game at BMO Field on Saturday December 9, 2017. Game time is
set for 4:00 p.m. ET.
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