All the years of waiting and training are finally paying off for the Toronto soccer team and its fans. (© Steve Kingsman | Dreamstime)
One year ago, Toronto FC made it all the way to the MLS Cup, losing the league championship match to the Seattle Sounders in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. The team vowed to come back this season even stronger.
They weren't kidding.
With the playoffs just around the corner, Toronto FC are the best team in Major League Soccer. On September 30th, the team beat the New York Red Bulls 4–2 to clinch the Supporters' Shield. This is the trophy given to the team with the best regular season record. They are the first Canadian team to ever win this honour. This past Sunday, the team held a presentation in front of their home fans to celebrate the achievement.
The team literally invited some fans on to the pitch to celebrate with them. Fun! (Getty Embed)
And they also beat their close rivals the Montreal Impact 1–0. That's a pretty great day!
From the worst to the best ever?
Toronto FC fans has been through a lot. (Getty Embed)
This achievement was super rewarding for their loyal fans. Because there was a time not so long ago when Toronto FC was known only for one thing...
Being awful.
Former TFC player Danny Koevermans during "the worst" year. (Getty Embed)
Though they entered the MLS in 2005 with an already devoted fanbase, the club spent one season after another losing. And losing badly. Their 2012 season, where they won only 5 of their 34 matches, is one of the worst in league history. That year, their own striker, Danny Koevermans, called TFC "the worst team in the world." Yikes.
Now all of that has changed. Toronto FC have not only won the Supporters' Shield in 2017, many experts are saying it is the best the league has ever seen.
A Galactic achievement
TFC head coach Greg Vanney, centre, has been a big part of turning around the team. (Getty Embed)
By beating Montreal Sunday, the team captured 68 points. That ties them with the most points ever in a regular season, set by the 1998 Los Angeles Galaxy (fun fact: TFC head coach Greg Vanney and assistant coaches Dan Calichman and Robin Fraser all played on that Galaxy team!).
They have one more game next Sunday against Atlanta United. If they win or draw that match, they will officially have the most points of any team in MLS history.
Still all about the Cup
Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco are two of the most feared goal scorers in MLS. (Getty Embed)
Club stars like Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, and captain Michael Bradley are proud of winning the Supporters' Shield. But you can tell that there's only one trophy that they're thinking about: the MLS Cup. If they win that, then they probably would be the best MLS team ever. But while TFC is hogging so much attention, do you know who else is busy having an excellent season?
The Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps have given their fans a lot to cheer about, too! (Getty Embed)
With one game left to play, the Whitecaps led the Western Conference by two points. Could it be Toronto vs. Vancouver in the first-ever all-Canadian MLS Cup?
We're excited to find out!
poooooooooooop 😆