Columbus Crew vs Seattle Sounders: Live Stream and Updates (2-0)

Diaz is replaced by Waylon Francis

In the midst of pandemonium here at MAPFRE, Columbus made a sub and just made another. 

1.) Etienne Jr was replaced by Hector Jimenez

2.) Artur replaced by Fatai Alashe

B A N G E R

From start to finish 💪

This play: The Crew Way 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/NKwMJSoGuT

— x - Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 13, 2020

It's a brace from Zelarayan! Could Seattle be dethroned tonight?! 

Eloy Room does his best Stefan Frei impression with a one hand save to deny a potential Sounders goal!

Jimmy Medranda is subbing on for Shane O’Neill. That’s certainly a sub that you could make. Not really sure why you would want to. — Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) December 13, 2020

15 minutes until glory for Columbus. Crew are on a corner but nothing comes of it. Goal kick Sounders. 

Nico almost finds the far post for a Sounders goal but it's wide of the target. 

Morris is not having his best game so far. It's clear and evident. 

Kelvin Leerdam and Will Bruin replace Alex Roldan and João Paulo — Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) December 13, 2020

Emotions are getting the best of the reigning MLS Cup champions. Columbus is visibly getting under their skin. 57th minute, score remains 2-0. 

Seattle awarded a corner kick. Cristian Roldan gets a head to it but it just misses the top corner of the net. 

Seattle make two subs coming out of the half. Also, things are starting to get tense.

46' Double substitution.

SEA 0 | CLB 2 #CLBvSEA | #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/UU6IsTSkqy

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) December 13, 2020

The second half from MAPFRE Stadium is underway! This is an exciting MLS Cup!

Ladies and gentlemen, a live look at Crew SC fans.

pic.twitter.com/BmQRrPvi6h

— Doug Hildreth (@IAmDougHildreth) December 13, 2020

What a half by Columbus! Goals by Zelarayan and Etienne Jr. are the difference makers. A great second half Sounders side and 45 minutes stand in the way of Columbus hoisting their second MLS Cup in franchise history. 

One minute of added time to the first half. Score still 2-0 Columbus. 

Not gonna lie, I did not expect this start from Columbus. This is remarkable!

Derrik Etienne Jr. doubles the lead for Columbus!

THAT CURL!@detienne_10 makes it 2-0 👊 pic.twitter.com/sXVJOmByWG

— x - Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 13, 2020

Joao Paulo is issued the first booking of the night. 

ZELARAYAN OPENS THE SCORING@ColumbusCrewSC // #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/r1VEDE48D3 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 13, 2020

Columbus score first with a Zelarayan shot that just sneaks past Frei!

What a huge save! pic.twitter.com/N122mpWovl — Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) December 13, 2020

Columbus has been holding this game. Really taking control as they get another corner. On that kick, multiple chances but Stefan Frei comes up with a huge save to keep it scoreless. 

Columbus are knocking on the doorstep and have earned a free kick. 

Sorry folks! Technical difficulties but I should be good now! Columbus have had a few corner kicks within the first 10 minutes of this match. Almost exactly the way they started against the Revolution this past Sunday. 

Both teams and officials have entered the field. National Anthem coming next. 

It's almost game time! Let's hear some score predictions! Shoot me your scoreline on Twitter (@MRTylerF) for a chance to get your tweet featured here!

Glory. pic.twitter.com/QcNvxXVAAg — x - Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 13, 2020

Ain't she pretty?!

And now the starting XI for the visiting Seattle Sounders. 

LET'S GOOOO.

Our @Delta Starting XI for #MLSCup!!

📝 https://t.co/VGbJUICFtv | #WiredTogether pic.twitter.com/UJ5MZwoDS3

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) December 13, 2020

The starting XI for the home side of Columbus Crew SC.

Rise #To96ther.

Our #MLSCup Starting XI pres. by @MAPFREIns:

— x - Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 13, 2020

I mentioned it before, but man it's cold. I should have brought gloves. 

Even New England fans want Columbus to win! S/o to the #SaveTheCrew movement!

I guess it's as good a time as ever to bring this bad boy out!#To96ther #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/iD4RQG78kI

— x-Mat | Wear a Mask! (@Marbies3762) December 13, 2020

The Captain and The King 🇬🇭#To96ther | #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/Gp1vta2M9h — x - Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 13, 2020

The Black & Gold have arrived on scene! 

Greetings from a bitter cold MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio! I'm settled in my seat and eager to start dissecting MLS Cup 2020 between Columbus Crew SC and the Seattle Sounders!

Well, this is to be expected if you ask me. 

go green team pic.twitter.com/LVEy7e9Zce

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) December 12, 2020

In the Ohio side of the NFL, Browns QB Baker Mayfield with the good luck wishes to the Black & Gold. 

Good luck tonight, @ColumbusCrewSC!@bakermayfield | #To96ther pic.twitter.com/X2a8wjFZIf

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 12, 2020

The Seahawks wishing their Lumen Field soccer counterparts good luck! 

Today's the day! 👊@SoundersFC, you're wired to win. 🔋#WiredTogether x #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/9oPGldmwXG

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 12, 2020

Goooooddddd morning MLS fans! Today is the day that we have all been waiting for! MLS CUP FINAL! Again, my name is Tyler Fisher and I'll be your guide throughout all the events taking place here in Columbus, Ohio! 

Stay tuned for the 2020 MLS Cup Final with me, Tyler Fisher!

Sure, Columbus may be down two influential players, but that doesn't mean that they're out. Columbus has been down key guys all season and have overcome the adversity and tribulations that came with it. So, Caleb will have his guys primed and ready. On the other hand, Seattle is just a monster. Featuring in four of the last five MLS Cup finals, the Rave Green Sounders are looking to cement themselves as the best of the best and be on track for most MLS Cups behind D.C. United (four) and the LA Galaxy (five). This is a final you will not want to miss, and that's why I'm missing Seattle win their third cup and having Columbus close out a great season with a 3-1 win after extra time to secure MLS Cup 2020 on home turf. 

Now, for one last time, my prediction.

Now let's take a look at the home side Columbus Crew. Columbus is led by Caleb Porter and will look to also line-up in a 4-2-3-1. 

Room; Valenzuela--Williams-- Mensah (c)-- Afful; Artur -- Alsahe; Diaz -- Zelarayan -- Etienne Jr.; Zardes. 

Seattle Sounders are led by Brian Schmetzer and will look to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Frei; Roldan--Gomez--O'Neill--Nouhou; Roldan--Paulo; Jones--Lodeiro (c)--Morris; Ruidiaz

Now that I have you all caught up and ready to run through a brick wall for this match, let's take a look at the projected lineup's for both teams. We'll start with the road team first. 

Columbus fans en masse had an uproar when they learned about the officiating crew of this historic match. Why you may ask? Center official Jair Marruffo and assistant referee Cory Parker are the same individuals that blew a missed throw-in call for Columbus during the 2015 MLS Cup, resulting in a Timbers goal just nine-seconds later. Needless to say, Columbus fans are not happy with the league, let alone the Professional Referee Organization (PRO).

Schmid was fortunate enough to coach both sides, winning the 2008 MLS Cup with Columbus before helping launch the existence of Seattle Sounders in 2009 by becoming their head coach. Schmid passed away in December of 2018 at the age of 65, but both fans alike can agree that Schmid would be as neutral as they come if he were to be in attendance for this match. You can read more about Sigi on Sounder At Heart and Massive Report. 

Now, both teams share one common thread. It's not a what or a where, it's a who. And that who is Sigi Schmid.

Schmetzer goes on to say, "Again, it's sad that those guys cannot feature in the match. We certainly will try and take advantage of that wherever we can. But it's not like we are going to change drastically what we do." 

When asked if losing those two players would affect the gameplan, Schmetzer went on to say, "Soccer is a team sport. Those are two super talented players. Caleb is going to put two other talented players on the field in their place. He still has the advantage of being at home."

"I found out yesterday actually right in the middle of training that our second player of the week I won't tell you the order it happened, there's no reason to, but obviously losing Pedro and Darlington, we lost one of those two early in the week. We had a positive test. Then we had two straight days of all negatives. We had another positive that popped up. I learned that in the middle of training yesterday," said Head Coach Caleb Porter. 

Columbus took a huge blow this week, losing two key players in Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos who both tested positive for COVID-19. Both have been medically not cleared to play and will miss the MLS Cup Final.

Captain Jonathan Mensah said in his press availability, "This is the payback we can also give them in return for the massive and incredible job they've done for us to be able to stay in this city." Not only is this payback to the fans, but it also is special if they can win the cup to close out one last MLS Cup Final match at MAPFRE Stadium before relocating to their new Downtown Columbus stadium in July of next year. 

The last time Columbus hosted MLS Cup Final, they were defeated by the Portland Timbers 2-1. However, in a weird year, the Crew are looking to repay their loyal fanbase with a championship after the grassroots movement #SaveTheCrew was able to prevent former ownership from relocating the first MLS franchise to Austin, Texas.

Just this past Sunday, Columbus hosted Bruce Arena and the New England Revolution. After a scoreless first half, midfielder Artur became the hero in the 60th minute with his third goal of the year to give Columbus the Eastern Conference title and the right to host MLS Cup.

The Black & Gold finished in third place in the Eastern Conference. They maneuvered their way through the playoffs, dismantling the New York Red Bulls 3-2 before moving on to newly minted Nashville SC. Columbus would win that match 2-0 after extra time to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference championship. 

Now, let's take a look at Columbus Crew. 

Of course, Seattle is making themselves known in the league. But, do they consider themselves a dynasty? Schmetzer goes on to say, "I wouldn't put us into the dynasty until we win a couple more. We're Storm-chasers' if you want something cute," about Seattle's WNBA team winning another championship. 

This is Seattle's fourth trip to the MLS Cup, the previous three times facing off against Toronto FC in which they won two of those three meetings. When asked if it felt different, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer exclaimed "It's miles different. Number one, we're not playing Toronto. Number two, the COVID situation in this country has thrown everyday Americans for a loop." 

Minnesota would go up 2-0, practically putting Seattle's chances of making MLS Cup final in doubt. But it was Will Bruin who started the milestone comeback for the Sounders, pulling Seattle within one. Raul Ruidiaz would tie the game, having fans of both teams on edge. With 20 seconds left in the second-half stoppage time, Ruidiaz found the head of Gustav Svensson who was able to head home the corner kick, ultimately giving Seattle a 3-2 lead and the Western Conference title.

Seattle finished the weird, obscure season in second place in the Western Conference with an 11-5-6 record. The Sounders defeated Carlos Vela and LAFC in the first round, advancing to the Western Semis where they faced off against FC Dallas. After handling business against the Frisco, Texas side Seattle had to face a very tough Minnesota United side. 

Taking a look at both teams and some details off the field, let's see how they got here starting with the traveling Sounders.

Hello and welcome to VAVEL USA's LIVE coverage of the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Final between Western Conference Champion Seattle Sounders and the Eastern Conference Champion and host Columbus Crew! My name is Tyler Fisher and I am bringing you live commentary, score updates, and analysis from a wet and soggy MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. So stay tuned to VAVEL USA for updates from pre-game to post-game!