Panama midfielder Armando Cooper (pictured) hopes to win his first MLS title, when Toronto FC hosts Seattle Sounders FC in the MLS Cup final on December 9, 2017. (Photo: Mexsport)
TORONTO, Ontario -- If Toronto FC wins MLS Cup, the achievement will cap one memorable year for Armando Cooper.
In October, the midfielder was a member of the Panama side that secured its first-ever FIFA World Cup berth.
On Saturday, his Toronto FC will meet defending champion Seattle Sounders FC at BMO Field in a rematch of last year's final.
"It would be really significant if that were to happen, if we would win this year," said Cooper, who has made a combined 22 regular-season and playoff appearances in 2017. "With everything that's happened, I hope that's the case."
Toronto will have to find a way to solve a Seattle defense that has not allowed a goal in five consecutive playoff games dating back to the 2016 Major League Soccer competition. That stretch includes last year's decider, which saw Sounders FC blank Toronto for 120 minutes, before prevailing on penalty kicks.
Cooper was confident that the Reds will find a way to crack the defense.
"We have to do our job," he remarked. "We have the players to do it in the offensive end of the field. That's our goal."
Toronto FC could complete a rare treble Saturday. The team captured the Supporters’ Shield thanks to having MLS’s best regular-season record, and won the Canadian Championship.
"If we do, it's going to be a magnificent year for the city, winning all of our objectives," finished Cooper.
