Lodeiro vs Pozuelo: The creative pair central as Seattle meet Toronto

It all comes down to this. The 2019 MLS season comes to a head on Sunday night in a repeat of the 2016 MLS Cup final. Three years ago, Seattle Sounders emerged victorious on penalities after the pair had played out a 0-0 draw at BMO Field, with Toronto FC came away from the clash empty handed. They made amends 12 months later as Toronto ran out 2-0 winners at BMO Field. 

The duo have worked wonders to make it this far and will hope to come away with silverware in Sunday's clash, as both teams play out their third MLS Cup final in the last four years. The Reds were unfortunate not to secure glory three years ago as they dominated proceedings on home turf, mustering 19 shots, seven of which were on target, to the Sounders' three and 54.2% possession. 

Swiss shotstopper Stefan Frei was the WhoScored man of the match in the Sounders' success with a 9.00 rating as he saved all seven shots on target and the 33-year-old is expected to line up between the sticks at CenturyLink Field. However, it's a tale of two creators that could prove decisive in this clash. 

Only Raul Ruidiaz (9.76) earned a better WhoScored rating than Nicolas Lodeiro (8.74) in the semi-final meetings as Seattle Sounders impressively beat LAFC in Los Angeles 3-1, with Lodeiro having a direct hand in all three goals, scoring one and assisting two. The Uruguyan netted the crucial fourth penalty three years ago and while he started as the focal point in attack that season, he's unlikely to do so on home turf this time around. 

Maximising his creative quality is essential if Brian Schmetzer is to guide the Sounders to their second MLS Cup with Lodeiro ranking fifth for key passes (98) and eighth for assists (10) in MLS this season to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'key passes'. Ranking third for clear-cut chances created (17), Schmetzer would be wise to deploying Lodeiro in his strongest position, which in this case would be in the number 10 role. 

Of the 19 goals Lodeiro has had a direct hand in this season, 18 have come from his 28 starts in the hole and while Schmetzer has experimented with Lodeiro as a striker or on the left wing, using the former Boca Juniors man behind the forward in their favoured 4-2-3-1 setup presents the Sounders with their best chance of success. 

And for the opponents, it may be that Alejandro Pozuelo is forced to lead the line rather than play behind the striker in their favoured 4-2-3-1 setup. Jozy Altidore is an injury concern ahead of the final, which would serve as a blow for the Reds. The 30-year-old has netted 11 times in MLS this season, four of which were assisted by Pozuelo. 

That said, the Spaniard is Toronto FC's top scorer in MLS this season having netted 14 times in his debut campaign in Major League Soccer. His WhoScored rating as a striker is a commendable 7.59 and he managed four goals and four assists from his nine starts as the spearhead of their attack. 

Pozuelo made quite the impact following his arrival in the league with a 10-out-of-10 showing on his MLS debut as Toronto romped to a 4-0 win over New York City FC to signal his and his club's intentions for the season. Now approaching the MLS Cup final, Pozuelo does so in impressive form having had a direct hand in all but one of his last nine league outings, totalling five goals and four assists. 

Crucially, the 28-year-old was named the WhoScored man of the match from the 2-1 win at New York City FC in the quarter-finals, a game he started up front and scored twice in with Pozuelo enjoying playing the Big Apple side. He'd love nothing more than to wrap up a fine debut campaign with Toronto with a winners' medal around his neck and having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.39, the sixth best in MLS this season, it's fair to say he replaced the departing Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez with aplomb. 

It will take a huge effort for Toronto to get the better of Seattle here, however. The Sounders have won nine of their last 14 regular season match ups and four of the last six clashes at CenturyLink Field. The Reds are unbeaten in 13 league outings coming into this tie, but it what promises to be a nervy finale to another exciting MLS season, it's each side's respective creative stars that could prove key. A drop in performance levels from either Lodeiro or Pozuelo may be ultimately costly in Major League Soccer's showpiece.