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ESPN staff 6y

Giovinco had feeling Toronto would lose to Seattle in 2016 MLS Cup

Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco admits he had a bad feeling going into Toronto FC's 2016 MLS Cup loss to the Seattle Sounders, telling family members before the match that he feared things wouldn't go his team's way.

Unfortunately for Giovinco, 30, he was right, as Toronto lost on penalties after Seattle's Stefan Frei denied Jozy Altidore's extra-time header and forced spot kicks that the Sounders won 5-4.

"We thought we had things figured out in 2016. We got through Montreal in the playoffs and made it to the final," Giovinco wrote in an essay in The Players' Tribune. "But, that final. I mean, what can you really say about it?

"If I'm being honest, I had this feeling a couple of days before. I don't know, there was just something in the back of my mind telling me that things weren't going to go our way.

"I spoke to a couple of my family members and friends about it. And you try to shake it off by game day. We had our opportunities, but we just couldn't finish. I couldn't finish.

"I could ask what would have happened If I hadn't had to be subbed out because I was cramping. I could ask what would've happened if I had done this or that. But I think it's the same whether you win or lose ... you have to move forward. You have to keep going."

That's exactly what his team is doing, the former Juventus player wrote. Toronto added an important piece to the puzzle before the season in former Barcelona and Cruz Azul midfielder Victor Vazquez to complement existing staples Michael Bradley and Altidore.

And things have worked out famously on the pitch in 2017, with Toronto having wrapped up the Supporters' Shield for having the league's best regular-season record with games two games to spare.

"One of those pieces was Victor Vazquez, who joined us this season. He's someone who can really help us win. He's leading the league in assists. When he's on the field, we're a better team. It's as simple as that.

"And we were already pretty good -- a fact that comes down to two guys. There's Michael Bradley. He's our leader on the field and in the changing room. But more important, he's the one who is giving guys advice and pulling us together before a match.

"And there's Jozy. He's my guy. It's funny, my first year in MLS nobody knew my game, so I could score all these goals when guys would leave me open in the box.

"The second year, I guess people caught on. I was covered a little more. But that left guys like Jozy open to step up -- and he did. I don't know, I just feel this natural connection with him on the field.

"We don't have long chats before a game. We just go out there and know where the other guy is going be."

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