 On December 10, 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC 5–4 in a penalty shootout, to win MLS Cup 2016, their first MLS championship in franchise history, going the whole match without a shot on goal.The team's performance was called a "cinderella season" and hailed as one of the most dramatic MLS seasons to date.The Sounders began their title defense with the signings of two academy graduates and several veteran players from MLS and abroad.