Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers. American MLS League.
MAPFRE StadiumAttendance21,747.
Wednesday 9 December 2015 06:49, UK
Portland Timbers secured the MLS Cup for the first time in the club's history with a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew at Mapfre Stadium.
Diego Valeri put the Timbers ahead with the fastest goal in the final's history, closing down Crew 'keeper Steve Clark and turning his clearance into the net after just 27 seconds.
Caleb Porter's side doubled their advantage six minutes later through Rodney Wallace, before Crew pulled a goal back in the 18th minute, Kei Kamara capitalising on Adam Kwarasey's poor punch to drill home.
The home side dominated 61 per cent of possession but only managed one shot on target in an error-strewn encounter, and the Timbers had chances to extend their lead in the second half through Fanendo Adi, Nat Borchers and Darlington Nagbe.
After his early mistake, Clark made a number of superb stops to keep Columbus in the game, but Gregg Berhalter's side failed to test Kwarasey as the Timbers saw out time to secure their maiden triumph just four years after their first MLS game.
The two teams shared identical regular season records coming into the final, and it was always likely to be a tight affair.
But Columbus, unchanged from their second-leg fixture against the New York Red Bulls, endured a nightmare start as they fell behind inside a minute, Clark gifting Portland the lead. The 'keeper took far too long on the ball, allowing Valeri to close him down and deflect his belated pass into the net.
The Timbers added a second shortly after, Wallace heading home at the back post after Lucas Melano's inviting cross.
There was controversy in the build-up, though, as the ball appeared to go out of play down the right flank. Portland's Nagbe played to the whistle, finding Melano on the right, and his cross was tucked home by Wallace.
With a raucous home crowd stunned, Columbus slowly worked their way back into the game, and the 2008 MLS Cup winners halved the deficit through Kamara.
The former Norwich forward slammed home his 26th goal of the season in all competitions after Kwarasey's poor punch failed to clear the penalty area. Kamara kept his composure in the box, drilling low past several Portland defenders on the line.
Crew continued to control the play as the half wore on, but the Timbers created the final opportunity before the break, Clark making amends for his earlier mistake, superbly tipping Fanendo Adi's firm strike wide on 41 minutes.
Harrison Afful went into the book for a rugby tackle on captain Liam Ridgewell shortly before Adi's effort, and the right back was struggling against the Timbers' attacks.
The second half quickly settled into a familiar pattern, and the home fans' frustration grew as their side failed to prise open a stubborn defence marshaled by the excellent Ridgewell.
The Timbers, happy to attack on the counter, created the clearest chances as Melano first weaved through the Crew defence, only to shoot weakly at Clark, before a brilliant last-ditch block from captain Michael Parkhurst denied Adi on the hour mark.
From the resulting corner, Columbus survived a frantic goalmouth scramble, Kamara clearing the ball onto his own crossbar and back onto the line, where it appeared to strike Parkhurst's arm.
Columbus rode their luck again 10 minutes later as a powerful header from Adi came off the post, bouncing back onto goalkeeper Clark and out for a corner.
Jorge Villafana was causing problems down the left flank, and his cross set up the opportunity for Adi. The defender turned provider again moments later, cutting back for Nagbe, but the midfielder curled his shot over from just inside the box.
Berhalter threw bodies forward in the final 15 minutes, bringing on striker Jack McInerney and winger Cedrick Mabwati, but the Timbers continued to pose the greater threat on the break, Borchers and Adi forcing superb stops from Clark.
The Columbus goalkeeper's save from Borchers' header in particular was spectacular, as he spread himself well to deny the defender from point-blank range.
Columbus put their opponents under greater pressure in the final minutes, but Ridgewell and Borchers kept danger man Kamara in check, and Portland held firm to win the city's first title in one of the top five North American leagues since the Portland Trail Blazers won the NBA Championship in 1977.
