Portland Timbers defeat Columbus Crew SC to win first MLS Cup
COLUMBUS, Ohio --
Forty years of waiting ended with a flourish. Portland supported its soccer teams through the lean years and waited for its Timbers to deliver. This hardened group responded by delivering the first professional soccer title in the city’s history with a 2-1 victory at Columbus Crew SC to claim MLS Cup on Sunday.
Portland laid the groundwork for this long-awaited triumph in the first six minutes. Diego Valeri scored the quickest goal in MLS Cup history when he caught Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark in possession and tackled into the net after 27 seconds. Rodney Wallace nodded home the second inside seven minutes to give the Timbers a lead they would not relinquish.
Crew SC forward Kei Kamara -- named in the starting XI despite sustaining a right leg injury in training on Saturday -- replied for the hosts after 18 minutes. The goal renewed Crew SC’s hope in a scruffy final, but the expectant hosts never procured the second goal required to force extra-time.
It proved a just result in the end after the Timbers hit the post twice in the second half and stood firm with an organized and resolute defense. Crew SC operated well enough in possession, but they were left to lament the assistant referee’s failure to flag when the ball when into touch on Wallace’s winner and their inability to carve out gilt-edged chances after the break.
Valeri pounced on a dreadful error to stake the Timbers to the lead inside the first 30 seconds. Columbus tried to play out of the back as Wil Trapp dropped a simple, straightforward pass back to Clark to distribute. Clarke took a poor first touch and watched Valeri close him quickly and tackle his attempted clearance into the net.
Portland doubled its advantage minutes later after taking full advantage of several missteps by the assistant referee and Crew SC. The ball exited the field by a yard or two as Alvas Powell maneuvered up the right, but the assistant referee did not flag for it. Tony Tchani conceded possession as he expected to win the throw. Powell poked it away from him to set Darlington Nagbe free on the right. Nagbe slotted Lucas Melano through to cross behind the line. Wallace steered his free header inside the far post to send the Timbers into dreamland.
Columbus spent the next few ragged minutes trying to return to safe ground and wrest control of the game. Crew SC functioned well enough in possession and presented a few problems on the right. Those endeavors -- plus yet another error -- paved the way for Kamara’s response after 18 minutes.
Everything started with Harrison Afful’s cross from the right. Portland just about coped with the initial delivery, but the ball bounded high into the air. Adam Kwarasey came out to claim it without catching it cleanly. Kamara collected, maneuvered into a decent spot and tucked home Crew SC’s response.
Both teams finally settled into a ragged, somewhat disjointed pattern as halftime approach. There were few genuine moments of quality as both teams tried to tip the balance in their favor.
Columbus opened the second half brightly with ample endeavor and possession. Federico Higuain buzzed about menacingly, but Crew SC struggled to conjure the necessary chances with Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell leading the Timbers back four superbly. All of Crew SC’s focus in possession left the Timbers with considerable room to push forward on the counter. Those endeavors inevitably prompted a wild exchange from a corner kick to capture this quirky affair in a nutshell.
Nagbe presented the initial danger with his service toward the top of the goal area. The ball dropped for Kamara to clear, but he turned onto his own crossbar. Michael Parkhurst appeared to handle the ball as it caromed off the underside of the bar and diverted it onto the near post. Crew SC eventually scrambled clear to avert the danger.
Clark awkwardly pushed a hopeful Adi header onto the far post as the Timbers continued to push for the critical third. Adi capped a barnstorming Diego Chara run on the counter by provoking another block from Clark inside the final 10 minutes.
The home side huffed and puffed in a bid to complete its comeback, but those measures ended in frustration. Crew SC’s poor start ultimately condemned them to defeat and left the Timbers to celebrate their first MLS Cup triumph.
