On Sunday afternoon the Portland Timbers will take on the Columbus Crew in the 2015 MLS Cup. While the 2014 edition of the final saw a four-time champion take on a four-time runner up, this year’s MLS Cup will feature two teams with a total of just one MLS Cup appearance.
Road to Columbus
Columbus’ run to MLS Cup began in 2014 when the club announced the signing of Kei Kamara from Middlebrough in England. Kamara had left the league in 2013 but made his triumphant return.
The Crew finished the 2015 season with the second highest points total in the Eastern Conference. Led by Kamara, Columbus’ explosive offense tallied 58 goals which would finish second in the league. The Crew would go on to record 53 points which tied them for third in the race for the Supporters Shield.
After a defensive struggle for most of the year conceding 53 goals, the Crew found their defensive form in the playoffs first neutralizing Montreal’s Didier Drogba and then stopping the league’s top goal scoring team in the New York Red Bulls.
Portland finished third in the Western Conference with 53 points in 2015. With the season winding down it looked as though the Timbers would fall short of the postseason, but they won four of their last five games of the regular season to move into as the third seed in the West.
The Timbers’ first playoff matchup was an epic battle against Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park. The game involved a SKC equalizer with in the dying minutes and a Timbers equalizer in late in extra time. The Timbers advanced through an 11-round penalty shootout which they won 7-6.
The Timbers would then go on to defeat the top two seeds in the Western Conference (Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas) with relative ease to reach this year’s MLS Cup Final.
MLS Cup History
This Sunday will see the Portland Timbers compete in their first MLS Cup Final and the Crew in their second. The only previous MLS Cup played for by either team was in 2008 when the Columbus Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls for their first and only crown. Led by Argentinian Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the Crew defeated their fellow MLS original 3-1 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Players to Watch
The Crew have been driven by their voracious offense which has, at times this season, held up a less than desirable defense. That offense is led by MLS MVP finalist and striker Kei Kamara with help from speedy wingers Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram. However, it’s been great defense that have made the Crew a complete team during this postseason run. Tyson Wahl and Michael Parkhurst have been solid over the past month with help from midfielders Tony Tchani and Wil Trapp and great goalkeeping by Steve Clark.
The Timbers biggest acquisition this past offseason was the addition of center back Nat Borchers from Real Salt Lake. A rock in the back, Borchers has been great for the Timbers this season — even saving their season against FC Dallas with a goal line clearance in second leg of the Western Conference Finals. Portland’s offense is driven by central midfielders Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe. The two have made a terrific duo in the midfield setting up striker Fanendo Adi who netted 16 goals this season.
Tune In
You can catch Sunday’s final on ESPN at 4pm ET. Check out all of the leagues pre-match coverage at MLSsoccer.com/Playoffs.
