MLS Cup 2015
EventMLS Cup
Columbus Crew SC Portland Timbers
1 2
DateDecember 6, 2015
VenueMapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, US
Most Valuable PlayerDiego Valeri
(Portland Timbers)[1][2]
RefereeJair Marrufo[3]
Attendance21,747
WeatherPartly cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)

MLS Cup 2015 was the 20th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS). The soccer match was to determine the champion of MLS' 2015 season. The championship was contested on December 6, 2015 between the Columbus Crew SC and the Portland Timbers at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, with the latter winning 2–1 and earning a berth into the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League.

The Timbers' Diego Valeri scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history at 27 seconds after Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark miscontrolled his defender's back-pass.[4] Portland doubled their lead in the seventh minute with a goal by Rodney Wallace, and although Columbus got a goal back through Kei Kamara in the 18th minute, the Timbers held on for their first MLS Cup championship. It was the first men's professional sports championship for a team from the city of Portland, Oregon since the Portland Trail Blazers won the 1977 NBA championship.

Road to the final

Tournament bracket

Source: [5]

Match

Summary

Portland midfielder Diego Valeri scored in 27 seconds, the fastest goal in the history of the MLS Cup, and was named the game's MVP.

Portland opened up the scoring early as midfielder Diego Valeri swiped the ball out from under Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark and flicked the ball into the back of the net with one touch at the 27-second mark. It was the fastest ever goal scored in an MLS Cup match.[6] The Timbers kept the pressure on, and when the assistant referee failed to call a ball out of bounds after it drifted across the sideline and several Crew players stopped playing, Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe capitalized, passing to forward Lucas Melano to set the table for a goal by left winger Rodney Wallace that put Portland on top 2–0 in the seventh minute.[7]

In the 18th minute, Columbus got on the board after Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey failed to take control in a scramble at the goal line and Columbus forward Kei Kamara, the league's leading scorer, shot the ball into the net. Kamara's goal to make the game 2–1 ended up as Columbus' only shot on goal of the match.[8]

Portland got a number of opportunities to score in the second half, but the Timbers failed to convert. In the 60th minute, a Portland corner kick resulted in a loose ball in the penalty box, which ricocheted off the goalpost before being cleared after striking Columbus captain Michael Parkhurst's arm on the goal line. However, no handball was called and no goal was awarded. In the 69th minute, Portland striker Fanendo Adi headed the ball toward the goal, but it deflected off the far goalpost and then bounced away off Clark's body.[8] Clark also stopped a point-blank header from Portland center back Nat Borchers in the 81st minute, and then tipped another shot by Adi over the net shortly thereafter. The game ended with a 2–1 scoreline as Columbus was unsuccessful in taking advantage of Portland's missed opportunities, giving the Timbers their first MLS Cup victory and the city of Portland its first men's pro sports championship since the Portland Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1977. Valeri was named the match's Most Valuable Player.[9]

Match details

Columbus Crew SC1–2Portland Timbers
  • Kamara 18'
 Report
Attendance: 21,747
Columbus Crew SC
Portland Timbers
GK1United States Steve Clark
RB25Ghana Harrison AffulYellow card 34'
CB4United States Michael Parkhurst (c)
CB22Argentina Gastón Sauro
LB14Costa Rica Waylon Francis
CM6Cameroon Tony Tchanidownward-facing red arrow 72'
CM20United States Wil Trapp
RW13United States Ethan Finlaydownward-facing red arrow 63'
AM10Argentina Federico Higuaín
LW9Iraq Justin Meramdownward-facing red arrow 78'
CF23Sierra Leone Kei Kamara
Substitutes:
GK41United States Brad Stuver
DF2United States Tyson Wahl
DF3United States Chris Klute
MF11Democratic Republic of the Congo Cedrick Mabwatiupward-facing green arrow 63'
MF30United States Jack McInerneyupward-facing green arrow 72'
MF16United States Hector Jiménez
MF8Sweden Mohammed Saeidupward-facing green arrow 78'
Manager:
United States Gregg Berhalter
GK12Ghana Adam Larsen Kwarasey
RB2Jamaica Alvas PowellYellow card 65'
CB7United States Nat Borchers
CB24England Liam Ridgewell (c)
LB19United States Jorge Villafaña
CM6United States Darlington Nagbe
CM21Colombia Diego Chará
CM8Argentina Diego ValeriYellow card 90+3'
RW26Argentina Lucas Melanodownward-facing red arrow 59'
CF9Nigeria Fanendo Adidownward-facing red arrow 90+1'
LW22Costa Rica Rodney Wallacedownward-facing red arrow 90+4'
Substitutes:
GK90New Zealand Jake Gleeson
DF23Argentina Norberto Paparatto
DF20United States Taylor Peay
MF4Canada Will Johnson
FW13United States Jack Jewsburyupward-facing green arrow 90+4'
FW37Argentina Maximiliano Urrutiupward-facing green arrow 90+1'
FW11Colombia Dairon AsprillaYellow card 90+3'upward-facing green arrow 59'
Manager:
United States Caleb Porter

MLS Cup MVP: Diego Valeri[10]

Assistant referees:[3]
Peter Manikowski (United States)
Corey Parker (United States)
Fourth official:[3]
Chris Penso (United States)
Fifth official:[3]
James Conlee

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

References

  1. ↑ "Diego Valeri named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ Molly Blue (December 6, 2015). "Diego Valeri named MLS Cup MVP". OregonLive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "MLS Cup 2015: PRO announce refereeing crew for final". PRO Referees. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Diego Valeri scores fastest goal in MLS Cup history as Portland Timbers take early lead". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ "MLS Playoff Bracket". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Portland Timbers' Diego Valeri Scores Fastest Goal In MLS Cup History (Video)". NESN. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Portland wins MLS Cup, beating Columbus 2-1". NBC4i.com. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "MLS Cup: Crew cut down by Timbers". The Columbus Dispatch. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Timbers go all the way". The Portland Tribune. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "MLS / NASL Estados Unidos: Valeri, MVP de la final de la MLS - MARCA.com". MARCA.com. December 7, 2015.


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