2015 MLS Cup | Columbus Crew SC versus Portland Timbers
Sunday, December 6th | 4:00 PM ET
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After nine months and 356 games, it all comes down to one final winner-take-all match between the Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers for the 2015 MLS Cup. With identical regular season records (18 wins, 11 losses and 8 draws), there’s no clear favorite heading into Sunday’s showdown.
By boasting a stronger goal difference throughout the course of the regular season, Columbus has earned the right to host this year’s edition of MLS Cup. MAPFRE Stadium will be at its sold-out capacity of 20,000, with the majority of attending supporters certainly pulling for the Crew.
The Road to MLS Cup 2015
The Timbers have emerged from a relatively stronger Western Conference. They knocked out league darlings Sporting KC in a dramatic penalty shootout before blanking the Vancouver Whitecaps over two legs in the Conference Semifinals.
Their 5-3 aggregate victory over FC Dallas in the Conference Finals demonstrated the wealth of players that are stepping up at the perfect moment for Portland.
The Crew avoided the initial playoff round by finishing second in the Eastern Conference. They then eliminated a Didier Drogba inspired Montreal Impact 4-3 on aggregate in the Conference Semifinals.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Crew knocked out MLS Supporters' Shield winners New York Red Bulls with a wild 2-1 aggregate victory.
With the stage set for Sunday, we’re here to help neutral fans choose a side to get behind. Essentially, the matchup boils down to a couple of sporting tropes that should help you to decide:
Columbus Crew: Attacking Play and All-Star Players
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If you’re hoping for a goal fest on Sunday, you’ll certainly want to get behind Columbus. The Crew score a lot of goals and concede their fair share as well. While Portland scored a couple stunning goals in their victory over Dallas, Columbus has been consistently delivering since March.
Kei Kamara had 22 goals throughout the course of the regular season, tied for the league best with eventual Landon Donovan MVP winner Sebastian Giovinco. He’s added 3 goals throughout the course of the playoffs to go along with 8 regular season assists.
Kamara’s rise from war-torn Sierra Leone to the 2015 MLS Best XI, as well as being awarded the 2015 MLS Humanitarian of the Year award, makes for one of the most commendable stories of the calendar year.
The other big attacking piece for the Crew is midfielder Ethan Finlay. Finlay’s fourth season in MLS resulted in his first ever selection to the MLS Best XI. Tallying 12 goals and 13 assists, Finlay has been vital in both creating and taking chances for Columbus.
The solid play from veteran Federico Higuaín and Justin Meram gives Columbus a front four that Portland will struggle to deal with.
Portland Timbers: Defensive Solidarity and a Flourishing Supporting Cast
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Charged with keepings tabs on the Columbus attack is a Portland back four that allowed only 39 goals during the regular season. Key to this defensive solidarity is the familiarity and consistency that the Timbers imbedded throughout the year.
Jorge Villafana, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell and Alves Powell have each started at least 36 games, including the playoffs. Villafana, whose career began by winning an MLS youth contest to play for the Chivas USA under-19 team, has been outstanding on the left side of defense. He leads the team in minutes played and has registered 4 assists.
Right back Alves Powell has also been a revelation at only 21 years of age. For the Timbers, however, their strength in defense certainly lies in their center back pairing of Borchers and Liam Ridgewell.
Borchers is your classic hard-nosed veteran. At 34, Borchers has an impeccable ability to read the game. He’s hardly ever guilty of fouls, resulting in zero cards this year, while leading the team in blocks per game - including the block that sent Portland to this years final.
Ridgewell is one of the most cultured defenders in MLS. He spent time playing for Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wigan in England before joining the Timbers.
He’s physical (6 yellow cards and 1 red), dominates in the air and leads the team in clearances per game. He’s also key to generating attacks from the back for Portland, attempting twice as many passes as his defensive partner.
In attack, Darlington Nagbe has been playing the best soccer of his career over the past month, resulting in a call-up to the United States national team. Nigerian Fanendo Adi is one of the best number nines in MLS, scoring 18 goals.
During the Conference Final, Dairon Asprilla and Lucas Melano stepped up to provide the Timbers with moments of absolute genius to win the tie.
Against Columbus, Portland will need Asprilla, Melano, Rodney Wallace or Diego Valeri to provide more of the same.
Columbus Crew: History, Legacy and Tradition
With an MLS Cup (2008), three MLS Supporters’ Shields and one U.S. Open Cup, the Crew are one of the most storied franchises in MLS. They are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS and MAPFRE Stadium, home to the Crew and this year’s MLS Cup final, is the first soccer-specific stadium ever built in the United States.
The site of four consecutive World Cup qualifying victories over Mexico, each by the score of dos-a-cero, gives Sunday’s match a special nostalgia for American soccer fans.
The Black & Gold may have debuted a new, rebranded look this year but they have a tradition and history that many clubs in MLS lack. Manager Gregg Berhalter, capped 44 times by the United States during his playing days, will be looking to add another trophy to the Crew’s cabinet.
Portland Timbers: The Upstart Underdogs
The Timbers are only in their fifth year of existence in MLS and are competing for their first ever piece of major silverware. However, the legacy of the Timbers name dates back to 1975 and the NASL. While the Timbers are certainly a historic club, their 2011 inaugural season introduced a new wave of supporters to MLS culture.
Providence Park has quickly become one of the most intimidating venues in MLS and the Timbers Army will be traveling in force for the 2015 MLS Cup final.
So, who’ll it be? The attack-minded favorites or the esprit de corps of the underdogs? Regardless of who you support, we’re in for a classic final on Sunday.
