MLS Cup 2015

Last updated

MLS Cup 2015
2015 MLS Cup Logo.svg
Event MLS Cup
Columbus Crew SC Portland Timbers
12
DateDecember 6, 2015
Venue Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, US
Most Valuable Player Diego Valeri
(Portland Timbers) [1] [2]
Referee Jair Marrufo [3]
Attendance21,747
WeatherPartly cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
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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.

Contents

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 TIMBERS VS. SPORTING KC 2 - 2 (10).jpg
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 SC 1–2 Portland Timbers
  • Kamara Soccerball shade.svg18'
 Report
Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 21,747
Referee: Jair Marrufo [3]
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Columbus Crew SC
Kit left arm TIMBERS 15h.png
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Portland Timbers
GK1 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Clark
RB25 Flag of Ghana.svg Harrison Afful Yellow card.svg 34'
CB4 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Parkhurst (c)
CB22 Flag of Argentina.svg Gastón Sauro
LB14 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Waylon Francis
CM6 Flag of Cameroon.svg Tony Tchani Sub off.svg 72'
CM20 Flag of the United States.svg Wil Trapp
RW13 Flag of the United States.svg Ethan Finlay Sub off.svg 63'
AM10 Flag of Argentina.svg Federico Higuaín
LW9 Flag of Iraq.svg Justin Meram Sub off.svg 78'
CF23 Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Kei Kamara
Substitutes:
GK41 Flag of the United States.svg Brad Stuver
DF2 Flag of the United States.svg Tyson Wahl
DF3 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Klute
MF11 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Cedrick Mabwati Sub on.svg 63'
MF30 Flag of the United States.svg Jack McInerney Sub on.svg 72'
MF16 Flag of the United States.svg Hector Jiménez
MF8 Flag of Sweden.svg Mohammed Saeid Sub on.svg 78'
Manager:
Flag of the United States.svg Gregg Berhalter
GK12 Flag of Ghana.svg Adam Larsen Kwarasey
RB2 Flag of Jamaica.svg Alvas Powell Yellow card.svg 65'
CB7 Flag of the United States.svg Nat Borchers
CB24 Flag of England.svg Liam Ridgewell (c)
LB19 Flag of the United States.svg Jorge Villafaña
CM6 Flag of the United States.svg Darlington Nagbe
CM21 Flag of Colombia.svg Diego Chará
CM8 Flag of Argentina.svg Diego Valeri Yellow card.svg 90+3'
RW26 Flag of Argentina.svg Lucas Melano Sub off.svg 59'
CF9 Flag of Nigeria.svg Fanendo Adi Sub off.svg 90+1'
LW22 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Rodney Wallace Sub off.svg 90+4'
Substitutes:
GK90 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jake Gleeson
DF23 Flag of Argentina.svg Norberto Paparatto
DF20 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Peay
MF4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Will Johnson
FW13 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Jewsbury Sub on.svg 90+4'
FW37 Flag of Argentina.svg Maximiliano Urruti Sub on.svg 90+1'
FW11 Flag of Colombia.svg Dairon Asprilla Yellow card.svg 90+3'Sub on.svg 59'
Manager:
Flag of the United States.svg 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.

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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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