Portland Timbers win the championship after beating Columbus Crew 2-1 at the Mapfre Stadium, thanks to an explosive start and a goal within 27 seconds
Read Graham Parker’s match report from Mapre Stadium
11.33pm GMT
And Merritt Paulson lifts the trophy. Well, we’re going to wrap this blog up now. Great game, lots of drama, and try to catch the highlights if you can – there’s plenty to see.
Thanks so much for reading. See you later. And you can read Graham Parker’s match report here:
Related: Columbus Crew 1-2 Portland Timbers | MLS Cup match report
11.30pm GMT
Portland celebrate:
11.27pm GMT
Alejandro Moreno makes a good point: half-time came at the wrong time for the Crew. Their momentum was stopped, and Portland regrouped and gave a classy second-half display. Valeri, Nagbe, Ridgewell and Wallace stood out for the Timbers, but it was a team effort: they limited Columbus to very few real chances.
11.24pm GMT
Diego Valeri is the MLS Cup MVP of 2015. He was excellent today: his skills, passing and crossing – plus his early goal – made the difference.
11.23pm GMT
Kamara and the Crew players look dejected, but they didn’t play as well as they can today. Maybe they never really recovered from that nightmare start, although they played well in the first half and got back into it. The second 45, though, was disappointing: Portland were much better.
11.21pm GMT
Portland are celebrating on the pitch, and why not: it’s their first ever MLS championship, and richly deserved. They had a great postseason, went on a nine-game winning streak, and were the better team today. Well done to the Timbers.
11.19pm GMT
Portland win their first MLS Cup!
11.18pm GMT
90 min +5: Trapp is fouled in the centre circle, and it’s one last chance for Columbus. Get it in the box! They do, but no one got a touch, and it’s through for a goal kick. That must be it now.
11.17pm GMT
90 min +4: Now Portland make their final change, and Jack Jewsbury replaces Rodney Wallace. The Costa Rican is seconds away from being the game-winner.
11.16pm GMT
90 min +3: Valeri is yellow-carded for time wasting. And one for Saeid too? Columbus have about 90 seconds.
11.15pm GMT
90 min +2: Urruti does really well to chest it down and find Wallace in the left corner. This is good game management from Portland, and now they win a corner following nice work from Asprilla.
11.14pm GMT
90 min: Adi is replaced by Urruti. Four minutes of stoppage time. Can Columbus find something?
11.13pm GMT
89 min: Columbus have had plenty of the ball since the break, but they haven’t really created any clear opportunities. The final ball has been lacking.
Adi is down, and Caleb Porter is going potty on the touchline about something or other.
11.11pm GMT
88 min: Portland still have two substitutions to make, but Caleb Porter is happy for the time being. Asprilla and Powell do enough to take it off Cedrick’s toe, and again Portland are happy to crash it downfield.
11.10pm GMT
87 min: Ridgewell, who has been excellent today, clears from Afful’s cross. Time running out for Columbus.
11.09pm GMT
86 min: Kwarasey is unconvincing with the punch, and Trapp has a go from range, but it’s blocked, and Portland hammer it clear.
11.09pm GMT
85 min: It’s crazy to think that Portland haven’t scored in this second half. Three huge chances, and Columbus are still in this game. Kamara wins a corner for the Crew.
11.07pm GMT
83 min: Columbus fans are jostling Valeri as he goes over to take the corner, which is not cool. There were some bottles thrown earlier in the game, too.
Columbus Crew fans pelt Portland Timbers players with beer bottles https://t.co/cP3lhK9vs6 pic.twitter.com/rDsyhZ3wcZ
11.06pm GMT
82 min: Portland should have killed the game by now. That was great goalkeeping by Clark, but Borchers was two yards out, and he should have found the net.
11.05pm GMT
81 min: After a slightly iffy first 10 minutes of the second half, Portland have been the better side after the break: they’ve defended stoutly, allowed Columbus few chances, and created things on the counter-attack. And what a save from Steve Clark! I thought it was 3-1: point-blank header from Nat Borchers from a brilliant Valeri cross, but Clark came up big. Fabulous save.
11.02pm GMT
78 min: Corner for the Crew, and Kamara pumps the crowd up. Can they find something here? Change for the hosts – Mohammed Saeid in for Meram – but the corner is well defended by Portland.
11.01pm GMT
77 min: Ooh, that was close for the Crew: lovely link-up down the right, and Higuain cushioned a pass and lobbed it over for McInerney – but the sub was inches from connecting. Had he managed to, that could have been 2-2: the Timbers defence was static.
10.59pm GMT
76 min: Meram slips again – is he playing in tennis shoes? – but the Timbers can’t make it count on the break: they had a four v two there, but the passing was poor. The Timbers have had chances to put this game to bed.
10.58pm GMT
74 min: Ooh, that was a chance for Nagbe following some nice combination play down the left, but his shot was high. Should have hit the target.
10.57pm GMT
73 min: Change for the Crew: Jack McInerney is on for Tony Tchani.
Taylor Twellman, who is great, incidentally, cannot believe that header from Adi stayed out, and channels his finest John McEnroe: “You cannot be serious! Huh?!”
10.55pm GMT
71 min: Cedrick’s ball in from the left is terrible, and Portland attack swiftly … and Adi’s header is off the post! Inside of the post, back off the keeper Clark, and somehow it managed to stay out! Brilliant header from the Nigerian; so unlucky. Another massive slick of luck for the Crew!
10.52pm GMT
69 min: Timbers corner, and Villafana will take. Ridgewell climbed at the back post, but a whistle went up for a push. And now Kamara is down hurt. He looks in pain.
10.51pm GMT
67 min: It really is anyone’s game, this. Portland seem happy with what they have, but it’s a dangerous game to try to hold on to 2-1: Columbus have goals in them.
10.49pm GMT
65 min: Dreadful ball in from Higuain from a dangerous position. That was really poor for a player of his quality.
10.48pm GMT
64 min: Change for Columbus: Finlay, who hasn’t done much, unfortunately, is replaced by Cedrick.
That should have been a penalty. After Kamara’s hack on the crossbar, it bounced down and clearly hit Pankhurst on the arm. Another missed call, although it was tough to see in real time.
10.47pm GMT
62 min: Now it’s the Crew’s turn to attack, and they win a corner. It comes to nothing.
Just looking at that replay – it really was an amazing scramble. Parkhurst cleared off the line, but then Kamara, in an effort to clear, somehow diverted it on to the crossbar, and it came down, bounced flush on the line, and then seemed to hit Parkhurst on the arm. Did Columbus get away with one there?
10.44pm GMT
60 min: Great block from Parkhurst to stop Adi. It’s a corner. And what a scramble! Oh my word. How did that not go in?! It was flicked on, turned towards goal, off the line, off the post, and the Crew managed to squirt it clear. An escape for the hosts.
10.43pm GMT
59 min: Better from the Timbers: they’re not hunkered down in their own penalty area. And that change is made – Asprilla comes in from Melano, who has maybe been sub-par today, although he did create the second goal.
10.41pm GMT
57 min: Valeri’s been at the heart of Portland’s best work today. He was down a few minutes ago, rubbing his head, but he seems OK now. Portland win it back after Meram goes to ground yet again, prompting Taylor Twellman on commentary to say: “I’ve never seen Justin Meram on the ground as often as I have in this game.”
Shot from Melano: straight at Clark.
10.39pm GMT
55 min: I think that might be Melano’s last action. Dairon Asprilla looks ready to come on.
10.38pm GMT
53 min: Oh, what a chance for Melano! From nowhere, Portland sprang forward, and Melano found himself all alone in the box after reading Adi’s flick-on … but he scuffed his shot! That was a great chance, but his shot was horrible: he completely miskicked it. Big chance.
10.35pm GMT
52 min: Afful goes clear down the right again, but Villafana cuts out the cross. Powell has time, but just lumps it forward to no one. The Timbers are extremely deep here, and Adi can’t get on the ball.
10.33pm GMT
50 min: Columbus have started very nicely in this second half, and Portland are deep in their own half. No clear chances, though.
10.32pm GMT
48 min: Taken short by Higuain to Afful, who was all alone on the right-hand side, and his ball is high and hanging, but Kwarasey does well to hang on. Afful should have done better there: he had time and space to measure his cross.
10.31pm GMT
47 min: Nice turn from Meram on the edge of the box, but Diego Chara is quickly in to win it. But Portland turn it over, concede the free kick, and now it’s a chance for Columbus.
10.29pm GMT
46 min: No changes for the second half. The sun’s setting in Ohio – the players’ shadows are visible on the pitch now.
10.17pm GMT
Here’s that Clark error:
Here’s that awful error for the first Portland goal. (vine via @Ben_Jata) https://t.co/2NxYWZBjYh https://t.co/lTUXhgs0hl
10.16pm GMT
Crew coach Gregg Berhalter to ESPN: “We have a lot of faith in Steve, but it was an error, it was a mistake. We were in a hole early, but we gotta dig ourselves out. As we settled in, it got a little better.”
10.16pm GMT
An intriguing first 45, but one riddled with errors: two big ones from each goalkeeper, and a bad one from the officials, who should have whistled for a throw-in in the build-up to Portland’s second goal. Columbus had a nightmare start as Portland began hot, but after Kamara’s goal, the hosts were the better side, and looked dangerous in possession. Half-time might have come at the right time for Portland.
10.12pm GMT
That’s the half. Phew!
10.11pm GMT
45 min + 1: Afful’s ball in from the right is abject, and Kwarasey safely catches this one.
10.11pm GMT
45 min: Chance for Columbus to get the ball in the box now, but Higuain’s delivery is well defended by Adi. Only one minute of stoppage time to be added.
10.10pm GMT
44 min: Powell, who has been quiet as an attacker, goes down the right and wins a corner. Columbus have looked nervy at set pieces, but they safely whack it clear.
10.07pm GMT
41 min: Portland press Columbus high, and Valeri wins it cleanly, and the Timbers can break – but Valeri’s ball for Adi through the channel is just too strong.
Now Adi finds space in the box after a lucky ricochet, and looks for the near corner with his left foot – but that’s a big save from Steve Clark! Tipped round the post – it was going in. Corner for the Timbers, but it’s too long for everyone.
10.04pm GMT
39 min: Chance for a break for Portland here, but Columbus are quickly back into their defensive shape. It’s calmed down a little after that frantic start.
10.02pm GMT
36 min: This game has been absorbing, but error-strewn: I think nerves must have played a role. Both defences look vulnerable.
10.01pm GMT
35 min: First yellow of the game for a ridiculous, rugby-style tackle by Afful on Ridgewell as Portland looked to break. It probably wasn’t worthy of a red, but it was a ludicrous challenge, and certainly would offend the sensibilities of the soccer purist.
9.59pm GMT
33 min: Meram, the Iraq international, goes down again – and yet another no-call! Despite the scoreline, Crew are on top at the moment:
30' #CrewSC has settled into this match. Half an hour in, the Black & Gold hold 58% possession. #MLSCup
9.58pm GMT
32 min: Jair Marrufo, the ref, has looked to let the game flow, which is admirable, but a couple of late tackles haven’t been brought back – and Chara was really lucky to avoid a yellow for a cynical foul on Meram.
Adi has been quiet for Portland, incidentally. The Crew are definitely coming back strongly.
9.54pm GMT
29 min: Villafana and Wallace have combined really nicely down the left for Portland, but Tchani, tall and strong, is quickly over to win it back.
9.53pm GMT
28 min: Sloppy in possession from Nagbe, and Crew look to attack with Kamara: it’s laid back for Finlay to strike, but the bearded Borchers does very well to throw his body in front of it. Brave defending.
9.51pm GMT
26 min: That’s another slack pass from Trapp, and the Timbers stream forward: Villafana’s ball in is really well defended by Sauro, and the Crew break, before Justin Meram is hauled down by Chara. No yellow! How is that not a booking?
9.50pm GMT
24 min: Portland’s free kick in the centre circle. Ridgewell floats one in, and it falls to Valeri in the box, but his shot is tame, and straight at Clark. This game has a pleasing ebb and flow.
9.48pm GMT
23 min: More pressure from the Crew, and Afful’s ball in from the right finds Higuain free in the box – but the Argentinian can’t get his shot right, and it’s wide.
9.47pm GMT
21 min: Now Columbus have the bit between their teeth, but Trapp’s ball for Finlay is too strong. What a zany start this has been.
9.46pm GMT
19 min: Well, that’s another dreadful goalkeeping blunder. Afful hung a cross up, and it was on a platter for Adam Kwarasey, but he inexplicably muffed it. A melee ensued, and Kamara was quickly on to it, and did well to find the net through a crowd of bodies, but that was an ur-clanger from the Timbers goalie. It’s all happening!
9.43pm GMT
Kamara! We have a game again!
Goal Kei Kamara. 2-1. #MLSCup #CrewSC https://t.co/8UBcvtekhE
9.43pm GMT
15 min: Oh, that’s interesting: in the build-up to Portland’s second goal, the ball went out of play by about a foot, and Tchani stopped because he assumed the whistle would go. It didn’t. That’s a huge blunder from the officials, although the Crew, critically, didn’t play to the whistle.
9.41pm GMT
13 min: The Crew have found their feet somewhat. But Portland are classy in possession, and that’s lovely skill from Valeri – unfortunately Wallace didn’t make the run he wanted, and the ball’s out for a throw.
9.38pm GMT
11 min: Nice run from Meram, and that was a bump in the box from Nagbe. Penalty? No call, but that was dicey from the Timbers player.
9.37pm GMT
10 min: Gregg Berhalter looks stunned. The Crew just haven’t started.
Stephen Marfleet won’t have won his bet today, unfortunately: “I’m going 3-1 Crew. More fire power and home advantage will be the difference. How many Timbers fans have made the journey, Tim?”
9.35pm GMT
9 min: Meram has a go from the edge of the box, and Villafana is quick to avert the danger after it was blocked. Corner to the Crew, but they can’t make it count, and Higuain is offside.
9.34pm GMT
8 min: This is a brilliant start from the Timbers. Nagbe advanced in midfield, found Melano free on the right-hand side, and Melano crossed beautifully for Wallace, arriving late, who headed accurately, low, past Clark. Columbus are in shock. What a final!
9.33pm GMT
Boy oh boy. Wallace makes it two!
9.32pm GMT
4 min: Columbus need to settle, and that was an opportunity for them: Kamara streaked down the right, crossed well, and it fell for Higuain eight yards out in space – but his touch let him down! A let-off for Portland: the marking was flimsy.
9.30pm GMT
2 min: What an incredible start to the game. Was it nerves? It was a bad touch from Clark – he was deep inside his box, and it would have been judicious to just whack it – but credit to Valeri: he saw an opportunity, and pounced. A goal inside 27 seconds. Amazing!
9.28pm GMT
1 min: Portland lead, and what a terrible error from Steve Clark. Parkhurst went back to Clark, but the keeper took a heavy first touch, Valeri closed him down rapidly, and tackled him cleanly, and the ball just rolled into the net. Inside 30 seconds! Awful start for the Crew.
9.26pm GMT
Oh my word. What a start!!!
Here’s that awful error for the first Portland goal. (vine via @Ben_Jata) https://t.co/2NxYWZBjYh https://t.co/lTUXhgs0hl
9.26pm GMT
1 min: The 2015 MLS Cup final gets under way. Columbus all in yellow, Portland in green shirts, white shorts. Smoke all around the ground. It’s on!
9.24pm GMT
Taylor Twellman: “Whoever bosses the midfield – and in particular which Argentine playmaker has a better game – will decide who wins the cup.”
Yep, dead on. Can Valeri outdo Higuain?
9.22pm GMT
Kevin Ross sings the national anthem. R&B-tinged – more Beyoncé than Bo Diddley. But it was good!
9.20pm GMT
They’re out shaking hands. Sunil Gulati and Don Garber making their presence felt. Let’s just play!
9.17pm GMT
Teams are in the tunnel. Shouldn’t be long.
9.14pm GMT
Kei Kamara is fit, ready and raring to go: he turned an ankle in training yesterday, and there was some speculation that he wouldn’t be able to play. But he’s good, and has just told ESPN:
“It was kind of a freak accident. Goalkeeper’s coming out for the ball and kind of stepped on my foot, rolled my ankle, got a little bump on my knee. But adrenaline will pump in, and I’m ready to go.”
9.11pm GMT
I was just watching that Lucas Melano goal that sealed Portland’s victory over Dallas. So smooth – and a body swerve to rival Elvis. It’s around the 3:00 mark.
9.03pm GMT
Our Graham is in the stadium:
It’s a chilly day in Columbus. Not 2013 Kansas City cold, just mildly affecting hacks’ quality of life cold. On that note, we’re all suffering democratically – Crew SC’s press box holds 20 people, so the majority of the press are in a big open air tent above the Nordecke. Can’t confirm that press box currently contains only Don Garber eating a truffle.
Interesting to see Melano star in place of Asprilla. Can see potential for straight swap later in a tight game. And also interesting to see how if Ridgewell and Kamara still have any lingering effects of injuries when they line up against each other. Will be watching for that in early going (say, first nine seconds…)
9.02pm GMT
As expected, we won’t kick off at 4pm on the nose. But it shouldn’t be too long until we get going.
8.55pm GMT
Some pictures from the pre-game in Columbus:
8.49pm GMT
It’s almost time!
Yes. #CrewSC #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/tyNErOF22a
8.44pm GMT
Anyone got any predictions? They’re pretty evenly matched, these two, and I reckon both fancy their chances today. Columbus have home advantage, of course – thanks to their better regular-season record – but I think Portland could do it. 2-1 to the Timbers? What do you reckon?
8.29pm GMT
Just a note on the starting lineups: expect Tchani and Trapp to sit deep and protect the Columbus back four, but Afful and Francis will look to get forward and provide service to Kamara.
Portland will line up in their preferred 4-3-3: if Nagbe, Chara and Valeri can wrest control of the midfield the Timbers should enjoy today.
8.26pm GMT
Graham Parker is at the Mapfre Stadium:
Timbers fans packed in nicely for final #MLSCup @GuardianUS @tom_lutz pic.twitter.com/oHeSy0Eln9
8.24pm GMT
Weather watch: it’s 47F, or 8C, in Columbus. Chilly, but it’s sunny and bright. No rain.
8.23pm GMT
The guys on ESPN are just reflecting on the strides that MLS has made since its inception in 1996. Taylor Twellman makes a good point on the rise of the soccer-specific stadium:
“It’s an event to go to a soccer game. It was not an event to go to Arrowhead Stadium, to watch the Kansas City Wizards play New England Revolution in front of 4,500 people. Now it’s an event!”
8.18pm GMT
And Kei Kamara will start for Columbus after an injury scare in training on Saturday:
Here's your #CrewSC Starting XI vs. @TimbersFC! #MLSCup #CLBvPOR pic.twitter.com/qNLE71YOHP
8.15pm GMT
And Liam Ridgewell is fit to play for Portland:
Timbers #MLSCup XI vs. CLB: Kwarasey, Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell (c), Villafaña, Chara, Nagbe, Valeri, Melano, Adi, Wallace #RCTID
8.06pm GMT
It’s finally here. Nine months after the season started, we’re ready for the championship game. Columbus take on Portland for the MLS Cup, and it promises to be a belter.
Maybe it’s not the final some people wanted. Maybe these two sides lack star names. But it’s hard to contest the notion that they deserve to be here. Even if they didn’t top their respective conferences, the Crew and the Timbers been the best sides in the playoffs. Columbus dispatched a dangerous Montreal before beating the Red Bulls in the conference final, and their big players have come good. Kamara, Finlay, Wil Trapp et al have done the business when it’s mattered, and that’s why they’re here, and Didier Drogba, Bradley Wright-Phillips and others are watching from home.
6.57pm GMT
Tim will be here shortly, in the meantime you can catch up with our pre-game coverage below:
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