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| MLS Cup: Columbus Crew v Portland Timbers – live! | MLS Cup: Columbus Crew v Portland Timbers – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.54pm GMT21:54 | |
| 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 GMT21:53 | |
| 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 GMT21:51 | |
| 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 GMT21:50 | |
| 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 GMT21:48 | |
| 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 GMT21:47 | |
| 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. | |
| Updated at 9.47pm GMT | |
| 9.46pm GMT21:46 | |
| 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 GMT21:43 | |
| GOAL! Columbus 1-2 Portland (Kamara 18) | |
| Kamara! We have a game again! | |
| 9.43pm GMT21:43 | |
| 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 GMT21:41 | |
| 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. | |
| Updated at 9.41pm GMT | |
| 9.38pm GMT21:38 | |
| 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 GMT21:37 | |
| 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?” | |
| Apparently about 2,000. And Timber Joey is among them – but he won’t be able to bring his log and chainsaw into the stadium. | |
| 9.35pm GMT21:35 | |
| 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 GMT21:34 | |
| 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 GMT21:33 | |
| GOAL! Columbus 0-2 Portland (Wallace 7) | |
| Boy oh boy. Wallace makes it two! | |
| 9.32pm GMT21:32 | |
| 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 GMT21:30 | |
| 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 GMT21:28 | |
| 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. | |
| Updated at 9.48pm GMT | |
| 9.26pm GMT21:26 | |
| GOAL! Columbus 0-1 Portland (Valeri 1) | |
| Oh my word. What a start!!! | |
| 9.26pm GMT21:26 | |
| And we're off! | |
| 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 GMT21:24 | |
| 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 GMT21:22 | |
| Kevin Ross sings the national anthem. R&B-tinged – more Beyoncé than Bo Diddley. But it was good! | |
| 9.20pm GMT21:20 | |
| They’re out shaking hands. Sunil Gulati and Don Garber making their presence felt. Let’s just play! | |
| Updated at 9.23pm GMT | |
| 9.17pm GMT21:17 | 9.17pm GMT21:17 |
| Teams are in the tunnel. Shouldn’t be long. | Teams are in the tunnel. Shouldn’t be long. |
| 9.14pm GMT21:14 | 9.14pm GMT21:14 |
| 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: | 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.” | “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 GMT21:11 | 9.11pm GMT21:11 |
| 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. | 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 GMT21:03 | 9.03pm GMT21:03 |
| Our Graham is in the stadium: | 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. | 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…) | 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 GMT21:02 | 9.02pm GMT21:02 |
| As expected, we won’t kick off at 4pm on the nose. But it shouldn’t be too long until we get going. | 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 GMT20:55 | 8.55pm GMT20:55 |
| Some pictures from the pre-game in Columbus: | Some pictures from the pre-game in Columbus: |
| 8.49pm GMT20:49 | 8.49pm GMT20:49 |
| It’s almost time! | It’s almost time! |
| Yes. #CrewSC #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/tyNErOF22a | Yes. #CrewSC #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/tyNErOF22a |
| 8.44pm GMT20:44 | 8.44pm GMT20:44 |
| 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? | 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 GMT20:29 | 8.29pm GMT20:29 |
| 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. | 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. | 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 GMT20:26 | 8.26pm GMT20:26 |
| Graham Parker is at the Mapfre Stadium: | Graham Parker is at the Mapfre Stadium: |
| Timbers fans packed in nicely for final #MLSCup @GuardianUS @tom_lutz pic.twitter.com/oHeSy0Eln9 | Timbers fans packed in nicely for final #MLSCup @GuardianUS @tom_lutz pic.twitter.com/oHeSy0Eln9 |
| 8.24pm GMT20:24 | 8.24pm GMT20:24 |
| Weather watch: it’s 47F, or 8C, in Columbus. Chilly, but it’s sunny and bright. No rain. | Weather watch: it’s 47F, or 8C, in Columbus. Chilly, but it’s sunny and bright. No rain. |
| 8.23pm GMT20:23 | 8.23pm GMT20:23 |
| 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: | 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!” | “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!” |
| Mapfre Stadium, where today’s game is being played, was, of course, the first soccer-specific stadium in the US. | Mapfre Stadium, where today’s game is being played, was, of course, the first soccer-specific stadium in the US. |
| Updated at 8.32pm GMT | Updated at 8.32pm GMT |
| 8.18pm GMT20:18 | 8.18pm GMT20:18 |
| And Kei Kamara will start for Columbus after an injury scare in training on Saturday: | 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 | Here's your #CrewSC Starting XI vs. @TimbersFC! #MLSCup #CLBvPOR pic.twitter.com/qNLE71YOHP |
| 8.15pm GMT20:15 | 8.15pm GMT20:15 |
| Team news | Team news |
| And Liam Ridgewell is fit to play for Portland: | 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 | Timbers #MLSCup XI vs. CLB: Kwarasey, Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell (c), Villafaña, Chara, Nagbe, Valeri, Melano, Adi, Wallace #RCTID |
| 8.06pm GMT20:06 | 8.06pm GMT20:06 |
| Hello and welcome | Hello and welcome |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Portland have never won the MLS Cup, and are, in the parlance, “championship-starved”. But they scored a hugely impressive aggregate victory over FC Dallas in the western final, beating many people’s tip for the title, and they’re a side short on glamour but long on guts. Caleb Porter dryly noted in his pre-match press conference that the Timbers hadn’t had one player selected in the MLS all-star team, but that’s the way he likes it. | Portland have never won the MLS Cup, and are, in the parlance, “championship-starved”. But they scored a hugely impressive aggregate victory over FC Dallas in the western final, beating many people’s tip for the title, and they’re a side short on glamour but long on guts. Caleb Porter dryly noted in his pre-match press conference that the Timbers hadn’t had one player selected in the MLS all-star team, but that’s the way he likes it. |
| “I just like the way the whole thing has kind of fit together, which is probably why we’re doing so well,” he said. | “I just like the way the whole thing has kind of fit together, which is probably why we’re doing so well,” he said. |
| Two well matched sides, in a packed stadium, on primetime TV, with US soccer’s biggest prize up for grabs: it should be a good one. Kick off’s at 4pm ET. Join us! | Two well matched sides, in a packed stadium, on primetime TV, with US soccer’s biggest prize up for grabs: it should be a good one. Kick off’s at 4pm ET. Join us! |
| Updated at 8.14pm GMT | Updated at 8.14pm GMT |
| 6.57pm GMT18:57 | 6.57pm GMT18:57 |
| Tim will be here shortly, in the meantime you can catch up with our pre-game coverage below: | Tim will be here shortly, in the meantime you can catch up with our pre-game coverage below: |
| Related: MLS Cup: the Timbers and Crew players who will decide the final | Related: MLS Cup: the Timbers and Crew players who will decide the final |
| Related: MLS Cup: Columbus Crew v Portland Timbers – which team is stronger? | Related: MLS Cup: Columbus Crew v Portland Timbers – which team is stronger? |
| Related: The 10 most memorable MLS Cup moments | Related: The 10 most memorable MLS Cup moments |