The Columbus Crew and the Portland Timbers are the last teams standing in the MLS. The teams are ready to square off after taking down the top seed in their respective conferences.
The Timbers have shown a flare for the dramatic throughout the playoffs, and that was no different in the conference finals. Up 4-1 on aggregate against FC Dallas, the Timbers allowed Dallas to score twice in the second leg to get within a goal. The Timbers would add an insurance marker and eventually win the Western Conference final, 5-3, on aggregate. The Timbers have yet to play for the MLS Cup after their inception in the MLS five years ago.
"When we started the year, we wanted to get into the playoffs and win a trophy," Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said, according to MLSSoccer.com.
Columbus had some tense moments of its own throughout the playoffs. The Crew needed help beating the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference final. Columbus, up 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg, found the Red Bulls pressing for an equalizer when a header dribbled past Columbus goalkeepr Steve Clark but hit the post and stayed out. The Crew hung on to advance to the MLS Cup for the first time since winning the championship in 2008.
Columbus failed to score in the second leg of the conference final, but according to Joe Tansey at Bleacher Report, a big part of Columbus' success throughout the conference finals can be attributed to terrific marking from center-backs Michael Parkhurst and Gaston Sauro. The tandem will have to shut down Timbers forwards lead by Fanendo Adi who scored twice the last time the teams faced off in September.
The Timbers have doubts over the health of Adi, and could be without him on Sunday, according to Jason Le Miere of the International Business Times. Adi scored 16 goals this season, and the Timbers could use his scoring touch to take advantage of a Columbus team that allowed 53 goals this year.
Despite both clubs having identical records Columbus earned the right to host the MLS cup by having a better goal differential. The match is set for Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. EST at MAPFRE stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
