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2015 MLS Cup final: Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers

By Marco D'Onofrio

Nov 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Portland Timbers players celebrate winning the Western Conference championship against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The matched ends in 2-2 draw. The Timbers advance on aggregate goals. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Portland Timbers players celebrate winning the Western Conference championship against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The matched ends in 2-2 draw. The Timbers advance on aggregate goals. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The second legs of both the MLS Eastern and Western Conference finals took place on Sunday, with the Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers, coming out victorious to reach the 2015 MLS Cup final.

In the first legs of both the Major League Soccer Eastern and Western Conference finals, the home team was able to come out with a two goal advantage heading into the second leg.

The Eastern Conference first leg opened up with the fastest playoff goal in league history, as Justin Meram, put the Columbus Crew up after just nine seconds of play. MLS MVP candidate, Kei Kamara, double the Crew’s lead in the 85th minute and the Crew left Mapfre Stadium with a 2-0 win.

Not only were Gregg Berhlater’s side able to find the back of the net twice against the Red Bulls, they were able to prevent the league’s most powerful offense from scoring a crucial away goal. In the second leg a week later, we saw much of the same. The Red Bulls were not able to replicate the stellar form they showed throughout the 2015 MLS campaign, and the Supporters Shield champions were ultimately eliminated from the Eastern conference final for the second consecutive season.

In the Western Conference, the Portland Timbers, shocked everyone by taking down the 2015 Supporters’ Shield runner-ups, FC Dallas. They pulled off an important 3-1 victory at the friendly confines of Providence Park, and managed to escape Toyota Stadium with a 2-2 draw in the second leg on Sunday afternoon.

The MLS Cup final will take place next Sunday (December 6th) from Mapfre Stadium, at 4 p.m. ET. It’ll be the first time in history that the Portland Timbers play in the league’s championship game, while the Crew have only reached the MLS Cup final once before, when they beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in 2008.

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