mls 2015

Second leg today. Two goal deficits in each match. Enjoy.

 

Pretty impressed with Portland. Their passing is way above average. Got sloppy at the end, but i think that was due to the early frenetic pace. Caleb Porter is a heck of a coach.

 

And NO ENERGY DRINKS IN THE FINAL!
Yay.
Wish I could go to the final since it's 3 hours from my house. We'll see.

 

So happy for the Timbers fans, this is front page news in the Rose City. They never got this far back in the NASL days. Biggest concern is the health of Liam Ridgewell who didn't play yesterday. Not sure they can win in Columbus without him.

 

I'm happy for both sets of fans. Neither has a marquee designated player, yet here they are in the final. Love it when small market teams succeed wildly. Should be a very entertaining match. Gonna see if I can sneak in a road trip next Sunday (wink, wink).

 

Good point, but while the players may not be "marquee" in name, each club is rife with talent. Many internationals, former or current, will be involved for both clubs. While the networks may be disheartened that a NY, or Dallas or L.A. isn't involved, it should be a brilliant showcase for MLS. And I'm sure Columbus will be rocking for the final. Had to dig this one back up (and seriously, how many supporters of any club would hold up sunflowers?) b/c it is so damn special. From a 'Quakes supporter: go Timbers. Nothing against your Crew, 'fog, just a west coast thing.

 

I was a grade schooler the one time the Trail Blazers won the NBA title ('77). If the Timbers can pull it off there is going to be one helluva party in Portland. Love the sunflowers, this is a great one also:

 

MLS Championship Final: Portland (OR) Timbers at Columbus (OH) Crew SC. Venue Mapfre (whatever the hell that is) Stadium, Columbus Ohio
- See what I'm doing there?
some West Coast social commentary here, reflective of that type of outlook.
http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2015/12/portland_timbers_vs_columbus_c_5.html

Note the Homer score predictions.
And especially read the comments... Typical of a yay-who bumpkin reader base.
I was tempted to reply:
"Well, in England where I'm from only schoolgirls play Netball (basketball) and Rounders (baseball). As to American so-called football, we laugh at a 3 hour long game that only has 20 minutes of play-action and the players must don robocop battle armor to participate."
*****
Despite I'm a Crew 'fan' I think something's missing when you play a Pro Championship final in the top seeded team's city. Was so much more fun, the last time, to see the Crew and NY play in LA.

 

Asking the Timbers Army for their score predictions for the game isn't exactly going to get much in the way of an unbiased scoreline.

I have the opposite opinion on having the game at the number one seed's venue. That joint will be rocking today and the MLS Cup games I've seen at neutral sites had a small section of fans of both teams and that's it (felt very much like I was watching a minor league trying to punch above their weight and failing miserably). Of all our major pro leagues (MLB, NBA, NHL, and the DraftKings or is it the FanDuel League ?), only the Super Bowl is played at a neutral site. They can get away with the atmosphere rarely coming within shouting distance of the conference championship games aka the NFL semifinals because everyone is at a SB party which in itself provides the 'juice'. Watching today's boisterous sellout crowd (Portland sold it's small away allotment within nano-seconds) will give the feeling of a big event.

As for the game, can't speak for Columbus, but in every bar in Portland the DraftDuel games will be relegated to the tiny tvs in the corner (if shown at all), it's all about the Timbers in that town today, and truly hope the lads bring the city it's first title in 38 years, GO TIMBERS!!!

 

Good job throwing beer cans at the opposition after they scored, Mexicolumbus. Classy.

 

Good memory. That 1st Portland goal was shocking!

 

Congratulations to Portland on a nice playoff run. Also congratulations to Columbus for a good fight after going down 2 early.

The officiating was suspect - but the referee let both teams play aggressively for the most part. The second goal for Portland was created via, how shall I put it gently, a bad call.

 

Congrats to Portland and their fans. A weird final, to be sure. Not sure what Steve Clark was thinking on the opening goal, but I'll bet he doesn't pitter patter around the crease with the ball like that ever again. And the ball was out before the second goal, but you can never assume they're gonna get it right. Gotta keep playing. And there was the missed call on Michael Parkhurst's hand ball on the goal line that should have resulted in a penalty. Both teams deserved to be there. I thought Columbus might make a run at it when I went up last year to see Donovan's last game there. Was really impressed with Meram that night. Had no idea they'd get this far, though. Props to both organizations.