While Lampson served as one of the backup goalies but didn’t see action in any of Crew SC’s games, Barson played in 10 games, including four starts, this season.
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Portland Timbers boss Caleb Porter polarises opinions.
The only other MLS Cup final held in Columbus was in 2001 when San Jose beat Los Angeles 2-1 in what was formerly known as Crew Stadium. “None of us envisioned starting the game like that so it’s just disappointing”. “You have to live with it, we support him and mistakes are part of the game”. Portland got off to a flying start when Crew goalkeeper Clark dallied on a clearance and Valeri slid in to redirect the ball into the net to give the Timbers the fastest goal in MLS Cup final history.
Portland’s Diego Valeri scored by taking the advantage of a blunder of the Columbus’ goalkeeper only 27 seconds into the game. “I can’t wait to take the trophy home”.
Some would argue that without the playoffs offering second chances, the regular season would carry greater importance.
Villafana, though, took Finlay out of Sunday’s game in a figurative and, later, literal sense: His shutdown of Finlay proved so comprehensive that Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter was forced to take Finlay out of the game in the 63rd minute to try to find another equation that might work. The adage says that most players get nervous before kickoff but once a player gets his first touch in, it becomes just another match and the nerves eventually melt away. Instead of a stoppage for a throw-in, Portland kept going with Rodney Wallace eventually scoring the winning goal on a header.
MLS operates as a single-entity, meaning that technically all players are under contract with MLS and not their individual teams. It was an impressive victory at the most rarified level of sports.
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The Crew won the 2008 title, beating NY 3-1 in Carson, California. Later in the day, the Timbers will host a championship rally for fans at Providence Park free and open to the public, beginning at 6 p.m. (Pacific); gates open to the event at 5 p.m. (Pacific).
