MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Advance to Face Columbus Crew Sc in MLS Cup After Claiming Western Conference Championship

Published on November 29, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


FRISCO, Texas - The Portland Timbers captured the 2015 MLS Western Conference Championship, advancing to the club's first appearance in MLS Cup with a pair of second-half goals in a 2-2 draw (5-3 win on aggregate) against FC Dallas in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship in front of 20,966 fans at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Sunday evening.

Portland travels to face Eastern Conference-champion Columbus Crew SC in MLS Cup on Sunday, Dec. 6, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio; kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (Pacific) with a live national broadcast on ESPN and in Spanish on UniMás. The MLS Cup berth marks Portland's first appearance in a league title match since reaching the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) championship game.

The Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games across all competitions (5-0-3) as forward Fanendo Adi registered the game's opening goal in the 54th minute with his second goal of the postseason and late-game substitute Lucas Melano became the eighth different Timbers player to score a goal in the 2015 postseason as he tallied the equalizer for Portland in the final minute of second-half stoppage time. In addition, midfielder Diego Valeri provided two assists, while midfielder Dairon Asprilla tallied his third assist of the playoffs.

Keeping the score level in the opening 45 minutes, Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey made a key save late in the first half with a quick-reaction stop, saving midfielder David Texeira's point-blank header off a cross from midfielder Kellyn Acosta in the 32nd minute on FC Dallas' only shot on goal in the first half.

After a scoreless first half, the Timbers and FC Dallas combined to score four second-half goals. Portland opened the scoring in the 54th minute to take a 1-0 lead on Adi's strike. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe started the play, intercepting a pass before quickly finding Asprilla, who connected with Valeri making a run into the box. Valeri cut the ball back and sent a pass across the box to Adi for the finish past FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez.

FC Dallas answered with a pair of goals in a five-minute span. In the 68th minute, midfielder Mauro Diaz lofted a ball over the Timbers backline into the box and defender Matt Hollingshead connected with a one-touch shot into the bottom, right corner of the goal. Five minutes later, second-half substitute Blas Pérez headed the ball into the back of the net off a well-placed free kick from Diaz, giving Dallas a 2-1 lead in the match as Portland remained in front 4-3 on aggregate goals.

With FC Dallas pressing for a goal to send the match to extra time, defender Nat Borchers dove to make a key block, putting his body in front of a close-range shot by Pérez. Minutes later, Valeri led the Timbers break, sending a backheel pass to Melano making a run into the box. Melano dribbled around his defender and Gonzalez before tallying the series-clinching goal from a tight angle in the final minute of second-half stoppage time.

Notes:

- Portland advances to MLS Cup for the first time in the club's history since joining the league in 2011. The Timbers are the third expansion franchise (Chicago, Real Salt Lake) to advance to MLS Cup and the first from the Pacific Northwest.

- Midfielder Darlington Nagbe is the only player who has started all nine of Portland's MLS Cup Playoffs matches since 2011.

- Defender Norberto Paparatto made his first career postseason start on Sunday, playing 90 minutes.

- Defenders Nat Borchers and Alvas Powell and midfielder Darlington Nagbe have played every minute in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

- Forward Fanendo Adi is the fourth player with two or more goals in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. In addition, Adi becomes the second player to register two or more goals in Timbers' MLS postseason history.

- Adi scored his 18th goal of the season across all competitions on Sunday against FC Dallas.

- Forward Lucas Melano became the eighth different player to score a goal for Portland in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs - the most goals of any team in the postseason - and the 14th different player to score a goal in Timbers' MLS postseason history.

- With assists on both goals, midfielder Diego Valeri has now assisted on four goals in four games in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs - tied for the most assists this postseason.

- The Timbers became the 13th different team to reach MLS Cup in league history.

- With Sunday's draw, Portland improved to 5-0-3 in its last eight matches in all competitions, including a mark of 2-0-3 in the postseason.

- The Timbers are unbeaten in five consecutive road matches, dating back to a 2-1 win on the road against Columbus Crew SC on Sept. 26.

- Sunday's match was the 16th meeting between Portland and FC Dallas all-time across all competitions since 2011 as Portland improved to 7-4-5 overall.

- The 2015 Timbers join the 2013 Portland Thorns (NWSL), the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) and 1916 Portland Rosebuds (PCHA - professional hockey) as Portland-based professional teams in a top division to advance to the championship game of their sport.

- The Timbers have scored six second-half goals in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs - the most of any team in the playoffs.

- Following Sunday's match, Portland's roster features 145 combined games of MLS Cup Playoffs experience.

Next Game

The Timbers advance to face Eastern Conference-champion Columbus Crew SC in MLS Cup on Sunday, Dec. 6, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio; kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN and in Spanish on UniMás.

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