COLUMBUS CREW GOALKEEPER Steve Clark gifted Portland the quickest goal in MLS Cup history as the Timbers won their first title.
Portland were 1-0 up after just 27 seconds of the playoff final after Clark dawdled over a back pass and allowed Diego Valeri to slide in and score:
The Timbers doubled their advantage in controversial circumstances just six minutes later. Columbus believed that the ball had gone out for a throw-in but the officials allowed play to continue and Costa Rican forward Rodney Wallace scored a diving header:
Portland keeper Adam Kwarasey then had a dodgy moment of his own, allowing Kei Kamara to scramble home the ball and cut the deficit on 18 minutes, but Columbus never managed to find an equaliser and the Timbers held on for a 2-1 win.
The title is the city of Portland’s first in any major sport since the Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1977.
– Additional reporting by AFP
