This Sunday, the Portland Timbers will travel to Ohio to take on the Columbus Crew for the right to call themselves Champions. Some—fans of European football, especially—question Major League Soccer’s playoff format, suggesting that, like most leagues around the world, America’s top flight should simply crown its kings based on who has the most points at year’s end. While Supporters Shield winners New York Red Bulls may be disappointed not to be involved this Sunday having topped the table this season, the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs have nonetheless been a true joy to behold.
How They Arrived
The Columbus Crew edged out Montreal and DC by two points in the Eastern Conference, earning the second seed, and a bye through the first knockout rounds of the MLS Cup Playoffs. But that doesn’t mean they had an easy go of it. In the Conference Semis, the Crew came storming back from a 2-1 first leg loss against Montreal to win 3-1 in the second leg, and advance to the Eastern Conference Championship. Once there, they dominated the first leg against NY Red Bulls at home, winning a comprehensive 2-0 victory. Then, in the second leg at Red Bull Arena, they looked a lock for the Cup Final near game’s end, as they headed into the 90th minute with the game still scoreless, and their 2-0 aggregate lead intact.
Then, for the heart rates of Hudson Street Hooligans in Ohio, things got dicey. With the stands in Harrison New Jersey already emptying, and nearly two of the four minutes of stoppage time gone, some sloppy defending saw Anatole Abang nick a header, putting Red Bulls just one goal away from tying the match. Then, with the final whistle set to blow any second, another ping-ponging series of headers in the box resulted in Bradley Wright-Phillips with the ball on his forehead at the edge of the six yard box. His effort, to Columbus’ relief, hit the post, and the Crew cleared the ball, and along with it, themselves into the MLS Cup Final.
If possible, Portland’s road to the Cup Final was even more dramatic. If we go back to August, while the Crew were keen on battling for a first round bye, the Timbers looked to be on the fringes of the playoff picture altogether. Then, following a fantastic run of form at season’s end that saw the Timbers win their three final games, Portland vaulted themselves into the third seed, just missing out on a bye week. For neutral fans—if not for the blood pressure of the Timbers faithful—that was a good thing, as their knockout round match against Sporting Kansas City was one for the ages, with last-minute equalizers in both regular and extra time, and, after finishing 2-2 from outfield play, an eleven man shootout that ultimately saw Portland keeper Adam Kwarasey win it with a save and a converted penalty.
After a goalless Conference Semifinal first leg in Portland, the Timbers and their Army traveled up the road and across the border to Vancouver, hoping for an away goal to see them through to the Conference Finals. On the back of Fandendo Adi and Diego Chara, they got two of them, setting up a clash with top-seeded FC Dallas to determine who would represent the West in the Cup Final. After bursting out the gate with a shock 3-1 home victory over the West’s top-seed, the Timbers went down to Dallas with confidence that, this year, they might make it to their first-ever MLS Cup Final.
After a goalless first half, it was Adi again who got the away goal that looked for all the world to secure Portland’s place in the final. And then the Timbers got complacent. Ryan Hollingshead and substitute Blas Perez scored in the 68th and 73rd minutes, putting Portland—just one goal up—on the ropes. It was fitting that—with fellow centre back Liam Ridgwell out with an injury—Nat Borchers was the man whose play was anything but complacent, saving Portland’s victory with one of the best pieces of defending you’ll ever see. For Portland, icing on the cake came in the fifth minute of stoppage time, as Diego Valeri and Lucas Melano combined beautifully for a goal that sealed the 5-3 aggregate victory.
One Cup To Rule Them All
Columbus will be definitive if not overwhelming favorites in the MLS Cup Final this Sunday. In addition to the significant advantage of playing in front of a home crowd, the Crew have the league’s leading goalscorer, Kei Kamara(tied with Sebastian Giovinco at 22 goals). But the Timbers have overcome the odds before, and in truth, after the performances Portland has put in through the past two months, it’s hard to argue that they should be significant underdogs against anyone, regardless of playing home or away.
This weekend, I’m both hoping, and betting on a thrilling Cup Final, a goal- and drama-filled match befitting the remarkable playoffs we’ve seen so far in 2015. But in many ways, whatever happens on the pitch this Sunday, the Cup runs put together by both of these clubs already offers a rejoinder to those who would dismiss Major League Soccer and its playoff format. If playoffs in the MLS were initially implemented as a pragmatic concession to American sports culture, as a means of enticing non-soccer fans with a familiar format for crowning a champion each season, they’ve proved a thrilling spectacle, even more so with this year’s six-team format.
And, really, why should Major League soccer bother with imitating the ‘top of the table’ championships of the Bundesliga or Premier League? For many fans of global football, Major League Soccer’s combination of league table and two-legged cup playoffs might seem an odd chimera. But this season—as much if not more than any prior—with fantastic goals and last second saves, with an improved product on the pitch and furiously passionate support in the stands, we’ve seen that chimera spread its wings and roar.
Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle for MLS is moving the Cup Final to a neutral location. The league is clearly concerned that such a move would diminish ticket sales, worrying that a game in Soldier Field or the Rose Bowl would not pull as many fans as a Cup Final hosted at a team’s home stadium, a safe bet to sell out to the home crowd. But sometimes, what is best for the bottom line today is not best for the product altogether, and Major League Soccer would do well to reconsider a neutral location for its championship match. To borrow once more from another realm of American sports culture, ‘if you build it, they will come.’ And with this year’s remarkable playoffs, with the ever improving product on the pitch, one could argue that, really, it’s already been built.